Royal DSM (Heerlen, the Netherlands), a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, announces that the European Patent Office has confirmed DSM’s position with respect to its Diablo technology, overturning an attempt to revoke the patent.

The Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office overturned the decision to revoke a patent of DSM during an Oral Hearing held in Munich on October 29, 2015. This confirms DSM’s IP rights in relation to its proprietary Diablo technology.

Diablo technology, developed and patented by DSM, improves the long-term temperature resistance of materials and has been applied to various types of polyamide. DSM not only uses it itself for its Stanyl and Akulon polyamides, but also licenses it to other material suppliers.

Diablo technology is typically used in automotive industry applications where the materials used are required to have good thermal stability over extended periods of time at elevated temperature. The technology provides a significant improvement in long-term temperature resistance components such as air intake manifolds with integrated intercoolers, ducts, charge air cooler end caps, mixing tubes and resonators used in the latest car engines.

The long-term heat-ageing performance of materials made with Diablo differentiates it from competing materials currently on the market. It provides for stable mechanical performance of over 3,000 hours continuous use at temperatures higher than 200°C.

“If you do not see a drop in performance in these conditions, then the chance is high that DSM’s Diablo technology is being used, whether or not it is correctly licensed. I strongly recommend part makers to check the legal situation before starting an expensive part validation process,” said Kurt Maschke, Global Segment Manager Air/Fuel.

“DSM values its IP enormously, and we are fully committed to protecting our technology and defending our rights around the world. Our Diablo technology brings significant benefits to licensed users, and it’s important for them and for DSM that we take the right steps in enforcing our rights. We encourage OEMs and system suppliers to check this carefully and contact us if they have any doubts,” added Jessica Pacifico, patent attorney at Royal DSM.