14F takes over licensing of PurChem technologies

Purchem Systems, Inc.
May 7
2 min read

At the end of March 2025, Belgian Intellectual property company 14F Licensing N.V. (Turnhout) reached an agreement with Canadian company PurChem Systems Inc. (Brantford, Ontario) on a cooperation regarding the Silent Touch and OneLayer technologies developed by PurChem, allowing 14F to expand its range in the surfaces sector. Within the scope of the cooperation, 14F will also exclusively handle the licensing for applications in the laminate flooring and furniture sectors. 14F will furthermore investigate possible infringements of PurChem patents by similar technologies.

When granting licences, the focus will initially be on SilentTouch: this technology, which was launched on the market back in 2014, can improve impact sound and room acoustic properties as well as the feel of laminate flooring compared to conventional products. 14F is already involved in negotiations with several interested parties from the laminate flooring industry, the first deals are expected to be finalised as early as the second quarter. in the furniture sector, PurChem intends to leverage its collaboration with 14F to expand its market position in the area of anti-fingerprint surfaces in particular. Initially, the main priority will be defending patents. However, 14F also aims to use discussions about possible patent infringements to lead to licence agreements in this area.

PurChem Systems Inc., managed by Robert Clausi, had granted the first SilentTouch licence for laminate flooring production to Meister Werke Schulte GmbH, Rüthen-Meiste, at the beginning of 2014, Impregnation of the papers used for this purpose with FlexCoat resins supplied by PurChem was initially carried out at Dekor-Kunststoffe GmbH (DKBL, Erndtebrück-Schameder, but was soon transferred to BMK GmbH, Gaildorf-Bröckingen. PurChem then also worked quite closely with BMK on marketing the Silent Touch technology. At the beginning of May 2022, PurChem concluded a licence agreement for the Silent Touch and OneLayer technologies with Swiss Krono AG (Menznau, Switzerland) and, in parallel, also a supply agreement for the required FlexCoat resins and additives.

In previously conducted negotiations, PurChem acted as licensor and resin/additive supplier. When granting licences, the company offered three different models. For purchases of resins and additives from PurChem, or for purchases of the surface materials impregnated by MK with PurChams proprietary product, licences were granted free of charge in the third model, manufacturers of laminate flooring, HPL/CPL and TFL were charged licence fees in order to be exempt from PurChem patens claims.

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