ROSSLYN, Va. - To increase awareness of the growing threats to public safety posed by counterfeit electrical equipment, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) have jointly produced a new 8-minute DVD feature called “Counterfeits Can Kill.”

The DVD features commentary by David Petratis, former president and CEO of Schneider Electric, a major electrical equipment manufacturer; Robert A. Reynolds Jr., president and CEO of Graybar, one of the principal U.S. electrical equipment distributors; Brett Brenner, president of ESFI; and Jon W. Dudas, under secretary of Commerce and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

“Our message is that governments, manufacturers, distributors, installers, retailers, and consumers all need to be extremely vigilant in preventing even the inadvertent introduction of counterfeit electrical products into the supply chain,” stated Evan Gaddis, NEMA president and CEO. “If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Distributors and consumers need to ask whether they can trust the source of the product, particularly from anonymous sources on the Internet. There are criminal elements out there intentionally trying to fool you with no regards for life or death.”

The DVD contains footage of some examples of dangerous counterfeit electrical products. There are specific recommendations given to manufacturers, distributors, installers, government officials, and consumers.

The DVD is available in both English and Spanish versions. Both versions can be downloaded at www.nema.org/gov/anti-counterfeiting/index.cfm.

Publication date: 12/01/2008