U.S. Silica Wins US Sales Ban of Rival’s Roof-Cooling Granules

A federal judge in Texas permanently blocked Germany’s Amberger Kaolinwerke Eduard Kick GHGN & Co. KG from selling its AKCool roof-cooling granules in the US.

Judge Rodney Gilstrap of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas raised concerns that the European manufacturer wouldn’t abide by a jury finding last year that AKW’s product infringes three patents held by American rival, U.S. Silica Co.

U.S. Silica had asked the judge for either a permanent ban on AKCool sales or an ongoing royalty to compensate for lost profits.

AKW’s product was priced significantly cheaper than U.S. Silica’s White Armor ...