B31 MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
Description
B31 encompasses machinery, processes, and techniques for manufacturing finished articles and performing operations on paper, cardboard, and fibrous materials with paper-like properties. This includes converting raw or semi-finished paper stock into consumer products (bags, envelopes, boxes, containers), as well as mechanical and chemical working operations such as folding, cutting, embossing, and laminating. The classification covers both the equipment used (forming machines, cutting apparatus, finishing devices) and the procedural aspects of these manufacturing processes. Adjacent classifications address paper production itself (B31B–B31D cover specialized paper-making and converting), while B31 focuses broadly on the post-production conversion and finishing stages.
Filing statistics
CPC B31 recorded 39,357 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 2,691 in 2013 to 3,204 in 2023 (+19%), peaking at 4,784 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B31 are GPI (GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL) (496 applications), P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) (403 applications) and KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION (332 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B31B MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making wound articles, e.g. wound tubes, B31C; combined making and filling B65B)
- B31C MAKING WOUND ARTICLES, e.g. WOUND TUBES, OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
- B31D MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B31B OR B31C (manufacture by dry processes of articles made from particles or fibres consisting of wood or other lignocellulosic or like organic material B27N; making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B; making articles from cellulosic fibrous suspensions, e.g. wood pulp, D21J)
- B31F MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GPI (GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL) US 496
- P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 403
- KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION US 332
- RANPAK CORPORATION US 279
- PULPAC SE 256
- BOBST MEX CH 251
- TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE CH 246
- PREGIS INNOVATIVE PACKAGING US 210
- WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES US 204
- BHS CORRUGATED MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU DE 198