Haimer and Bilz Tool-holding suppliers end patent battle

The two German firms sign deals to co-operate.

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Hollenbach, Germany-based Haimer has announced that it and domestic competitor Bilz, Ostfildern, have agreed to respect each other’s strong patent position and have established extensive cross licenses.

Haimer said both companies are market leaders in inductive shrinking technology and have faced each other in German courts for years over patent law conflicts. The companies “have found a mutually beneficial solution and settled their lawsuits”, Haimer said “Both companies possess extensive and strong patents in the area of tool shrinking and now mutually respect the legal validity of all intellectual property rights in question.” The agreement includes extensive cross licenses, which create legal certainty for both companies and their customers, Haimer noted.

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The company’s director, Andreas Haimer, called the agreement a “good solution for the German medium sized businesses and the inductive shrink fit technology market”.

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