Electrolux Wins Patent Case for Auto Mower

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 14 -- (ELUX) Electrolux has won a patent infringement case against Centro Sistemi, in Holland and Germany. Electrolux brought the case against the Italian company, which has been marketing a product called Ambrogio, which is very similar to the Electrolux/Husqvarna Auto Mower(TM).

The background is that Electrolux noted many similarities between the Ambrogio and Auto Mower(TM). After dismantling Ambrogio it was discovered that Centro Sistemi used a similar technology to the one used in Auto Mower(TM) -- which is protected by patents.

Electrolux therefore took legal action against Centro Sistemi for patent infringement related to the marketing and distribution of the product in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. On April 1, Electrolux won the cases in Germany and Holland. The victory means that the present models of Ambrogio can no longer be sold on those markets.

In Belgium and Switzerland the distributors have been prohibited to sell the present product by court orders. In Austria the distributor has agreed not to continue with the present product.

Electrolux is the world's largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chain saws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. In 2002, Group sales were SEK 133.2 billion and the Group had 82,000 employees. Every year, customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux Group products for both consumer and professional use. The Electrolux Group includes famous appliance brands such as AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka, and Husqvarna. Visit us on http://www.electrolux.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of the Auto Mower(TM) available via the Electrolux website: http://www.corporate.electrolux.com/files/Bilder/Corporate/Press_center/Image_ bank/AutoMower_on_a_lawn_300dpi.jpg