Meyer Burger goes to Chinese court for patent infringement

Meyer Burger has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Wuxi Shangji Automation Co., Ltd in Nanjing Intermediate Court in China.

The reason for the lawsuit is an alleged violation of the Chinese patent for the Diamond Wire Management System (DWMS). The DWMS is a patented wire winding system developed by Meyer Burger, which the company has developed specifically for its diamond wire saws and which is used in the production of mono- and multi-silicon photovoltaic wafers.

“We want Wuxi Shangji to stop producing and selling the corresponding system,” a spokeswoman from Meyer Burger told pv magazine. Meyer Burger claims that it has gathered evidence, together with a Chinese law firm, that Wuxi Shangj is using a technology based on its patented system. The spokeswoman could not say how long the proceedings are likely to take.

This is the first time the company has taken a case to court in China. “Wuxi Shangji has recently entered the Chinese market. The system copied by Wuxi Shangji is an important part of Meyer Burger's product portfolio,” the spokeswoman explained.

The DWMS technology is used in the company’s DW288+ and DW288 Series 3 cutting platforms for both mono and multi-silicon PV wafering.

Buyers of these systems will continue to benefit exclusively from developments in DWMS technology in the future, according to the company's announcement.

“Meyer Burger invests substantial amounts in Research & Development each year to create cutting-edge technologies that deliver significant value to our customers. We are determined that our customers will exclusively benefit from our industry-leading technology as we push the limits of photovoltaic innovation. Our intellectual property serves as the foundation of our technologies and market leadership, “said Meyer Burger CEO Hans Brändle.

“We will vigorously defend our patented technologies and enforce our patent rights,” he added.