MAKING NEEDLES, PINS OR NAILS OF METAL

Description

B21G covers mechanical processes for manufacturing metal needles, pins, and nails through forming, shaping, and assembling operations that do not fundamentally involve material removal. This includes techniques such as wire drawing, heading, pointing, and cold forming of these small elongated fastening or textile components. The class encompasses both the machinery and methods used in high-volume production of common fasteners and precision needles, excluding machining or grinding operations that would be classified elsewhere. Related manufacturing processes involving material removal are covered by other subclasses within B21 (such as turning or milling), while the design of the final products themselves falls under different classifications.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B21G recorded 1,702 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 113 in 2013 to 140 in 2023 (+24%), peaking at 252 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