Entrepreneur Alf Taylor of packaging machinery specialist TNA has won an extensive patent case against Ishida.

The battle through he courts began in 1998 at the UK patents court against Ishida (Europe) Lted and Ishida Co Ltd. Taylor claimed the companies had infringed his patent on TNA’s Robag VFFS packaging machines with their Ishida Apex and CBM2 bag-makers.

Ishida exhausted its avenues of appeal and Taylor sought damages resulting from the infringement. Ishida agreed to pay these before going to trial and Taylor and TNA have won more than £2 million in damages and legal costs awarded.