On March 20, Hanover, New Hampshire-based Hypertherm Associates — a manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software — announced successful raids of two connected counterfeiting operations in the United Arab Emirates that lead to the seizure of hundreds of counterfeit Hypertherm HPR consumables.

The company said that its Intellectual Property team started collaborating with a Dubai-based law firm to investigate counterfeiting in UAE last year.

Quest Global General Trading FZE was the first competitor identified, according to a news release. Not long after, ATAD International General Trading LLC was identified as another counterfeit seller, Hypertherm said.

“Quest Global General Trading has been exceptionally active with importing, advertising, and selling counterfeit consumables and parts in the Middle East,” Hypertherm said in the release.

After evaluating the consumable samples in both cases, it was confirmed that they were counterfeit. The company’s IP team decided to pursue criminal action and “plan for the raids with the support of the Dubai police,” Hypertherm said.

On Feb. 1, a raid was conducted at Shams Al Amber (showroom of Quest Global), while on March 2, a second raid was against ATAD International General Trading LLC. HPR consumables were seized at both locations during the raids, according to the news release.

During the raid,  representative of ATAD admitted that they were purchasing counterfeit consumables from Quest Global Trading, the company that owns the showroom, Shams Al Amber, according to the release. The cases are being transferred to the Public Prosecution for further inquiry and later to a court for adjudication.

“Hypertherm Associates devote 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.”

Read more about the raids here. A list of the authorized distribution partners is available on the Hypertherm plasma website. To get help verifying whether consumables are genuine, companies can click here.