WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
Subclass:: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL

Description

B21D covers mechanical shaping and deformation of sheet metal, tubes, rods, and profiles through processes that do not involve material removal, including punching operations. Key processes include bending, folding, deep drawing, stretching, swaging, and flanging of metal workpieces. This classification encompasses both the machinery and methods used for these forming operations, as well as related tools and dies, excluding machining processes classified under B23 that involve chip removal.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B21D recorded 351,007 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 16,565 in 2013 to 42,835 in 2023 (+159%), peaking at 47,343 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

In class comparison

B21D ranks 1st of 9 subclasses with filings in B21, with 351,007 applications between 2013 and 2023, 53.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 159% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+146%).

Subclasses of class B21 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	B21D	Working or Processing of Sheet Metal or Metal Tubes, Rods or Profiles Without Essentially Removing Material; Punching Metal	351,007	53.1%
2	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	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	84,269	12.8%
3	B21B, Rolling of Metal	Rolling of Metal	71,906	10.9%
4	B21F, Working or Processing of Metal Wire	Working or Processing of Metal Wire	67,229	10.2%
5	B21J, Forging; Hammering; Pressing Metal; Riveting; Forge Furnaces	Forging; Hammering; Pressing Metal; Riveting; Forge Furnaces	53,883	8.2%
6	B21K, Making Forged or Pressed Metal Products, e.g. Horse-Shoes, Rivets, Bolts or Wheels	Making Forged or Pressed Metal Products, e.g. Horse-Shoes, Rivets, Bolts or Wheels	18,766	2.8%
7	B21H, Making Particular Metal Objects by Rolling, e.g. Screws, Wheels, Rings, Barrels, Balls	Making Particular Metal Objects by Rolling, e.g. Screws, Wheels, Rings, Barrels, Balls	9,223	1.4%
8	B21L, Making Metal Chains	Making Metal Chains	2,434	0.4%
9	B21G, Making Needles, Pins or Nails of Metal	Making Needles, Pins or Nails of Metal	1,702	0.3%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

profiles profile constructional elements in form of metal bars with a particular cross section different from those of tubes or rods, e.g. a load supporting I-beam

Limiting references

Working or processing of wire, e.g. for making wire fabrics

Application references

Pressing or stamping ornamental design on surfaces Stamping or bending processes for producing ornamental structures Making nails, pins or the like by cutting from strips or sheet material Making chains or chain parts

Related Keywords

making CLOSURES by working metal sheetCOATING metal parts by plating with sheet metalCOATING metal parts by welding, soldering or brazingCURVING [metal]DIMPLING of metalworking or processing metals without essentially removing materialworking or processing metal RODS without essentially removing materialworking or processing SHEET(S) metal without essentially removing materialworking or processing metal TUBE(S) without essentially removing material

29 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B21D 1/00 Straightening, restoring form or removing local distortions of sheet metal or specific articles made therefrom; Stretching sheet metal combined with rolling
B21D 11/00 Bending not restricted to forms of material mentioned in only one of groups , ,; Bending not provided for in groups; Twisting
B21D 13/00 Corrugating sheet metal, rods or profiles, or bending sheet metal, rods or profiles into wave form
B21D 15/00 Corrugating tubes
B21D 17/00 Forming single grooves in sheet metal or tubular or hollow articles
B21D 19/00 Flanging or other edge treatment, e.g. of tubes
B21D 21/00 Combined processes according to methods covered by groups
B21D 22/00 Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing
B21D 24/00 Special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses
B21D 25/00 Working sheet metal of limited length by stretching, e.g. for straightening
B21D 26/00 Shaping without cutting otherwise than by using rigid devices or tools or yieldable or resilient pads, e.g. shaping by applying fluid pressure or magnetic forces
B21D 28/00 Shaping by press-cutting; Perforating
B21D 3/00 Straightening or restoring form of metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom, whether or not in combination with sheet metal parts
B21D 31/00 Other methods for working sheet metal, metal tubes, metal profiles
B21D 33/00 Special measures in connection with working metal foils, e.g. gold foils
B21D 35/00 Combined processes according to methods covered by groups
B21D 37/00 Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass
B21D 39/00 Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating; Tube expanders
B21D 41/00 Application of procedures in order to alter the diameter of tube ends
B21D 43/00 Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, apparatus for working or processing sheet metal, metal tubes or metal profiles; Associations therewith of cutting devices

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B21, 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