Hypertherm Associates announces two successful counterfeit consumable raids in United Arab Emirates in 2023

Hypertherm Associates, a manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software in Hanover, N.H., has announced successful raids of two connected counterfeiting operations in the United Arab Emirates that led to the seizure of hundreds of counterfeit Hypertherm HPR consumables.

In 2022, the company’s intellectual property team started collaborating with a Dubai-based law firm to investigate counterfeit sellers in United Arab Emirates. Consumable samples from two competitors there were evaluated and confirmed to be counterfeit.

The IP team decided to pursue criminal action and planned the raids with the support of the Dubai police. The first was Feb. 1 at Shams Al Amber (showroom of Quest Global Trading FZE), and the second was March 2 at ATAD Intl. General Trading LLC. HPR consumables were seized at both locations during the raids. During the seizure of the goods, the representative of ATAD admitted that ATAD was purchasing counterfeit consumables from Quest Global Trading, the company that owns the showroom, Shams Al Amber.

After the investigation by the police, along with other supporting evidence, the cases are being transferred to the public prosecution for further inquiry and later to the court for adjudication.

“Hypertherm Associates devotes an enormous number of resources to bring innovative products and technologies to market and is committed to ensuring those products are protected,” said Brett Hansen, Hypertherm Associates’ director of intellectual property. “This is done to not only protect our business, but to protect our customers who will not enjoy the performance characteristics of genuine products and greatly increase the risk of personal injury and permanent equipment damage by using fake product not manufactured to our exacting tolerances.”