Stand-off? Tensions flare between wind exhibitors in IP spat at CleanPower event
3S Americas filed lawsuit on eve of American Clean Power conference after allegedly spotting its technology on display at rival booth within eyesight of its own
A company behind a lift system to transport technicians to the top of wind turbines has accused a competitor of brazenly selling its technology at the recent CleanPower 2025 conference in Arizona, as the rivals faced off in display stands just metres apart.
3S Americas, a US subsidiary of Ficont Industry (Beijing), filed a lawsuit alleging patent infringement against Chinese rival Cooper New Energy on 18 May in an Arizona district court.
3S accuses its Chinese counterpart of having infringed its patented technology for a wind turbine automatic lift system for technicians and preparing to sell it at the American Clean Power Association’s annual trade show, which ran from Tuesday and ended yesterday.
Founded in 2005, 3S describes itself in the Arizona lawsuit as a leading global supplier of innovative safety equipment and engineering service solutions for working-at-height in wind energy, construction, and other industries. It is a subsidiary of Ficont Industry, a Beijing-based company offering high-altitude safety operation equipment.
3S says its innovative service lifts, climbers, and other solutions have been implemented in over 150,000 wind turbines worldwide.
3S says it is the creator of the Climb Auto System, marketed in the US as the 3S Lift Climb Auto System, which carries technicians automatically to the top of wind turbines – “eliminating manual climbing and the resulting physical and mental strain”.
3S alleges that Cooper “has been infringing and continues to infringe” its valid patent for that technology through its Cooper Free Climber Lifter product, “without authorisation to unfairly benefit from 3S’s innovation and investment.”
“Cooper’s knowing acts of infringement will frustrate 3S’s continued strong business relationships, contracts, and potential contracts, resulting in lost sales and profits, and otherwise are causing or will cause substantial harm to 3S’s business,” alleges 3S.
Cooper was founded in 2011, with its listing at the CleanPower conference saying that it focuses on wind power, mainly engaged in the research and development, production and sales of wind power aerial operation equipment, tower barrel accessories and wind power intelligent equipment.
CleanPower 2025 ran from Monday to Thursday this week at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona, with over 8,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors at the event.
The event may have brought 3S and Cooper a little too close for comfort, however. 3S submitted a floor plan from the CleanPower website in its lawsuit showing the companies separated by just a few stands, with one visible from the other.
3S said that it believed at least four Cooper employees attended or would attend CleanPower, where it accused the Chinese company of having “publicly displayed the accused product” on at least 18 May, when exhibitors were setting up their stands.
3S is asking the Arizona court to find that Cooper has infringed its patent, to declare that its patent is valid and enforceable and to permanently stop the Chinese company from pursuing further infringement.
Cooper was approached for comment.
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