Bodor Laser's Global Troubles Mount: U.S. Lawsuit, FDA Recall, and Indian Customs Action Raise Red Flags Over Safety

Mint

03-06-2025

May 2025 |— Bodor Laser, a laser cutting machine manufacturer that once touted itself as a global leader, is now grappling with mounting regulatory and legal scrutiny across two of the world's largest industrial markets: the United States and India.
In the U.S., Bodor is facing a multi-million-dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed in Nevada following the fatal crushing of a 38-year-old worker, Jose Luis Ortiz Rojas, at a manufacturing facility in Las Vegas. The incident involved a Bodor P3015 laser cutting machine, which allegedly failed to detect Ortiz's presence after he opened the side door.
Despite the company's promotional claims of 'intelligent visual collision avoidance,' the lawsuit asserts that the machine's safety system was either disabled or nonfunctional at the time of the accident. The plaintiff's family further accuses Bodor of fraudulent marketing practices, arguing that the company misled customers via exaggerated safety claims on its website and in product videos.
The civil case has ignited serious concerns among U.S. regulators and industrial buyers, with product liability, gross negligence, and deceptive trade practices forming the core of the legal complaint.
Adding regulatory weight to the controversy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a Class II recall affecting 269 units of Bodor's P and C Series laser cutting machines produced between 2018 and 2024. The recall notice cited the absence of mandatory interlock systems, lack of presence detection, and improper certification labeling.
In 2024, the FDA issued a formal Import Alert, subjecting further shipments to heightened scrutiny or outright refusal of entry into the U.S. market. Bodor has since announced corrective measures, including hardware retrofits and on-site inspections, but the damage to its reputation appears significant. Several U.S.-based metal fabricators are reportedly reassessing their Bodor installations in light of the recall.
While Bodor's challenges in the U.S. stem from product safety and regulatory labeling, the company's India operations are now embroiled in a separate, high-stakes customs dispute.
In October 2024, Chennai Customs seized three consignments of laser machines imported by Bodor Laser India Pvt. Ltd., citing false declaration of origin. The shipments were listed as 'Made in Thailand,' but inspections revealed substantial Chinese-origin components and packaging — a potential attempt to bypass India's anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods.
The seized shipments, valued at ₹ 37.7 million, have not been released. Indian authorities have demanded a provisional bond of ₹ 152 million (roughly USD 1.8 million) to cover potential penalties and duties. The matter is being investigated under Sections 110 and 114A of the Customs Act, and criminal prosecution is reportedly under consideration.
When seen together, the U.S. safety violations, FDA recall, and Indian customs seizure suggest a troubling pattern of systemic noncompliance across multiple jurisdictions. Bodor's marketing claims, safety engineering, and trade conduct are all under the microscope.
As both developed and emerging markets tighten oversight on imported industrial equipment, Bodor Laser's challenges serve as a high-profile warning to global exporters: regulatory diligence is not optional—it's the price of long-term market access.