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MELBOURNE, Australia, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SSAB has taken decisive action against two Indian companies selling counterfeit steel. The unauthorised products, labelled with the Hardox® trademark, exhibited severe quality issues, posing risks to buyers who believed they were purchasing genuine Hardox® wear plate.
Following a recent investigation and lawsuit in India, two companies based in the Mumbai area admitted to trademark infringement and passing off, both serious violations of SSAB's intellectual property rights. The companies not only paid exemplary damages but also faced a permanent injunction in the lawsuit and were directed to cease all use of the infringing marks. Additionally, they issued unconditional public apologies to SSAB.
Protecting customers from counterfeit products in Australia
Only the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB produces genuine Hardox® wear plate, and Hardox® wear plate is only available from SSAB and from SSAB-certified suppliers. Each month, SSAB successfully removes hundreds of website links, online marketplace advertisements and social media pages based in India and China, offering counterfeit products or falsely claiming to stock genuine Hardox® wear plate for export to Australia and other parts of the world, often at very low prices.
Hardox® wear plate is a premium, high-quality product known for its exceptional hardness and toughness. Its guaranteed properties deliver outstanding performance, making it a market leader in wear resistance—and naturally, not a low-cost option. Therefore, a simple guiding principle is that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely involves counterfeit steel. SSAB strongly encourages buyers to purchase Hardox® wear plate only from SSAB-certified suppliers.
Where to buy genuine Hardox® wear plate and wear parts in Australia
SSAB maintains its own sales network. To ensure product authenticity, Hardox® wear plate should only be purchased through SSAB's own local stocks in Australia, SSAB's mills and through our authorised Hardox® Wearparts Centers in the Pacific region. https://www.hardoxwearparts.com/find-center/
Reporting counterfeit steel
At SSAB, we are committed to ensuring that customers receive only high-quality, genuine Hardox® wear plate they can trust. If you encounter branded steel that you suspect is not genuine Hardox® wear plate, we urge you to contact your local SSAB sales team immediately.
The risks of buying from unauthorized sources
Buying from unauthorised sources may result in:
- Operational setbacks – Counterfeit steel often has lower quality and therefore lower durability, leading to frequent repairs, replacements and increased maintenance costs.
- Health and safety risks – Inferior materials may compromise structural integrity, increasing the risk of failures and accidents.
- Legal repercussions – The use of counterfeit steel could lead to litigation, fines or other regulatory consequences.
- Environmental impact – Counterfeit production methods often neglect sustainability standards, leading to increased contamination and waste.
SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company that builds a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world through value added steel products and services. Working with our partners, SSAB has developed SSAB Fossil-freeâ„¢ steel and plans to reinvent the value chain from the mine to the end customer, largely eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from our own operations. SSAB Zeroâ„¢, a largely carbon emission-free steel based on recycled steel, further strengthens SSAB's leadership position and our comprehensive, sustainable offering independent of the raw material. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries and production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. Join us on our journey! www.ssab.com, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
MELBOURNE, Australia, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SSAB has taken decisive action against two Indian companies selling counterfeit steel. The unauthorised products, labelled with the Hardox® trademark, exhibited severe quality issues, posing risks to buyers who believed they were purchasing genuine Hardox® wear plate.
Following a recent investigation and lawsuit in India, two companies based in the Mumbai area admitted to trademark infringement and passing off, both serious violations of SSAB's intellectual property rights. The companies not only paid exemplary damages but also faced a permanent injunction in the lawsuit and were directed to cease all use of the infringing marks. Additionally, they issued unconditional public apologies to SSAB.
Protecting customers from counterfeit products in Australia
Only the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB produces genuine Hardox® wear plate, and Hardox® wear plate is only available from SSAB and from SSAB-certified suppliers. Each month, SSAB successfully removes hundreds of website links, online marketplace advertisements and social media pages based in India and China, offering counterfeit products or falsely claiming to stock genuine Hardox® wear plate for export to Australia and other parts of the world, often at very low prices.
Hardox® wear plate is a premium, high-quality product known for its exceptional hardness and toughness. Its guaranteed properties deliver outstanding performance, making it a market leader in wear resistance—and naturally, not a low-cost option. Therefore, a simple guiding principle is that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely involves counterfeit steel. SSAB strongly encourages buyers to purchase Hardox® wear plate only from SSAB-certified suppliers.
