Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc., Stertil BV, Stertil-Koni U.S.A., Inc., and Stertil ALM Corp, enter into Settlement Agreement

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Oct 27, 2011

Gray Manufacturing Company Inc., Stertil BV, Stertil-Koni U.S.A., Inc., and Stertil ALM Corp, have entered into a Settlement Agreement and Patent License Agreement which ends a longstanding lawsuit between the companies related to patents owned by Gray Manufacturing in connection with Wireless Coordinated Lift Systems or Wireless Mobile Column Lifts. Terms of the agreements are confidential; however, Stertil BV, Stertil-Koni U.S.A., Inc., and Stertil ALM Corp, recognize the validity and enforceability of the Gray patents issued through the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. The resolution of the disputes between the parties allows Stertil BV, Stertil-Koni U.S.A., and Stertil ALM Corp, to produce market and sell the protected wireless lifts while allowing Gray to be appropriately compensated under a license agreement through one-time payments and ongoing royalties. Patents specifically covered under the Agreement include US Patent Number 6,634,461 issued October 21, 2003, US Patent Number 7,014,012 issued March 21, 2006, US Patent Number 7,219,770 issued May 22, 2007, and Canadian Patent Number CA 2,406,340 issued on January 23, 2007.

Gray Manufacturing President Stet Schanze indicated he is pleased with the Agreements, “We have been in protracted litigation and patent re-examinations with Stertil BV and Stertil-Koni U.S.A., Inc., for several years which has not been productive to the business model of either side. I am pleased that we were able to reach a reasonable business solution with them which allows us to both get back to our strengths…selling quality lift products into our respective markets. The Agreement will permit Stertil BV and Stertil-Koni U.S.A., Inc., to manufacture and sell product covered under patents obtained and owned by Gray, and allow Gray to receive validation, appropriate compensation, and royalties for its patent property rights. Further it will put an end to all litigation and future challenges regarding the respective patents.”

Stertil BV President Ulbe Bijlsma expressed that he is likewise pleased to have reached a reasonable business solution with Gray that allows both parties to put this matter behind them. “Now Stertil can concentrate again on what we do best: developing, manufacturing and selling quality products to our many customers.”

Any specific questions about this agreement should be directed as follows:

Sterett W. “Stet” Schanze
President
Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc.
3501 S. Leonard Road
St. Joseph, MO 64503
Phone: 816-233-6121

Ulbe Bijlsma
President
Stertil B.V.
P.O. Box 23, 9288 ZG Kootstertille
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 512 33 44 44

About Gray Manufacturing

Gray Manufacturing Company Inc. is a family owned and operated business since 1952 located in St. Joseph, MO, specializing in manufacturing and selling portable lifting equipment for use by professional mechanics. Gray Manufacturing is recognized around the world for providing high quality shop service equipment for the automotive, truck and service vehicle industries.

About Stertil BV, Stertil-Koni U.S.A., and Stertil ALM

Stertil-Koni is a global enterprise having a significant presence in the United States and Canada, with U.S. sales operations conducted out of its Stevensville, Maryland office and production facilities based in Streator, Illinois. Combined with an exclusive distribution network, Stertil-Koni employs over 300 Americans. Reversing the ever increasing trend to manufacture in Asia, and particularly China, Stertil-Koni remains proud of its contributions to the U.S. economy in terms of jobs and resources. Founded in 1997, Stertil-Koni U.S.A. has become the veritable North American leader in the heavy duty vehicle maintenance market featuring mobiles, platform lifts, scissors lifts, 2-post lifts and in-ground lifts.

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