DuPont announced last month that US-based Cortron had agreed to immediately "cease manufacturing or supporting MacDermid Lava processors" following settlement of an infringement case involving its own Cyrel Fast technology.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cortron has not only agreed to cease manufacturing the platesetters, but also to "immediately discontinue providing all service, spare parts and technical support" for MacDermid's Lava range.

However, MacDermid has subsequently filed its own counterclaim in an effort to curtail what it described as "inappropriate competitive activity" by DuPont.

MacDermid president Michael Siegmund said: "We will not be bullied by DuPont's inappropriate use of market power and our legal system. MacDermid is committed to defending its technology so that it may provide its customers with a full range of plate technologies."

DuPont and MacDermid now look set for a bitter legal battle, especially as MacDermid has revealed that it has no intention of halting production or support for the Lava range, despite the loss of Cortron's support.

A spokesman for MacDermid said: "Cortron built Lava processors based on MacDermid's design. Suffice it to say, we have another way to produce Lava equipment.

"With regard to service, MacDermid has always been responsible for field service of the Lava equipment, the same as we do for all of our solvent-based equipment. So, there will be no change relative to the Cortron announcement."

MacDermid allegations:
DuPont has attempted to inappropriately suppress competition
DuPont has attempted monopolisation of portions of the flexographic plate market
DuPont has engaged in inappropriate restraint of trade
DuPont has used invalid patents to inappropriately suppress competition