Freudenberg Filtration Technologies is challenging several possible infringements to its microAir cabin filters for the automotives market. The German producer discovered violations and filed patent suits against five exhibitors from the Far East. Freudenberg discovered the infringements at the Automechanika trade show in Frankfurt, one of the leading trade shows in the automotives industry.

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies took action at the trade show in collaboration with the customs authorities against these types of patent infringements.  The five companies from Korea, Taiwan and China allegedly violated three different Freudenberg patents—one of which was the “sealing lip system” as it is known in the industry. This patent is for a thermoplastic elasticized clamp with a sealing lip which is installed at the end of the filter against the housing to seal it. The second patent specifies that a nonwovens or plastic overlapping flap is adhered to the filter. In the third, the distribution of regular and irregular filter media pleat distances is described in combination with two guide pins for protection against turning. The customs officials took evidence to uphold the proceedings and demanded securities in cash from the affected exhibitors.

Because patents are the proof of the high performance of Freudenberg products and their first class equipment quality, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies emphasizes its fight against trademark and patent violations, according to executives. In previous years this has included companies in Italy and Turkey in addition to those manufacturers from the far east.