NORMA Group defends its patented joining technology against Chinese rival

NORMA Group, a market leader in engineered joining technology, has won a patent lawsuit it had filed against a Chinese competitor. The Supreme People’s Court in Beijing ruled at the end of June 2024 that a product from Suzhou Shengnuo Connection Technology Co infringes on a NORMA Group patent for an advanced worm-drive hose clamp. The competitor has been prohibited from manufacturing or selling this clamp. Shengnuo must also pay damages to NORMA Group. The verdict is final.

CEO Guido Grandi said: “Our decades of experience and development expertise give us a competitive edge and represent key success factors. We use patents to protect our innovations and safeguard our intellectual property. The outcome of the patent infringement proceedings sought by us secures our current and future business with advanced joining technology.”

NORMA Group’s patented clamp is a worm-drive hose clamp for pre-positioning the clamp on a hose. This PreFix system consists of two prepositioner elements that are used to pre-position the clamp at the exact point on a hose where the connection to a spigot or pipe is to be closed later. This feature is used, for example, when hose systems are stored or transported before final assembly. Prepositioning also makes assembly in engine compartments and other confined spaces much easier. NORMA Group engineers developed the clamp to make assembly as simple, quick and safe as possible. NORMA Group has been offering the clamp under the name TORRO^® PreFix System since 2007.

Dr. Gerrit von Breitenbach, Global Head of Technology and Innovation, commented: “Our joining components, which can sometimes be unimposing at first glance, are absolutely crucial for the function of a machine or a vehicle. We deliver added value for our customers with innovative development efforts. In addition to high-quality products, we focus on ease of installation, because fast installation times save both time and money for our customers in the manufacturing industry.”

NORMA Group manufactures the clamp with the PreFix feature in Changzhou, China, for customers in Asia and in Maintal, Germany, for customers in Europe and America. Every year, the company delivers several million of these clamps to various global customers.