Voith filed a patent infringement suit in Italy before the First Instance Court in Rome against Toscotec S.p.A. In its complaint, Voith alleges that a Tissue Machine with shoe press technology type Ahead 2.0S. version Shoepress produced by Toscotec S.p.A. in Italy and delivered to a paper mill in Portugal infringes Voith’s European Patent No EP 0 926 296 in Italy. The Voith Patent EP´296 protects Voith´s shoe press technology NipcoFlex TTM in combination with suction turning roll for Tissue machines.

Toscotec reacted to Voith´s infringement law suit by requesting the nullification of the Voith EP´296 patent as well as filing a request for ascertainment of non-infringement. In this respect it has to be noted that the validity of Voith´s EP´296 patent has already been unsuccessfully challenged before the European Patent Office in a previous opposition filed by another competitor.