Where to buy genuine Hardox® wear plate and wear parts in Australia
SSAB maintains its own sales network. To ensure product authenticity, Hardox® wear plate should only be purchased through SSAB's own local stocks in Australia, SSAB's mills and through our authorised Hardox® Wearparts Centers in the Pacific region. https://www.hardoxwearparts.com/find-center/
Reporting counterfeit steel
At SSAB, we are committed to ensuring that customers receive only high-quality, genuine Hardox® wear plate they can trust. If you encounter branded steel that you suspect is not genuine Hardox® wear plate, we urge you to contact your local SSAB sales team immediately.
The risks of buying from unauthorized sources
Buying from unauthorised sources may result in:
- Operational setbacks – Counterfeit steel often has lower quality and therefore lower durability, leading to frequent repairs, replacements and increased maintenance costs.
- Health and safety risks – Inferior materials may compromise structural integrity, increasing the risk of failures and accidents.
- Legal repercussions – The use of counterfeit steel could lead to litigation, fines or other regulatory consequences.
- Environmental impact – Counterfeit production methods often neglect sustainability standards, leading to increased contamination and waste.
SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company that builds a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world through value added steel products and services. Working with our partners, SSAB has developed SSAB Fossil-freeâ„¢ steel and plans to reinvent the value chain from the mine to the end customer, largely eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from our own operations. SSAB Zeroâ„¢, a largely carbon emission-free steel based on recycled steel, further strengthens SSAB's leadership position and our comprehensive, sustainable offering independent of the raw material. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries and production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki. Join us on our journey! www.ssab.com, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Steelmaker SSAB, the manufacturer of Hardox® wear plate, cracks down on counterfeit goods
Steelmaker SSAB, the manufacturer of Hardox® wear plate, cracks down on counterfeit goods
SHANGHAI, April 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From April 2 to 31, the Assembly Character Toys brand Blokees made its debut at the 2026 Thailand Toy Expo. Blokees unveiled its two major categories — Blokees Model Kits and Blokees Wheels, highlighting a diverse product matrix of more than 300 products across 17 globally recognized IPs, including Ultraman, Transformers, DC, Evangelion, Naruto, Minions, Jurassic World, Hatsune Miku, and Hero Infinity. Four new model kits also made their global debut, emerging as key highlights of the event.
Mario Maurer attended the opening ceremony of Blokees Thailand Toy Expo as a special guest and engaged in interactive exchanges with consumers.
In the Blokees Model Kits category, Blokees exhibited its Champion, Legend, and Fantastic Series, featuring popular IPs such as Transformers, DC, Mega Man, Saint Seiya, Evangelion, and Naruto. More than 50 products were presented to consumers. Among them, four newly launched items—including Blokees Saint Seiya-Champion Class-12-Phoenix Ikki, Blokees Saint Seiya-Champion Class-14-Andromeda Shun, Blokees DC-Champion Class 05-Batman (HUSH), and Blokees DC-Champion Class 06-Catwoman (Hush)—drew strong interest from fans.
Blokees also highlighted its HERO5 and HERO10 series, featuring well-known IPs including Transformers, Saint Seiya, and Naruto, catering to consumers of hero-themed collectible models.
The DaaLaMode series introduced a range of products inspired by popular IPs such as Hatsune Miku, appealing to female consumers. Meanwhile, the TERRAVENTURE series presented nature and creature-themed model kits based on Jurassic World, further expanding Blokees' offerings across different consumer segments.
In the Blokees Wheels category, which integrates construction, play, and customization, products are organized into the C, E, and S series. The lineup includes IP-based offerings from Transformers, Ultraman, and Batman, with upcoming collaborations featuring Fast & Furious and Ford.
In addition, Blokees highlighted its global consumer ecosystem, BFC (Blokees Family Creator). Selected works from 2025 The 3rd BFC Creation Contest Stellar Season were exhibited in Thailand for the first time, reflecting strong user creativity and engagement. 2026 The 4th BFC Creation Contest Season of Awakening has officially launched, further encouraging global participation.
Under its "Universally appealing, Stepwise pricing, Globally promoting" strategy, Blokees continues to expand across Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Thailand is rapidly becoming a strategic hub in its regional expansion, as the company strengthens both product innovation and community-driven growth worldwide.
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Blokees made its debut at 2026 Thailand Toy Expo, exhibiting multiple products
