CES claims Fanwall patent infringement
25th June 2014
USA: CES Group is taking legal action against two companies for alleged infringements of seven of CES Group’s Fanwall Technology patents.
The CES Group, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a subsidiary of Nortek, owners of the UK’s Eaton-Williams group and the Governair, Huntair, Mammoth, Temtrol, Venmar CES and Ventrol air handling system brands.
CES is seeking damages in a California court for infringement and a permanent injunction against Energy Labs Inc and DMG Corporation. The patents-in-suit include US patent Nos 7,922,442; 8,398,365; 8,414,251; 8,562,283; 8,694,175; 8,727,700; 8,734,086.
“CES Group has made a significant investment in our patented inventions and we will enforce our patent rights against competitors who infringe those rights,” said Mark DeVincent, president of CES Group.
DMG Corporation was founded in 1967 and supplies a range of engineered hvac solutions from headquarters in Orange, California.
Energy Labs is described as a premium manufacturer of custom air handling, air-cooled, and evaporative-cooled roof top DX units, indirect and direct evaporative cooling and energy recovery systems. The company was founded in 1974 and operates out of San Diego.
The Fanwall system is said to have been invented by engineers at CES company Huntair more than a decade ago. Described as the first “integrated” fan array solution for air handlers, the Fanwall system integrates state-of-the-art fans, motors, cabinetry, controls, and accessories.
The concept is based on replacing the single large fan fitted to conventional AHUs with a bank of smaller purpose-built fans which deliver the same performance airflow. Said to be compact, more economical to run and easy to service, they are are also said to deliver a better air flow pattern than a conventional AHU.
More than 100,000 Fanwall cubes are said to have been installed since its launch. The technology was recently included in air handling units supplied by Eaton-Williams to the Mary Rose Museum to help preserve the historic battleship. See The flagship for advanced climate control.
