Milacron and Mid-America settle patent suit over lightweight dairy jugs

Plastics processing equipment makers Milacron Holdings Corporation and Mid-America Machining Inc. have resolved and settled a patent lawsuit concerning blow molded plastic dairy containers.

The specific terms of settlement have not been disclosed.

Brooklyn, Mich.-based Mid-America Machining filed its lawsuit last year, alleging Milacron’s plastic dairy containers violated Mid-America Machining’s design patents. Milacron, which is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, had denied the claim.

In a joint statement, the companies announced the settlement on July 14. They said that court records show the lawsuit was dismissed on May 10.

“Our companies both know and respect each other very well,” said Dave Skala, general manager of Milacron’s global blow molding division. “I said at the outset of this lawsuit that Milacron has always respected other company’s patents, without compromise, just as we expect other companies to respect our patents. I am pleased that we were able to resolve the dispute in a manner that clearly validated our commitment to those principles.”