JULY 2013
CHICAGO — Chicago Dryer Co. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Jensen USA Inc. and JensenGroup NV in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, on June 20, alleging that Jensen infringed on a patent for flatwork feeding machines. Plaintiffs are Chicago Dryer Co., FinishTech Ltd., Stanley McCabe and McCabe Corp. FinishTech is the exclusive licensee of the patent in question, and Chicago Dryer Co. is sublicensed to practice the patent issued in 1996, according to the complaint. Stanley McCabe invented the device claimed in the patent. In a prepared statement released during the Clean Show, Chicago Dryer Co. described itself as “the leader in cornerless feeder technology since launching its Edge line products in the 1990s.” “The complaint alleges that Jensen has infringed and is infringing U.S. Patent No. 5,515,627 through solicitation and sales of products including the Jenfeed Express feeder,” the statement reads. “Chicago Dryer and its business partners take their intellectual property rights seriously and will vigorously protect them from infringement.” When reached by phone June 26, Simon Nield, president of Jensen USA, said his company had no comment on the matter. The plaintiffs are seeking a permanent injunction plus damages. ALN
Volume 39, Number 7
Early attendance reaches 10,000; final total not available at press time By bruce beggs, editorial director NEW ORLEANS — The 2013 edition of the Clean Show—officially the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning—closed here Saturday, June 22, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center after three full days of exhibits, educational programming and afterhours networking opportunities. Based on observation and comments from a sampling of exhibitors, the first two days of the show were the best attended and saw the greatest level of activity. John Riddle, president of management firm Riddle & Associates, reported after Thursday’s opening day that attendance had already
After the ceremonial ribbon is cut, a band marches attendees onto the exhibit floor. Below, people line up in the convention center lobby as they wait to register on the Clean Show’s opening morning. (Photos: Bruce Beggs)
reached the 10,000 mark predicted before the show. Final attendance figures weren’t available as this issue went to press; Riddle said his staff would
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Inside Helping the Bottom Line
Eric Frederick suggests ways to increase linen life and save costs.
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need time to tally registrations and determine if the New Orleans show total exceeded the 11,200 who registered in Las Vegas in 2011.
Exhibition space in New Orleans was up approximately 8% from what had been budSee CLEAN on Page 6
The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
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Panel of Experts
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[10] Product
Chicago Dryer files patent infringement lawsuit vs. Jensen
2013 Clean Show jazzes things up in New Orleans
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Late News
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6/27/13 3:58 PM