Synventive and Husky settle hot runner disputeSynventive and Husky settle hot runner dispute

Synventive Molding Solutions Inc. (Peabody, MA) and Husky Injection Molding Systems Inc. (Bolton, ON) have announced a settlement agreement in their long-running patent-infringement litigation involving hot runner valve-gate systems. On June 30, the two companies announced that they had settled the litigation on "amicable terms" under a Confidential Settlement Agreement. Synventive originally filed suit against Husky in the U.S. District Court of Vermont, claiming intellectual property infringement on its Kona valve-gate system. According to court records, Husky argued that depositions taken from June 16-18, 2009 by the patent's inventors, Mark Moss and Christopher Lee, revealed that Synventive failed to disclose material information regarding the Kona valve-gate system in its patent application. On June 1, 2009, Moss was named to the newly created position of executive VP, market and product strategy.

Specifically, Husky cited Synventive descriptions of the Kona system in marketing literature that said it featured an adjustable valve pin that could be removed from the hydraulic valve assembly while it remained in the system. Synventive argued that Husky had confused a general adjustment of the valve pin with adjustment of the axial position of the valve pin. Ultimately, Husky's motion for leave to amend its answer, affirmative defenses, and counterclaims was granted on Oct. 1, 2009 by District Court Judge William Sessions.

Synventive's predecessor, Kona, was founded in Gloucester, MA in 1978. In 1998, Kona and Eurotool merged to form Dynisco Hot Runners. That company subsequently changed its name to Synventive Molding Solutions in 2001. In its hot runner literature, Husky claims that it delivers more valve-gated nozzles than any other supplier on an annual basis. The valve-gate technology is available in its Ultra line of hot runner nozzles. Synventive markets Sequential Valve Gating (SVG) and Cascade Molding (CM) technologies for valve gating.