Hexagon Metrology has filed a patent infringement suit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts alleging that Metris N.V. and its U.S. subsidiary Metris U.S.A. and Mitutoyo and its U.S. subsidiary Mitutoyo America, have infringed U.S. Patent No. 5,829,148 by importing into the U.S. and offering to sell infringing portable arms.

"Hexagon Metrology welcomes fair competition," says William Gruber, President of Hexagon Metrology, "but we will not stand by if competitors use our protected technology, which our customers recognize and rely upon and which has given us a leading position in the metrology industry."

The suit seeks to prevent Metris and Mitutoyo from importing, offering for sale or using the infringing portable arms in the U.S.