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Modine PF Patent Upheld by European Patent Office

25 February 2000

Modine PF Patent Upheld by European Patent Office

    RACINE, Wis.--Feb. 24, 2000--The validity of Modine Manufacturing Company's European patent No. 583851 on PF(R) (parallel-flow) air-conditioning condensers has been upheld by the European Patent Office (EPO).
    The EPO's ruling Feb. 21 in Munich, Germany, applies to all countries in the European Economic Community. The patent, covering vehicular air-conditioning condensers having micro-channel tubes with hydraulic diameters less than 0.070 inches, was issued Nov. 19, 1997, and subsequently opposed by Behr GmbH & Co., Showa Aluminum Corporation, and Valeo Group. This week's action denying the opposition can be further appealed in the EPO.
    Modine estimates that a substantial number of European vehicular air-conditioning systems use the technology described in the subject patent. More information about the patent is available from Modine.
    Modine is a world leader at solving heating and cooling problems in vehicles, buildings, and off-highway and industrial equipment. Modine has annualized sales of more than $1 billion and has about 8,500 employees worldwide. Modine can be found on the Internet at www.modine.com.