PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Hoshizaki America, which manufactures commercial ice and refrigeration equipment, has received a favorable initial determination in its patent infringement case against Blue Air FSE LLC and its parent company, Bluenix Co. Ltd.

Following a hearing, Clark Cheney, chief administrative law judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission, found that Blue Air and Bluenix violated U.S. trade law by importing and selling ice machines that infringe on three of Hoshizaki's patents, a press release from Hoshizaki said. The judge upheld the validity of Hoshizaki's patents, rejecting the respondents’ arguments that the patents are invalid as not innovative.

The judge recommended that the ITC issue an order to prevent Blue Air and Bluenix from importing and selling the products in the United States. The ITC is expected to make a final determination later this year.

A related lawsuit is ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

"Hoshizaki invests heavily in research and development of new and improved technology," said Allan Dziwoki, Hoshizaki America's president. "Protecting that investment by enforcing our intellectual property rights is extremely important to us, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to do that."

The dispute centers around Hoshizaki's patented crescent cuber evaporator design, which is used in ice-making systems.