Nooteboom wins important patent case concerning Pendel-X low-loader with deep excavator trough

From the first ‘swiveler’ with pendle axles to the MANOOVR: the already long list of innovations at Nooteboom is still growing. Consequently the need to properly protect these clever inventions grows too. Obtaining a patent is an important way to protect intellectual property and to ensure that our customers can always expect top quality.

Advertisement

Just over ten years: that’s how long the juridical wrangling about the Pendle-X Euro low-loader with excavator trough that was developed by Nooteboom has lasted. Earlier this year the European Patent Office finally decided in Nooteboom’s favour: the combination of an excavator trough and pendle axles is unique and Nooteboom is the only party in Europe that can bring this product on the market.

A real boost

“This has ended a long period of uncertainty,” says Manager Toon de Smit, who is responsible within Nooteboom for patent applications. “While we were filing our application for the patent in 2005 we were already challenged: the low-loader with excavator trough was not thought to be unique and according to our competitors we could therefore not apply for a patent.  The principle of an excavator trough and the concept of pendle axles have indeed been around for a while. But it’s the combination of the two that is in fact unique and has not been seen before and this is what the Appeal Board of the European Patent Office pointed out in their verdict. This is a real boost for us; it proves that we really are trendsetters when it comes to innovation.”

Encouraging innovation

A patent is nothing more and nothing less than the exclusive and temporary right to exploit a particular invention.  For a company such as Nooteboom, who invests heavily in R&D, this can be valuable: the temporary monopoly gives the patent applicant the opportunity to recoup the investment and to profit from the invention. Then they can use these funds to invest in more innovations. But in a wider sense the patent also has advantages for the sector as a whole. Other parties may be able (for a fee) to use the invention - for instance as a licensee.

Smaller market

When mentioning patents people tend to think of the large-scale lawsuits electronics manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, bombarded one another with.” It’s not that bad in the market where Nooteboom operates in,” Manager Toon de Smit says. “Nooteboom is active in a niche market with only a limited number of manufacturers who are predominantly based in this part of Europe. In the countries where we are particularly active we often choose to invest in a patent to make sure we have the best possible protection. If other people’s inventions are copied with impunity, it kills off innovation; if parties like Nooteboom cannot recoup their R&D investments it doesn’t bode well for the innovative climate in the sector and for the customers.  Nooteboom will therefore do all they can to protect their intellectual properties and is heartened by the ruling of the European Patent Office.”

High innovation tempo

The list with patents at Nooteboom is still growing. And in the coming years Toon de Smit expects that list to get longer very quickly. “The innovation tempo at Nooteboom has always been high. Meanwhile we have stated explicitly that we have a strong ambition to intensify our R&D programme further and to increase the innovation tempo.  In practice this means that we want to introduce two significant innovations every year.  With the objective, of course, of providing our customers with top-quality trailers. Trailers that due to a low total cost of ownership not only bring savings financially, but also score high in terms of useful service life because of their clever design.  Inventions that deserve to be protected.”