Industrial ADSTAR sack conversion line by Starlinger for the production of plastic bags, consisting of multiple interconnected machine modules with rollers, conveyor belts, and integrated control units.

ad*starKON conversion lines produce block bottom valve sacks made of woven polypropylene marketed under the trademark AD*STAR®. © Starlinger

Close-up of a bottom forming device inside an industrial sack conversion machine, precisely guiding and processing coated plastic fabric.

Starlinger holds various patents related to the AD*STAR® block bottom bag conversion technology, among them the so-called “wing opener”, part of the bottom forming mechanism for the sack conversion process. © Starlinger

Interim legal victory against Chinese copyists

Patent infringement established by Chinese first instance court

In summer 2024 the Austrian machine manufacturer took legal action against two Chinese companies that copied Starlinger's patented AD*STAR bag production technologies. A first result of the Chinese Court has now been issued.

Starlinger sued the Chinese companies Wenzhou Huazao Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. and Wenzhou Zhengong Machinery Co., Ltd. as well as a customer of the two companies, Zhejiang Liying Packaging Co., Ltd. for infringement of three Starlinger patents. The patents relate to Starlinger's ad*starKON bag conversion line for the production of AD*STAR block bottom valve bags made of plastic tape fabric. Starlinger is the true originator of e.g. the triangle bottom forming mechanism (wing opener) used in the machine and owns related patents in China as well as in many countries.

The decisions of the first instance court are, in their core aspects, in favour of Starlinger. The court established that Huazao and Zhengong have infringed Starlinger’s patents. It further granted Starlinger’s claims by ordering Huazao and Zhengong to cease and desist manufacturing and selling the infringing block bottom valve bag machines. 

The decisions of the court are not in force.

“The court decisions at first instance are an initial step to show that copying innovative technologies no longer goes unpunished in China. Although the decisions are not yet effective, there is no doubt that the original will ultimately win out over the copy”, said Harald Neumüller, CSO of Starlinger. “Technology leaders like us need to protect their innovations and defend their rights by all means. If companies try to copy our technologies, we are prepared and ready to take legal action against them and their customers.”

 

Note: 
ADSTAR® is a registered trademark of Starlinger. ADSTAR® bags are produced exclusively on Starlinger machinery.