MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL

Description

Class B21 covers mechanical metal-working processes that shape or deform metal without significant material removal, including punching, stamping, bending, drawing, and forging operations. It encompasses machinery, tools, and methods used in cold and hot forming of metals, as well as related processes like shearing and blanking. This class excludes metal cutting and machining operations (covered in B23), welding (B23K), and non-mechanical metal treatment such as casting or heat treatment without forming.

Filing statistics

IPC B21 recorded 660,419 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 33,054 in 2013 to 81,207 in 2023 (+146%), peaking at 87,836 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B21 are JFE STEEL (2,318 applications), JFE STEEL (2,294 applications) and POSCO (POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY) (2,083 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

making or repairing LINK(S) of chainsMACHINE(S) toolsmachining operations on METAL(S), or mechanical treatment of METAL(S) (working METAL(S))making METAL(S) articlesROLLING metalWORKING any substance by process applicable to metalWORKING metal

9 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B21B ROLLING OF METAL
B21C 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
B21D WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
B21F WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
B21G MAKING NEEDLES, PINS OR NAILS OF METAL
B21H MAKING PARTICULAR METAL OBJECTS BY ROLLING, e.g. SCREWS, WHEELS, RINGS, BARRELS, BALLS
B21J FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
B21K MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS
B21L MAKING METAL CHAINS

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

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