MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: BAKING; EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; DOUGHS FOR BAKING
Subclass:: MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH

Description

A21C covers machinery and equipment designed for the mechanical processing of dough materials and the handling of finished baked products derived from dough. This includes mixers, kneaders, dividers, shapers, proofing equipment, and conveying systems used in commercial and industrial bakery operations. The classification encompasses both the primary transformation of raw ingredients into dough and the post-baking handling, movement, and processing of bread, pastries, and similar baked goods. Related dough formulations and chemical aspects are covered separately under other A21 subclasses.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass A21C recorded 33,100 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,443 in 2013 to 3,855 in 2023 (+167%), peaking at 4,177 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A21 are KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH (482 applications), JOYOUNG COMPANY (322 applications) and HAAS FOOD EQUIPMENT (307 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

A21C ranks 2nd of 3 subclasses with filings in A21, with 33,100 applications between 2013 and 2023, 38.7% of the class. Annual filings grew 167% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+24%).

Subclasses of class A21 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	A21D, Treatment of Flour or Dough for Baking, e.g. by Addition of Materials; Baking; Bakery Products	Treatment of Flour or Dough for Baking, e.g. by Addition of Materials; Baking; Bakery Products	35,638	41.7%
2	A21C	Machines or Equipment for Making or Processing Doughs; Handling Baked Articles Made From Dough	33,100	38.7%
3	A21B, Bakers' Ovens; Machines or Equipment for Baking	Bakers' Ovens; Machines or Equipment for Baking	16,786	19.6%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

BATCHING doughKNEADING of doughMOULD(S) for cakesmaking PASTRY(IES)making PIE(S)SHAPING doughWORKING dough

9 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A21C 1/00 Mixing or kneading machines for the preparation of dough
A21C 11/00 Other machines for forming the dough into its final shape before cooking or baking
A21C 13/00 Provers, i.e. apparatus permitting dough to rise
A21C 14/00 Machines or equipment for making or processing dough, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
A21C 15/00 Apparatus for handling baked articles
A21C 3/00 Machines or apparatus for shaping batches of dough before subdivision
A21C 5/00 Dough-dividing machines
A21C 7/00 Machines which homogenise the subdivided dough by working other than by kneading
A21C 9/00 Other apparatus for handling dough or dough pieces

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 482
JOYOUNG COMPANY 322
HAAS FOOD EQUIPMENT AT 307
GENERAL MILLS US 304
ADEKA CORPORATION 207
JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 196
NOVOZYMES DK 186
INTERCONTINENTAL GREAT BRANDS (KRAFT FOODS) US 181
NESTEC CH 177
NESTLE CH 171