On 16th June 2009, the Court of Appeal found that the ACS 31/21 AXIS channel and bolt system infringed patent EP(UK)0882164 of Ancon Building Products. The patent had already been held valid in earlier proceedings in the High Court. ACS Stainless Steel Fixings Ltd has been ordered to cease selling its system and to pay Ancon costs and compensation for past infringements.
Ancon is the UK’s market leader in the design and manufacture of stainless steel construction fixings, and continues to drive innovation in this field. The company maintains an extensive global product portfolio and protects its intellectual property through patents and trademarks.
Sheffield-based Ancon has re-engineered many established product profiles to better utilise the properties of stainless steel. The Ancon 30/20 system is a high performance cast-in channel and associated bolt. Its unique shape allows the applied load to be fed directly from the channel lips to the anchors, and its compact section provides an improved fit between reinforcement. The 30/20 system is often selected in preference to a standard 38/17 channel profile where its lower material content also offers considerable cost benefits to end users.
