STRIX, the world leader in kettle technology, has taken swift and decisive action to stop the sale of infringing kettles in Australia.

STRIX' flagship product is the thermally-sensitive control and switch system which stops kettles boiling dry. These controls and switches are protected by patent in Australia.

The controls are supplied to the world's biggest appliance manufacturers such as Philips, Kenwood, Bosch-Siemens and Braun.

Saab Appliances, a local Australian importer, had imported and on-sold a considerable shipment of Belle EC13 kettles from a Chinese manufacturer and had another shipment of over 8000 kettles "on the water." These kettles contained infringing switches and controls.

"We're not just concerned about infringement of our patents and the illegality of the controls" said Richard Moorhouse, spokesman for STRIX, "we're also very worried about the danger posed to consumers because kettles fitted with infringing controls can be electrically unsafe and risk giving electric shocks to users.  They also represent a fire hazard."

A positive result has been achieved by STRIX in protecting both its intellectual property and consumer safety with the Belle kettles being pulled off retailers' shelves and the shipment en route from China made to do an about-turn.