A manufacturer of pulse-width-modulated agricultural spray control systems is accusing its competitors of infringing on its patents — and the company has filed a lawsuit to assert its rights to the products.
Capstan AG Systems Inc. — a private company based out of Topeka, Kansas — claims that Raven Industries Inc. and CNH Industrial America LLC is infringing on patents relating to agricultural sprayer systems and methods that incorporate individual valve control. Capstan said in a news release this week that these features yield more efficient and precise application of liquid agricultural products. Capstan also says the two other companies entered into a partnership to offer the technology in question, specifically Raven’s Hawkeye sprayer system, on CNH equipment.
It’s not uncommon for companies that invest in research, development, and customer support of their technologies to look to court action as a way to assert their claim over the intellectual and physical value of their work.
“We will vigorously defend our proprietary technology from infringement by our competitors,” said Jeff Grimm, Capstan’s director of operations.
