Synventive Molding files lawsuit against INglass and HRSflow
Canadian Plastics
Plastics ProcessesThe lawsuit springs from a 2014 technology license that granted INglass and its hot runner division HRSflow GmbH access to Synventive's SynFlow technology; the license has now expired.
Hot runner systems and components supplier Synventive Molding Solutions has filed a lawsuit seeking monetary damages from Italy-based INglass SpA as well as an injunction preventing INglass from selling any hot runner systems infringing upon Synventive’s patented pin control technology.
The suit also demands a recall of infringing HRSflow hot runner systems, controllers, and auxiliary equipment.
The lawsuit springs from a technology license entered into in 2014 that granted INglass and its hot runner division HRSflow GmbH access to certain Synventive intellectual property covering the use of electronic actuators and pin control of sequential valve-gated hot runner systems. As a result of the license, HRSflow received the necessary rights to implement Synventive’s patented SynFlow technology, which is primarily utilized in the automotive interior and exterior industry to improve the injection molding process and eliminate surface defects in the molded part.
The technology license agreement expired on November 6, 2018.
“Synventive holds the view that certain products manufactured or sold by HRSflow after the expiration date are covered by the subject Synventive patents and other patents issued since the license was granted and therefore constitute a violation of Synventive’s patent rights,” Peabody, Mass.-based Synventive said in a statement. “In Synventive’s opinion, the license expiration means that HRSflow can no longer sell products that utilize the process of modulating the opening of the valve pin in order to solve part quality defects as represented in Synventive’s SynFlow patents.”
“Synventive is seeking monetary damages, an injunction from selling any hot runner systems infringing upon Synventive’s patented pin control technology, and a recall of infringing HRSflow hot runner systems, controllers, and auxiliary equipment,” the statement continued.
The lawsuit has been filed in the Regional Court of Mannheim in Germany.
Synventive is a business division of the Barnes Group, which also includes plastics processing related-companies such as Thermoplay, Priamus, Gammaflux, and Foboha.
