International Trade Commission to Probe SawStop’s Complaint Vs. Bosch
- September 3, 2015
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- by Rich Christianson
The Bosch REAXX jobsite saw with flesh detecting technology has been scheduled to begin shipping this fall.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) recently voted to investigate whether the new Bosch REAXX jobsite table saw infringes on safety patents owned by SawStop LLC.
“The products at issue in the investigation are table saws that quickly stop and/or retract the cutting blade to prevent serious injury when detecting that the operator has made contact with the blade,” the USITC said in its press release. The agency added that the vote comes on the heels of SawStop’s complaint filed July 30 alleging violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. SawStop asked the USITC to issue a cease and desist order against Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany and its U.S. subsidiary based in Mount Prospect, IL, to market and sell the REAXX table saw in the U.S.
Even though it has instituted an investigation, USITC said is “has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case.”
As a next step, USITC’s chief administrative law judge will assigned the case to one of the agency’s administrative law judges who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The judge will determine whether or not the case is subject to review by the USTIC.
In addition to its USTIC complaint, SawStop of Tualltin, OR, filed a lawsuit against Bosch with the U.S. District Court in Oregon.
Similar to SawStop table saws, the Bosch REAXX table saw features flesh detecting safety technology.
Bosch exhibited the REAXX table at the AWFS Fair held last month in Las Vegas. The company conducted regular demonstrations over the four-day show. A bratwurst was pushed through a spinning saw blade to show how its Active Response Technology can instantaneously shut down the saw to prevent a serious table saw operator injury.
The Bosch REAXX features Active Response Technology that immediately drops the saw blade below the table when a finger or hand comes in contact with the spinning blade.
A Bosch representative at the AWFS Fair said he could not discuss the impending lawsuit but said that Bosch nevertheless plans to begin delivery of the REAXX saw this fall.
SawStop also displayed a new jobsite table saw at the AWFS Fair. The machine won a Visionary Award, which honors innovative product developments.
Dr. Stephen Gass, president of SawStop, said, “SawStop has invested millions of dollars developing inventions to protect woodworkers from serious injury and those inventions have been awarded patents.”
SawStop said it has sold 50,000 saws with its groundbreaking flesh sensing technology. It recently expanded its lineup with this jobsite saw.