Foremost inorganic nanofiber production line launches

ELMARCO s.r.o., a world player in the production of machines for the industrial scale production of nanofibers has successfully launched a new type of production line for the production of nanofibres. This so-called inorganic line is the first of its type in the world. The material which the line will manufacture had its world premiere in March 2009, when it was introduced by ELMARCO at it’s “Nano for the 3rd Millennium” conference. 

The first contract, enabling the implementation in practice of this entirely new technology, has just been signed with the Czech company Kertak Nanotechnology, based in Prague. „This unique equipment will now be used in the Czech Republic, thus confirming its position as leader in the field of the production and use of nanofiber materials” stated Mr. Ladislav Mareš, ELMARCO executive.

The NS 18S1000i inorganic line, manufactured by ELMARCO, produces a variety of inorganic nanofiber materials. Inorganic nanofibers most often find applications in cosmetics, solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, catalytic converters as well as a range of other applications. Ladislav Mareš added that this new type of NanospiderTM line enables the production and utilization of new materials for the production of, for instance, photovoltaic cells, an alternative source of energy, and the enhanced quality of products for the cosmetic industry, for example skin protection creams.

Ladislav Jandácek, Kertak Nanotechnology executive, said „Our company is the first in the world to commence industrial production of inorganic nanofibers such as TiO2 – titanic dioxide or Li4Ti5O2 – lithium titanate. These fibres are used both in the cosmetic industry and in the transformation of solar heat into electrical energy in photovoltaic panels. Other areas in which they are used include the storage of electrical energy, the improvement of catalytic converters, chemical equipment, power solutions in hybrid vehicles and energy sources for state of the art electronic equipment.

“Inorganic nanofibers and their application in end products is a pre-requisite for so called ‘green products’ – products which are sparing on the environment and which use alternative energy sources. The acquisition of this new line strengthens our company on the market, and allows it to develop its own applications for nanofiber materials. We believe that in cooperation with scientific institutions and with ELMARCO we will continue to be a supplier of leading products in the field of nanofibers on an international scale” noted Ladislav Jandácek.

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EFI declares victory over L&P in important patent litigation

Electronics For Imaging, Inc., a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, and its superwide format printer unit VUTEk announced total victory in patent litigation with Leggett & Platt involving EFI’s ultra-violet ink curing technology.

After a string of successful summary judgment motions, one of which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, EFI has reached a non-confidential settlement with L&P that does not require any payment from EFI to L&P. L&P dismissed all of its claims against EFI and promised not to sue EFI or any of its customers based on a claim that EFI products infringe any of the patents-in-suit or any related patent.

L&P first filed the lawsuit in May 2005 against VUTEk during EFI’s acquisition of the innovative superwide format printer business. L&P claimed that its patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,755,518) covered VUTEk’s technology. From the outset EFI maintained that VUTEk invented and patented the technologies first (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,457,823 and 6,616,355). The US District Court in St. Louis agreed with EFI, invalidating all of L&P’s asserted patent claims and ordering L&P to pay EFI’s costs to defend the lawsuit. The US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that conclusion in its entirety. In July 2009, the US District Court held that a second L&P patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,290,874) is also invalid in light of EFI’s patents and printer design technology.

On April 21, 2009, L&P sued EFI again, alleging infringement of a third L&P patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,520,602). As with the two other patents, EFI moved for summary judgment to invalidate this third patent using the same prior art previously relied upon by the court. Faced with the very real possibility of losing a third patent, L&P approached EFI to settle the dispute. Under the settlement, EFI will pay nothing, agreeing to dismiss its claims that the ‘602 patent is invalid and to not oppose L&P’s motion to vacate the July 2009 decision invalidating the ‘874 patent. L&P dismissed all claims against EFI and promised not to sue EFI or its customers under these patents or any related patent.

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