EU air safety body: Be wary of Kobe Steel
The European Aviation Safety Agency has recommended that companies suspend use of Kobe Steel products when possible.
The recommendation on the agency’s website follows the company’s admission that it has faked inspections data on products sold to hundreds of companies.
The agency said companies should thoroughly review their supply chains to identify “suspected unapproved parts” from Kobe Steel that they may have used.
“Where alternative suppliers are available, it is recommended to suspend use of Kobe Steel products until the legitimacy of the affected parts can be determined,” the agency’s notice said.
It says the directive did not indicate an “unsafe condition” requiring further immediate action such as an airworthiness warning. But the agency said it had contacted Japanese authorities for more information.
Kobe Steel had no immediate comment on the announcement.
The metals and equipment maker said late Tuesday that it would “sincerely cooperate” with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The company has reported it discovered bogus inspections or faked data for steel powder, aluminum flat-rolled products and castings, copper strips and tubes and forgings, among many other products.
It has acknowledged the fudging of inspections data might have begun up to a decade ago and affected more than 500 customers.
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"Might have begun up to a decade ago" my ass.
I recall buying an HSS 10 mm steel drill of Kobelco almost two decades ago, and it became dull after drilling merely three holes in 2.3 mm steel. That was too much even for me, so I went back to the home center to complain, and they immediately replaced it, no questions asked, leading me to suspect it was a common occurrence.
Though the replacement was fine, I've since avoided this brand like the pest.
