German textile machinery pioneer Karl Mayer Group has achieved a significant legal victory in China by successfully defending its patent against a local competitor. The company initiated legal action against Fujian Xin Gang Textile Machinery Co. Ltd. over patent infringement concerning a heating system for the carrying-lever shaft used in Tricot and Raschel knitting machines.
Invented to allow machines fitted with carbon heating bars to maintain consistent performance amid temperature fluctuations, the patent was granted in China in November 2011. After enduring a lengthy legal battle that began in 2021 at the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China finally issued a favorable ruling in May 2024.
Under the judgment, Fujian Xin Gang’s counterclaim to invalidate the patent was dismissed. The company is now legally barred from manufacturing, marketing, or advertising any machines featuring the contested technology, and has been fined accordingly.
For Karl Mayer — which invests approximately 18% of its annual revenue in research and development — the decision reinforces its dedication to innovation and the defense of its intellectual property. With R&D centers worldwide generating cutting-edge yarns, machines, and technical textiles, protecting these advancements is crucial.
Zhen Kong, General Manager of Karl Mayer China, commented, “This ruling strengthens the legal certainty of competition in China — a key signal to innovators worldwide that protection of their breakthroughs is taken seriously here.”
