Hannover, July 31st, 2017--- The Düsseldorf Regional Court has decided in a judgment issued on July 18th 2017, that Neo's sales into Germany of a certain cerium-zirconium mixed oxide composition, infringed Solvay patent EP 0863846, which expired in June 2016.
This last judgment follows a series of previous judgments issued on cerium-zirconium mixed oxide compositions which already found that Neo’s sales infringed two other Solvay patents, and therefore enhances the basis for Solvay claiming damages from Neo for their past infringing activities. Neo has appealed those earlier judgments and has the right to appeal the July 18th judgment.
Solvay remains committed to enforce its intellectual property rights against suspected unauthorized use. It has also sued Neo in the United Kingdom Patent Court and in the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany, claiming infringement of one of Solvay's affiliate Anan Kasei's patents (EP 1435338) by certain Neo high surface area ceric oxide products - a state of the art technology that is essential for minimizing NOx emissions of the latest generation Diesel engines.
Rare earth oxides are used in automotive catalysts to abate noxious gases from engine exhaust. Ever stricter air quality standards require increasingly complex formulated rare earth oxides. Solvay’s OPtalys® and Actalys® product ranges offer tailored solutions for all types of automotive catalysts and contribute significantly to cleaner mobility.
Solvay is a multi-specialty chemical company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers in diverse global end markets. Its products and solutions are used in planes, cars, smart and medical devices, batteries, in mineral and oil extraction, among many other applications promoting sustainability. Its lightweighting materials enhance cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 27,000 employees in 58 countries. Net sales were € 10.9 billion in 2016, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program.
Solvay Special Chem is world leader in selected specialties based on Fluorine, Rare Earths, Strontium and Barium. The GBU leverages its distinctive knowledge to provide specialized products and solutions to selected industries, such as: rare earth-based formulations for use in automotive catalysts, luminophores and polishing; NOCOLOK® fluxes for automotive heat exchangers; Solkane® 365 as foam blowing agent in thermal insulation foams; fluorinated intermediates for agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals; process chemicals for semiconductors; barium salts for electronic passive components, etc.
