For more information contact:

Don Esch

Executive Vice President

(440) 965-4422

donesch@bettcher.com

. . .  For immediate release . . .

 

BETTCHER  INDUSTRIES,  HANTOVER  REACH  SETTLEMENT 

Birmingham, Oh., June 27, 2007— Bettcher Industries, Inc. and Hantover, Inc. have reached a legal settlement in an action brought by Bettcher Industries in the U.S. District Court in Ohio, in which Bettcher Industries alleged that Hantover infringed on several patents held by Bettcher Industries pertaining to its Whizard® Series II trimming equipment.

In a Settlement Agreement effective April 1, 2007, Hantover admitted that it infringed on one of the patents owned by Bettcher Industries related to Whizard® Series II products.  Hantover has agreed to pay Bettcher Industries a lump-sum payment, and has also agreed to refrain from making trimming blades that infringe on Bettcher patent claims in the future.   

The Settlement Agreement also provides for other restrictions pertaining to advertising and marketing of the Hantover products in question.  Among other things, Hantover has agreed to refrain from using the term “replacement” blade to refer to blades it sells as designated for use in Bettcher’s Whizard® Series II knives.

Established in 1944, Bettcher Industries is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative precision cutting tools for food processing operations, with sales and service in more than 50 countries worldwide. 

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