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NEWS
VMI and Safe-Run
in Ongoing Patent Dispute
with Bridgestone for 11 years, initially as European Field Engineering Coordinator and later as Retread Business Development Manager of the Bridgestone/Marangoni JV. “Because of his technical background and more than 30 years’ experience in the field of tyres and retreading, Martin perfectly understands the Technical Service requirements of
our customers and is well suited to direct his organisation to meet their demands in every aspect.”, stated Dino Maggioni, Marangoni Group CEO, “Through his appointment to head of the Central Technical Service we are taking another step to show our continued commitment to providing the highest possible level of customer service in the retread industry.”
VMI has announced that major invention patents related to the company’s tyre building technology have been upheld in China. In a mixed bag of results for the Dutch equipment manufacturer, however, some of the company’s other patents have been invalidated.
In the legal case heard recently by the Chinese Patent Re- examination Board, Chinese equipment manufacturer Safe-Run was challenging the validity of VMI’s patents in response to legal action brought by VMI against Safe-Run for infringement of VMI’s protected Intellectual Property.
In response to the Board’s findings, which reaffirmed the validity of some of the patents in question. Harm Voortman, CEO of VMI Group said in a press release; “This decision further strengthens our position in the legal dispute with Safe-Run and reaffirms our confidence in the Chinese legal system.”
Safe-Run, however, issued a jubilant press release of their own pointing out that VMI’s patent
concerning the “Assembly for and Method of Making a Tyre Component” was found to be entirely invalid. The patent, said Safe-Run, was deemed to be not exist from the very beginning. In addition, the court dismissed VMI's litigation action against Safe-Run for this particular patent infringement.
VMI says it intends to appeal against the finding and is convinced that a higher court will recognise the validity of those patents not upheld and overturn that element of the Patent Re- examination Board’s decision.
In response to the findings, Safe- Run said it “attaches great importance to independent R&D and intellectual property protection, and respects patent rights of other companies. Considering this patent dispute as an opportunity, Safe-Run will continue to actively respond to challenges, put more emphasis on the strategy of intellectual property development, and devote great efforts to make positive contributions to the tyre industry.”
ADINE Meets with the European Commission
Marangoni Appoints Kalagin Central Technical Service Director
Lukatec Launches Dedicated Website for Robotic Buffer
On 25 September 2017, Spain’s National Association of Tyre Dealers and Importers (ADINE), which represents the vast majority of tyre importers in Spain, held a joint meeting with representatives of the European Commission, based in Brussels. ADINE requested this meeting following the publication on 11 August 2017 in the Official Journal of the European Union of the initiation of anti-dumping proceedings relating to the imports of new or retreaded truck or bus tyres from China.
The purpose of the meeting was to check all questions relating to the initial investigation phase and in particular to the tyres which are the subject of the
investigation, as well as to share the various points of view which ADINE maintains with regard to the matter. The members of the European Commission reported on the status of the dossier, as well as the aspects of the points investigated and the possible actions that the EU would take in the event of the complaint being upheld.
ADINE has reported that the outcome of the meeting was very positive and that the Association has also conveyed to the European Commission its willingness to cooperate in the processing of the file and to act as an intermediary between the Commission and interested parties from the sector.
Martin Kalagin
Brazilian equipment manufacturer Lukatec has announced the launch of a new website dedicated to the operation of its well-known Robotic Buffer. The new site includes information about the buffer’s modular concept, technical
advantages, time savings, productivity comparisons and a video.
To learn more about Lukatec’s Robotic Buffer, go to: www.roboticbuffer.com
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced the appointment of Martin Kalagin as Central Technical Service Director, reporting in this role to the Chief Executive Officer of the Group. The role involves defining and implementing the rules and global guidelines of the company, aligning local plans and resources,
and coordinating the activities of all Technical Service Teams of Marangoni Retreading Systems Business Unit in Europe and overseas.
K alagin has been with Marangoni since 2007, holding several management roles at the company in Europe and Asia. Before joining Marangoni, he had been working
10 Retreading Business