Parker Automotive Corp. Beats the Competition by Acquiring It

COSTA MESA —  In a move aimed at underscoring its intent to protect its patents and maintain its share of a growing market, Parker Automotive Corp. said Wednesday that it has acquired and eliminated a small competitor it previously accused of patent infringement.

Diane Parker, a vice president of Parker, said the company acquired the inventory, machinery, plans, formulas, customer list, distribution contracts and trademarks of Houston-based Intertech and has discontinued Intertech’s product line and operations.

Parker Automotive, with about $20 million in annual sales, manufactures a system used to clean fuel systems and other components in all types of internal combustion engines. Parker products, marketed under the trade name CarbonClean, are distributed in 54 countries.

Intertech manufactured a competing line of products called Carbon Zapp. Parker said Intertech’s customers are being offered the opportunity to switch to the CarbonClean system.

Michael E. Parker, president and chief executive officer of Parker Automotive, said that while the Intertech acquisition was very small it was important.

“We believe it was a validation of our patents,” he said. “The necessity of a long, drawn out legal action was prevented and the terms are extremely advantageous to Parker Automotive. Any time that a competitor is eliminated, a beneficial result accrues.”