Tyco Division to License Revolutionary Sprinkler Technology
June 06 2005 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Tyco Division to License Revolutionary Sprinkler Technology
Agreement Successfully Concludes Patent Litigation Against
Competitors LANSDALE, Penn., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyco Fire and
Building Products (TFBP), based here, announced today that it has
entered into a license agreement with The Reliable Automatic
Sprinkler Co., Inc, The Viking Corporation, and Victaulic Company
of America, concerning Tyco's low pressure, early suppression, fast
response (LP/ESFR) patented fire sprinkler technology. Sprinklers
developed using the proprietary LP/ESFR technology have
revolutionized the protection of warehouses and high-bay storage
from high challenge fires. TFBP, a division of Tyco International
Ltd., reached this agreement on behalf of Central Sprinkler
Company, a TFBP company that originally developed the technology
prior to being acquired by Tyco. As part of the agreement, each of
the licensees has acknowledged the validity of each and every claim
of Central's U.S. Patent Nos. 6,502,643 and 6,868,917. The
agreement fully resolves all claims and counterclaims asserted
during four years of activity in the litigation entitled Central
Sprinkler Company v. The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.,
Civil Action No.03-CV- 0112 (S.D.N.Y.)(CLB) and related litigation,
all of which now will be dismissed. "This is an important agreement
for our business," said Robert Brinkman, President of Tyco Fire and
Building Products. "It vindicates the position that TFBP has taken
in vigorously protecting its patents on this important technology
against challenges brought by competitors and hopefully will make
specification and use of this revolutionary fire sprinkler more
wide spread. In the end, we hope more people and more property will
be protected by this superior product." The LP/ESFR technology
featured in the ESFR-25 fire sprinkler allows for up to four
stories of warehousing rack storage to be protected by sprinklers
located only at the ceiling -- versus the requirement for
sprinklers located at different levels within the racking itself in
combination with ceiling sprinklers. This allows warehouses much
greater flexibility for modifying storage and rack arrangements.
The ESFR-25 distributes a high volume of water -- generally 100
gallons or more per minute, per sprinkler -- using lower water
pressure, and suppresses fires more quickly than other systems in
high bay applications. In short, the technology provides better
protection with fewer operating sprinklers in a fire condition, and
in a less obtrusive system. The agreement, the exact terms of which
are confidential, is an indication of the tremendous commercial and
inventive contributions of Central's technology. "As a leader in
the fire protection industry, our customers can continue to rely
upon Tyco Fire & Building Products for product innovation,
technology enhancements, and providing solutions for unique fire
protection applications," said Brinkman. Tyco Fire & Building
Products, a division of Tyco Engineered Products and Services, is a
leading manufacturer of water-based fire suppression system
components and ancillary building construction products. Through
innovative research and product development, Tyco Fire &
Building Products produces and distributes more than 28 million
sprinklers worldwide every year and is continually expanding the
capabilities it provides to customers in residential, commercial,
industrial, and institutional buildings. Please visit
http://www.tyco-fire.com/ for more information. Tyco International
Ltd. (NYSE:TYC)(BSX:TYC) is a global, diversified company that
provides vital products and services to customers in five business
segments: Fire & Security, Electronics, Healthcare, Engineered
Products & Services, and Plastics & Adhesives. With 2004
revenue of $40 billion, Tyco employs approximately 250,000 people
worldwide. More information on Tyco can be found at
http://www.tyco.com/. DATASOURCE: Tyco International Ltd. CONTACT:
Jay Pomeroy, Engineered Products and Services, +1-609-720-5425, ,
or Rick Klipp, Sales & Marketing, Fire and Building Products,
+1-215-362-0277, Web site: http://www.tyco.com/
http://www.tyco-fire.com/ Company News On-Call:
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