Gurit's Wind Turbine Blade Technology European Patent Beats Appeal

Gurit's (SIX Swiss Exchange: GUR) European patent EP 1 128 958, which covers its SPRINT product used mainly in the manufacture of wind turbine blades but also many other Gurit target market applications, was today upheld by the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. In reaching this conclusion, the Technical Board of Appeal rejected Hexcel's (NYSE: HXL) opposition to the patent.

Gurit, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced composite materials and technologies (SIX Swiss Exchange: GUR), announced today that its patent EP 1 128 958, covering Gurit's Sprint product which is mainly used in the manufacture of wind turbine blades but also in many other target market applications of Gurit, was today upheld by the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. Although one of the subsidiary claims was deleted, the main claim of the patent was upheld as granted.

In reaching this conclusion, the Technical Board of Appeal rejected Hexcel's opposition to the patent. Hexcel had appealed the earlier Opposition Division decision of January 2008 to uphold the patent. Gurit is pleased that this innovation has been recognized and tested at the highest level of the European Patent office.