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CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
C11B

PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES (drying-oils C09F)

Description

C11B covers industrial processes for producing, refining, and preserving fats, oils, waxes, and related lipid materials through mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, or recovery from waste sources. The classification encompasses treatment methods such as bleaching, deodorization, hydrogenation, and other purification techniques applied to animal and vegetable fats, fatty substances like lanolin, and natural oils. Also included are the production and processing of essential oils and perfume compositions derived from plant and animal sources. This subclass excludes detergent manufacture and candle production, which are separately classified within C11.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass C11B recorded 32,805 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 2,019 in 2013 to 2,334 in 2023 (+16%), peaking at 3,734 applications in 2017. The most active applicants in class C11 are P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) (6,498 applications), HENKEL (3,445 applications) and BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) (2,409 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

8 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • C11B 15/00 Solidifying fatty oils, fats, or waxes by physical processes

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C11, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 6,498
  2. HENKEL DE 3,445
  3. BASF (BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK) DE 2,409
  4. ECOLAB US 1,614
  5. NOVOZYMES DK 1,609
  6. UNILEVER NL 1,468
  7. UNILEVER IP HOLDINGS NL 1,246
  8. CONOPCO, INC., D/B/A UNILEVER US 1,048
  9. UNILEVER GB 1,039
  10. FIRMENICH CH 964