German Equipment Company Accused of Campaign to Harm Competitor

Germany’s Sennebogen Maschinenfabrik GmbH has been sued in federal court by a rival that claims the equipment maker tried to put it out of business and monopolize the market for material handlers.

The German firm adopted a strategy designed to “instill fear, uncertainty, and doubt” among the customers and prospective clients of Process Equipment Inc. by making false statements regarding the safety of the Sennebogen-brand material handlers it sold, the plaintiff said in a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Process Equipment is a family-owned firm that sells equipment including refurbished pre-owned Sennebogen-brand ...