RLS ends relationship with Parker Hannifin
August 17, 2020 | By HPAC Magazine
Rapid Locking System fittings are now being sold under RLS's own branding going forward.
RLS copper fitting
RLS, manufacturer of the RLS Rapid Locking System line of press fittings for the HVAC and refrigeration industries, will no longer supply its patented press fittings to Parker Hannifin Corp. for its ZoomLock brand. RLS fittings are now being sold under the company’s own branding going forward.
RLS issued a release with this announcement to avoid confusion in the marketplace as to the source and quality of fittings sold under the ZoomLock brand.
RLS designs, develops and manufactures its patented fittings engineered for high pressure
connections in the air conditioning and refrigeration industries. RLS introduced its patented fittings in 2015 and partnered exclusively with Parker at that time.
The company manufactured and supplied millions of fittings for Parker’s Sporlan Division to sell under the ZoomLock brand. However, RLS recently decided not to renew that exclusive partnership.
RLS has learned Parker plans to source fittings for its ZoomLock brand from Conex
Universal Ltd. in the United Kingdom. RLS previously filed patent lawsuits against Conex in the U.S. and the UK alleging Conex infringed claims of RLS’s patents.
RLS and Conex agreed to settle the lawsuits. As part of the settlement, Conex agreed, without admitting liability or infringement, that it would stop selling the design of its fitting that RLS accused of infringement in the lawsuits.
