Statement from Tufcot Engineering Limited Regarding:

Tufcot® Composite Bearing Materials and possible Trade Mark Infringement

We, Tufcot Engineering Ltd (Company), based in Sheffield U.K. are the sole manufacturer of Tufcot® composite bearing materials (Products). We have been manufacturing and distributing this range of Products for well over 38 years throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and globally.

Our Company and Products have developed a reputation for quality, reliability and customer service that we are rightly proud of. Throughout the years we have expended considerable amounts of time and money on promoting our Products and commercialising the Tufcot® trade mark.

We are the proprietor of the Tufcot® trade mark. The Tufcot® trade mark is registered in the European Union and South Africa. These trade mark registrations are valid and in force.

It has come to our attention that there is a third party trading in South Africa under the following names: Tufcot South Africa, Tufcot SA and Tufcot Pty Ltd (Infringing Entities).

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE NO AFFILIATION TO THESE INFRINGING ENTITIES OR ANY MEMBERS OR EMPLOYEES OF THE INFRINGING ENTITIES.

FOR CLARITY: THE TUFCOT® TRADE MARK CANNOT BE USED BY ANY ENTITY OTHER THAN OURSELVES OR OUR AUTHORISED AGENTS AND / OR DISTRIBUTORS.

We seek to protect and enhance our good reputation with existing and potential customers across all sectors of industry globally. The fact that the Infringing Entities have been manufacturing and distributing products, and using the Tufcot® trade mark without our permission is of grave concern. Due to the fact that the Infringing Entities are not affiliated to us, we do not control the quality of the products that they manufacture.  It stands to reason that we cannot guarantee the quality and the integrity of the products that they unlawfully produce under the Tufcot® trade mark.

The Infringing Entities are aware that they have no proprietary right and local title in the Tufcot® trade mark. What is more, they are alive to the fact that they are infringing the Tufcot® trade mark, including but not limited to, the fact that they are passing themselves off as being associated and / or affiliated with our Company when that is not the case.

In the circumstances, in order to protect the integrity of our Company, we have been left with little option but to make this statement.

If you have any questions regarding this statement or require clarification in relation to any of the points raised, including our Product, please feel free to contact me directly.

(*South Africa Trade Mark Numbers 2017/00193 and 2017/00194 in classes 17 and 20 are held in the name of Tufcot Engineering Limited)

Yours Faithfully,

Greg Majchrzak

Managing Director.