Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation Files Suit Against Runway Safe, Inc. and Runway Safe, LLC
Aston, PA, July 02, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (ESCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of Zodiac Aerospace, filed suit on June 22, 2015 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division against Runway Safe, LLC and Runway Safe, Inc.
The suit (Case 1:15-cv-00546) claims, among other things, willful and intentional infringement of ESCO’s patents by Runway Safe, Inc. and Runway Safe, LLC of Austin, Texas.
According to the lawsuit, as background provided by ESCO, for over 70 years, ESCO and its predecessors in interest have been engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, and selling aircraft arrestor systems for military airbases. Based on its long history of safely arresting military aircraft, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) approached ESCO in 1994 to develop an arrestor system for commercial airports. ESCO and the FAA entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement in September 1994 and began studying materials suitable to absorb the energy of a forward moving aircraft, safely stopping the aircraft while protecting passengers from serious injury. ESCO engineered a cellular cement material for use at commercial airports. Engineered materials arrestor systems (“EMAS”) are installed at the end of the runway and are made of high energy absorbing materials of selected strength, which will reliably and predictably crush under the weight of an aircraft, thereby reducing property damage and helping to save passengers and crew from more serious injuries. ESCO’s engineered materials arrestor systems have been installed in over 45 airports in the United States with an enviable record of safety and success. As a consequence of the quality of its products and services, ESCO has become and is recognized to be the world leader in the design and manufacturing of these engineered materials arrestor systems.
Further, according to ESCO's statements in the lawsuit, the ESCO EMAS has benefitted from continuous development and numerous improvements based on extensive testing and field experience. ESCO has filed close to a dozen patents relating to commercial aircraft arresting systems in over 20 countries. One such patent U.S. Patent Number 7,597,502 (“the ’502 Patent”), entitled “Vehicle Arresting Blocks, Beds, and Methods” was issued on October 6, 2009 which discloses, among other features, an arresting system comprising of a deformable material of ceramic foam.
Allegedly: in May 2014, Runway Safe purchased a patent portfolio from Norsk Glassgjenvinning AS (“NGG”); nearly two years earlier, on June 19, 2012, counsel for ESCO had sent a letter to NGG identifying ESCO’s ’502 Patent and seeking assurance that NGG would not make, use, sell or offer to sell any product in the United States that would infringe the ’502 Patent or any other ESCO patent; on July 18, 2012, the CEO of NGG confirmed receipt of the letter and immediately assured ESCO that it had “no intention to infringe any ESCO patents inside or outside the United States”; upon information and belief, the ’502 Patent was included in the portfolio purchased by Runway Safe in May 2014.
The complaint alleges that without the permission or authorization of ESCO, Runway Safe has copied features of ESCO’s arrestor systems that are subject to the protection of the ESCO ‘502 patent, and has begun to manufacture, distribute, and sell its infringing engineered materials arrestor system. It is ESCO’s position that as an alleged new and untested entrant into the marketplace, allegedly Runway Safe hopes to capitalize on the goodwill and reputation of ESCO by misappropriating ESCO’s valuable intellectual property, represented by the patent grant for ESCO’s innovative designs and products.
"Customers desiring the aircraft arresting system that provides proven safety records with successful arrestments should ensure that they are purchasing the EMASMAX® manufactured only by ESCO. The flying public deserves the best, which ESCO provides." - Kevin Quan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
About Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
As a member of the Aerosafety segment of Zodiac Aerospace, Engineered Arresting Systems (dba Zodiac Arresting Systems America) is the world’s leading supplier of emergency land-based arresting systems for military and commercial aircraft. These innovative products save lives and preserve the integrity of both the equipment and the environment. For more information, visit www.emasmax.com.
Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation dba Zodiac Arresting Systems America
2239 High Hill Road, Logan Township, NJ 08085 USA
Tel.: +1 856-241-8620, Fax: 856-241-8621
The suit (Case 1:15-cv-00546) claims, among other things, willful and intentional infringement of ESCO’s patents by Runway Safe, Inc. and Runway Safe, LLC of Austin, Texas.
According to the lawsuit, as background provided by ESCO, for over 70 years, ESCO and its predecessors in interest have been engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, and selling aircraft arrestor systems for military airbases. Based on its long history of safely arresting military aircraft, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) approached ESCO in 1994 to develop an arrestor system for commercial airports. ESCO and the FAA entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement in September 1994 and began studying materials suitable to absorb the energy of a forward moving aircraft, safely stopping the aircraft while protecting passengers from serious injury. ESCO engineered a cellular cement material for use at commercial airports. Engineered materials arrestor systems (“EMAS”) are installed at the end of the runway and are made of high energy absorbing materials of selected strength, which will reliably and predictably crush under the weight of an aircraft, thereby reducing property damage and helping to save passengers and crew from more serious injuries. ESCO’s engineered materials arrestor systems have been installed in over 45 airports in the United States with an enviable record of safety and success. As a consequence of the quality of its products and services, ESCO has become and is recognized to be the world leader in the design and manufacturing of these engineered materials arrestor systems.
Further, according to ESCO's statements in the lawsuit, the ESCO EMAS has benefitted from continuous development and numerous improvements based on extensive testing and field experience. ESCO has filed close to a dozen patents relating to commercial aircraft arresting systems in over 20 countries. One such patent U.S. Patent Number 7,597,502 (“the ’502 Patent”), entitled “Vehicle Arresting Blocks, Beds, and Methods” was issued on October 6, 2009 which discloses, among other features, an arresting system comprising of a deformable material of ceramic foam.
Allegedly: in May 2014, Runway Safe purchased a patent portfolio from Norsk Glassgjenvinning AS (“NGG”); nearly two years earlier, on June 19, 2012, counsel for ESCO had sent a letter to NGG identifying ESCO’s ’502 Patent and seeking assurance that NGG would not make, use, sell or offer to sell any product in the United States that would infringe the ’502 Patent or any other ESCO patent; on July 18, 2012, the CEO of NGG confirmed receipt of the letter and immediately assured ESCO that it had “no intention to infringe any ESCO patents inside or outside the United States”; upon information and belief, the ’502 Patent was included in the portfolio purchased by Runway Safe in May 2014.
The complaint alleges that without the permission or authorization of ESCO, Runway Safe has copied features of ESCO’s arrestor systems that are subject to the protection of the ESCO ‘502 patent, and has begun to manufacture, distribute, and sell its infringing engineered materials arrestor system. It is ESCO’s position that as an alleged new and untested entrant into the marketplace, allegedly Runway Safe hopes to capitalize on the goodwill and reputation of ESCO by misappropriating ESCO’s valuable intellectual property, represented by the patent grant for ESCO’s innovative designs and products.
"Customers desiring the aircraft arresting system that provides proven safety records with successful arrestments should ensure that they are purchasing the EMASMAX® manufactured only by ESCO. The flying public deserves the best, which ESCO provides." - Kevin Quan, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
About Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
As a member of the Aerosafety segment of Zodiac Aerospace, Engineered Arresting Systems (dba Zodiac Arresting Systems America) is the world’s leading supplier of emergency land-based arresting systems for military and commercial aircraft. These innovative products save lives and preserve the integrity of both the equipment and the environment. For more information, visit www.emasmax.com.
Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation dba Zodiac Arresting Systems America
2239 High Hill Road, Logan Township, NJ 08085 USA
Tel.: +1 856-241-8620, Fax: 856-241-8621
Contact
Zodiac Arresting Systems
Kevin Quan
856-241-8620, Ext. 452
www.emasmax.com
Kevin Quan
856-241-8620, Ext. 452
www.emasmax.com
Contact
Categories