Violator of Hypertherm, Inc.’s patents, B&Bartoni, faces insolvency petition and owner is wanted by the police

HANOVER, N.H.—August 15, 2023—Hypertherm Associates, manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, is sharing the latest news about B&Bartoni, an aftermarket consumable manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. B&Bartoni sold consumables throughout Europe and South America and violated Hypertherm Associates’ patents in multiple countries. Hypertherm Associates has filed lawsuits against B&Bartoni in Czech Republic, Brazil, and Turkey.

B&Bartoni is facing allegations of tax fraud and abuse of European Union subsidy funds resulting in an insolvency petition in the Czech Republic. The application was filed by investors who bought corporate bonds worth about $1 million (almost 1 million EUR) years ago, but the company did not repay them by the deadline last fall. At the end of May 2023, the investors received information that the company was supposed to be taken over in a hostile manner. 

A few days later, the detectives from the National Center against Organized Crime conducted a large-scale raid and charged thirteen people and three companies, including the owner of B&Bartoni, Tomas Barton, with the crime of subsidy fraud and damaging the financial interest of the European Union. They were accused of trading used and refurbished machines, while claiming the machines were brand new in the official record. The group deliberately drew or attempted to draw subsidies in the total amount of about $4 million (almost 4 million EUR). In addition, the police announced a search for Tomas Barton who fled from Czech Republic and currently hiding in Brazil, according to several sources. 

At the end of July, Hypertherm Associates’ attorneys in Czech Republic communicated that the lawyer of B&Bartoni terminated the representation of their client due to the likelihood B&Bartoni was not paying their attorneys. It is possible that this will further slow down the court proceedings against B&Bartoni as they will not have representation.

In earlier years, the company gave the appearance that they were a successful company. In 2016, the company received an award from the Czech Trade agency with the support of the Ministry of Industry for exporting to Southeast Asia. The company presented itself in the media as an "exporter who does not know losses". Because B&Bartoni had such a great reputation, it was issued corporate bonds in 2018 to help it grow and investors were eager to invest in the company. 

To read more about this story in the media, follow the links below:

Exportér roku je v insolvenci. Majitele firmy hledá policie | Newstream
Pátrání po osobách - Policie České republiky
Stroje z bazaru vykazovali jako nové. Podvodem získali z EU dotace za 90 milionů - Novinky

Hypertherm Associates is a U.S. based manufacturer of industrial cutting products and software. Its products, including Hypertherm plasma and OMAX waterjet systems, are used by companies around the world to build ships, airplanes, and railcars; construct steel buildings, fabricate heavy equipment, erect wind turbines, and more. In addition to cutting systems, the company creates CNCs and software trusted for performance and reliability that result in increased productivity and profitability for hundreds of thousands of businesses. Founded in 1968, Hypertherm Associates is a 100 percent Associate-owned company, employing approximately 2,000 Associates, with operations and partner representation worldwide. Learn more at www.HyperthermAssociates.com.