Novatec drops dual-flow dryers lawsuit: Conair

The battle between two heavy hitters in the auxiliary equipment world appears to be over.

In a very brief May 4 press release, Conair Group announced that competitor Novatec Inc. has dismissed its lawsuit that claimed Conair infringed on Novatec’s patented dual-flow dryer technology.

“Both Novatec and Conair have agreed to dismiss any claims against one another related to the Novatec patent,” the release said. “Novatec Inc. will continue to market its dual-flow and single-flow Intelli PET and PowerGuard dryers, and Conair will continue to market its dual-flow and single-flow EnergySmart dryers.”

The disagreement started last year, when Conair, headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pa., filed a patent infringement suit against Baltimore, Md.-based Novatec in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh claiming that the Intelli PET infringed on its patent. The lawsuit was dropped two months later after Novatec agreed to include additional information on its product literature and website about the Intelli PET.

The disagreement flared up again in June 2009, however, when Novatec filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Conair based on a method of drying material in a dual flow hopper.