The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued its initial determination in a patent infringement complaint against Voltage, finding that cable management patents from Shoals Technologies Group were infringed upon.
Credit: Shoals
On Feb. 6, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Doris Johnson Hines determined that Voltage violated Sec. 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing its LYNX trunk bus products into the United States. The LYNX product allegedly infringes on Shoals’ patents for its Big Lead Assembly (BLA) solution.
This is the latest determination in a lengthy patent infringement battle between Shoals and Voltage. Shoals first claimed infringement against Voltage in 2023 for two solar panel connector and wire harness patents. Those complaints ultimately led to a no-fault determination by the ITC in early 2025, and the case was terminated. Shoals filed a new complaint on Jan. 10, 2025, with two different patents (Nos. 12,015,375 and 12,015,376), which is what this recent initial determination refers.
A Sec. 337 violation declares that the infringement of certain patents leads to unfair competition in import trade. Judge Hines found that both the ‘375 and ‘376 patents have been infringed upon under Sec. 337 in her initial determination.
“This initial ruling is a big step toward a win for American innovation and the domestic energy supply chain,” said Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals Technologies Group. “We appreciate the ALJ’s recognition that protecting intellectual property means protecting the future of American energy security. Shoals was founded on the belief that U.S. manufacturing should lead the electrification revolution, and we will continue to defend our intellectual property, invest in domestic production, and create American jobs.”
The ITC’s final determination should be released by June 2026. In the meantime, Voltage may still import its LYNX products into the United States. Two years ago, Voltage tweaked its LYNX design to step away from any Shoals’ patent infringement claims. That is likely why the ITC threw out the first Sec. 337 case, but now Shoals is claiming infringement on different patents.
Voltage, based in North Carolina, manufactures some product in China. The company just announced it would open a new eBOS manufacturing site in North Carolina to produce more Made-in-America product.
