DSM Dyneema Files Patent Lawsuit against Chinese Company

Urmond (NL), January 16 – DSM Dyneema, the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber, has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Hangzhou Pivot International Co. Ltd., of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, before the Court of Paris, France. Prior to the filing, DSM Dyneema obtained authorization to seize merchandise, including fiber, rope and finished articles, exhibited by Hangzhou Pivot at the Milipol 2005 exhibition on state security in Paris.

The lawsuit asks the court to establish and confirm its findings that this merchandise infringes on DSM Dyneema patents, and to forbid the sale or offering of these polyethylene-based, highperformance fibers by Hangzhou Pivot. DSM Dyneema is also seeking recall of the infringing products sold, as well as damages and other corrective measures.

According to Christophe Dardel, president of DSM Dyneema, “We have taken this action to protect our firm from those who unlawfully try to copy our unique fiber technology, as well as to secure a level playing field for companies developing and manufacturing applications on the basis of polyethylene-based high performance fibers. It is our policy to actively protect our intellectual property rights.”

DSM Dyneema protects its technology by applying for patent protection in different countries and regions. It has filed several patents in the field of high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) fibers and their applications. The company monitors potential infringements on an ongoing basis, and takes action against manufacturers, sellers and users of infringing products – whether fibers or end products.

In 2004 DSM Dyneema obtained a verdict from the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands, who confirmed the infringing nature of high-performance fibers offered by another Chinese company, CEN International Trading Company, and ordered the latter to stop further sales of such infringing material. DSM Dyneema is confident the Court of Paris will rule in favor of DSM.

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Notes for editors

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber. Dyneema® is a superstrong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight per weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.

Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema also works in a HPPE fiber manufacturing joint venture with Toyobo (Japan). Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company creates innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end markets and applications such as human and animal nutrition and health, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. Market-driven growth, innovation and increased presence in emerging economies are key drivers of this strategy. The group has annual sales of approximately EUR 8 billion and employs around 23,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Dyneema® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V.