Honeywell has filed a suit in a Californian court against ABB Automation, alleging that ABB infringed a patent issued in 1987 to Honeywell`s Measurex subsidiary. The patent covers a sheet scanning technology used to control quality in the papermaking industry.

"We aggressively enforce our patents," declared John Donofrio, Honeywell`s vice-president for intellectual property. "Enforcement of our intellectual property rights is a necessary part of protecting Honeywell`s innovation and investment in product development."

ABB has rejected Honeywell`s litigation as being "without any merit". ABB is "taking appropriate legal actions to defend itself and its long-standing technological leadership, and to protect the interests of its valued customers," says Eugene Madara, vice president, general counsel and secretary of ABB Automation Inc.