MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Honeywell has announced that customs authorities in Taranto, Italy, successfully seized 21 containers of air conditioning equipment charged with refrigerant R-410A that violated Honeywell’s European Patent No. EP 0 533 673.

The action was done on the basis of an application for border seizure made by and granted to Honeywell. The company said it is part of its ongoing effort to halt the trade of patent-infringing goods.

The seizure was the result of a coordinated worldwide effort between Italian customs agents and licensed suppliers of R-410A. The infringing refrigerant was found in equipment shipped to Italy by a Chinese equipment manufacturer.

Honeywell holds a patent on R-410A and its use in air conditioning and other applications. Specifically, R-410A refrigerant is a blend of difluoromethane (R32) and pentafluoroethane (R125). It has become a globally accepted standard for use in new residential and light-commercial air conditioning systems. Honeywell has created a certified vendor program to encourage Chinese air conditioner manufacturers to use R-410A refrigerant purchased from licensed suppliers.

Honeywell’s investment in R&D has led to patented inventions relating to the following refrigerants: R-410A, R-404A, R-408A, R-507, R-236fa and 245fa. The company said it continues to take all appropriate actions to protect its intellectual property worldwide.

For more information, visit www.honeywell.com.

Publication date: 06/11/2007