Business sustainability ratings company EcoVadis has awarded VMI a Silver EcoVadis Medal for its progress toward sustainability. By achieving Silver status, the machinery specialist is in the top 15 per cent of all companies worldwide that EcoVadis assessed by EcoVadis for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in 2023.
VMI has officially opened its new Southeast Asian service centre in Chonburi, Thailand. The machinery manufacturer says the move from smaller premises to the high-tech facility reflects its “commitment to support the industry in this increasingly important region.” The new service centre will serve the growing needs of VMI customers in the entire Southeast Asian region.
Together with its employees, VMI has raised 160,00 euros through a fundraising action and has donated this to Giro 555, the Dutch part of the global Emergency Appeals Alliance. The donation will be used to provide practical support to the Ukrainian people and those affected by the conflict.
Netherlands-based manufacturer of machinery for the tyre and retreading industries, VMI Holland B.V. (VMI), reports having won a “significant lawsuit” in its ongoing legal dispute with Safe-Run Intelligent Equipment Shares Ltd. Co. (Safe-Run). VMI comments that the case in question relates to infringement of intellectual property and patent hijacking, adding that the lawsuit it recently won confirms “the malicious intent of Safe-Run.”
Amongst the companies recognised for exceptional contribution to the Michelin Group over the past years at a ceremony held yesterday evening at the museum Aventure Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, France was VMI. Harm Voortman, VMI Group chief executive officer, received the award from Jean-Dominique Senard, chief executive of the Michelin Group.
Chen Xing Chunjing has been appointed general manager of VMI Yantai. Chen succeeds Xu Kangyuan, who has retired after leading VMI Yantai for almost 20 years.
China’s Patent Re-examination Board has upheld important patents relating to tyre building technology developed by VMI. Commenting on the board’s decision, VMI Group chief executive officer Harm Voortman said “this decision further strengthens our position in the legal dispute with Safe-Run and reaffirms our confidence in the Chinese legal system.”
VMI edged ahead of fellow shortlistee Comerio Ercole in what is said to be a very tight race to win Tire Industry Supplier of the Year for the second time. The 2017 award was received by Harm Voortman, VMI Group president and chief executive officer, at the TTX Award gala dinner on 15 February.
Dutch machinery manufacturer VMI has initiated legal action against Jiangsu province, China-based company Safe-Run. VMI reports that the Chinese machinery manufacturer has infringed several of its patents, and the legal action follows repeated warnings that it should cease doing so.
In April 2015, machinery manufacturer VMI shared that the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China had upheld a patent infringement claim it lodged against Shuangjun Plastic and Rubber Machinery Ltd; the Chinese firm had infringed a key patent related to VMI’s tyre building drum and was passing off this copied product as its own property. VMI has now issued another statement in which it emphasises that it “continues to enforce against IP infringement.” While no specific new cases are named in this latest statement, it may well be that VMI is warning companies not to even think about infringing the intellectual property contained within its new and soon to be released MILEXX truck tyre building machine.
Netherlands-based machinery manufacturer VMI Group says a ruling is expected soon in the case of a Chinese company caught making illegal replicas of VMI tyre building drums. Commenting on the incident, company president and CEO Harm Voortman said vigorously protecting intellectual property is “an essential part” of VMI’s strategy.
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