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DIFF Subclass Not Allocatable
B21F

WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE (rolling of metal wire B21B1/16; by drawing, auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material B21C)

Introduced: September 1968

Description

B21F covers mechanical operations performed on metal wire without material removal, including drawing, twisting, coiling, straightening, and bundling processes. This subclass encompasses machinery and methods for transforming wire stock into finished or semi-finished products for applications such as fasteners, springs, cables, and reinforcement materials. Operations typically involve plastic deformation, bending, or assembly of wire components rather than cutting or grinding. Related wire coating, insulation, and electroplating processes are excluded, falling instead under classes B05, B29, or C23.

Title

Titles differ between systems:

IPC: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE

CPC: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE (rolling of metal wire B21B1/16; by drawing, auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material B21C)

Full Title

Full titles differ between systems:

IPC:

WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE

CPC:

WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE (rolling of metal wire B21B1/16; by drawing, auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material B21C)

Additional Content IPC

Limiting references

Metal rolling methods or mills for making semi-finished products of solid or profiled cross-section, for rolling wire or material of like small cross-section Manufacture of metal sheets, wire, rods, tubes, profiles or like semi-manufactured products otherwise than by rolling; Auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material

Application references

Processes for changing of physical properties of metals ,

IPC and CPC are identically structured here. All 23 subcodes exist in both systems.

6 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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  • B21F 13/00 Splitting wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 17/00 Jacketing or reinforcing articles with wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 19/00 Metallic coating of wire (by extruding B21C23/24; by soldering or welding, e.g. cladding or plating, B23K) IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 25/00 Making barbed wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 31/00 Making meshed-ring network from wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 39/00 Making wheel spokes from wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 41/00 Making umbrella frames or members from wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
  • B21F 43/00 Making bands, e.g. bracelets, from wire IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class B21,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. JFE STEEL 2,318
  2. JFE STEEL JP 2,294
  3. POSCO (POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY) KR 2,083
  4. NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION JP 1,650
  5. NSSMC (NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL) JP 1,631
  6. SMS GROUP DE 1,472
  7. BAOSHAN IRON & STEEL COMPANY 1,181
  8. SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 1,079
  9. ANHUI JIANGHUAI AUTOMOBILE 984
  10. HYUNDAI STEEL COMPANY KR 980

Top Applicants (CPC)

Class B21,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. JFE STEEL JP 2,667
  2. NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION JP 2,049
  3. POSCO (POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY) KR 1,967
  4. NSSMC (NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL) JP 1,800
  5. SMS GROUP DE 1,538
  6. JFE STEEL 1,150
  7. ARCELORMITTAL LU 1,142
  8. BAOSHAN IRON & STEEL COMPANY 821
  9. HYUNDAI STEEL COMPANY KR 808
  10. THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE DE 660