The mechanical engineering company Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H), headquartered in Lengerich, Germany, says it has successfully resolved a patent dispute with a Chinese manufacturer. The case concerned a total of eight patents relating to Convertex, a machine for manufacturing woven bags.
“We are very satisfied with the outcome of this dispute and feel vindicated,” explains Falco Paepenmüller, CEO of Windmöller & Hölscher. “As a technology leader, we make continuous and substantial investments in research and development. The resulting innovations and technologies are a central component of our success and are protected by patents. We take great care to ensure that our intellectual property rights are protected and take consistent action against patent infringements. This approach ensures that our customers benefit from our long-term competitive advantage in the field of innovation.”
As part of the agreement, the Chinese manufacturer will permanently cease production and distribution of the affected machines and will pay the agreed damages. It should be noted that purchasers and users of systems that use patented technologies without the appropriate licence may also be subject to legal action. In this particular instance, however, W&H has chosen not to pursue legal action against the aforementioned parties. “We reserve the right to take legal action against other users of unlawfully used technologies in future cases – to protect our customers who invest in patented technology,” emphasizes Sascha Witt, W&H chief sales officer.
As part of the settlement, the defendant has admitted to infringing at least one claim in each of the eight patents. The property rights cover almost the entire production chain – from the perforation of the tubing material to the ejection of defective bags. “These patents ensure key functions for achieving high production speeds, consistent bag quality and flexible format adaptation,” explains Dr Falco Paepenmüller. “They are therefore an essential component of our technological market leadership and represent significant added value for our customers who use the Convertex.”
Dr. Sascha Witt has expressed satisfaction with the solution, stating that it will protect the company’s own developments and benefit its customers who manufacture high-quality products on its machines. “Respect for intellectual property is a foundation for fair competition and sustainable innovation in our industry.”
