MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

B23 encompasses machine tools and metal-working processes that are not classified elsewhere in the IPC system. This class covers a broad range of equipment and methods for shaping, cutting, forming, and finishing metal workpieces, including lathes, milling machines, grinding equipment, and specialized metal-removal or metal-forming devices. The classification includes both the machines themselves and the operational techniques employed in metal-working, as well as auxiliary systems and components integral to these processes. Adjacent classes address more specialized metal-working technologies (such as B21 for metal rolling or forging) and non-metal material processing, making B23 the residual classification for conventional machine-tool technology not specifically assigned elsewhere.

Filing statistics

IPC B23 recorded 1,621,901 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 9 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 74,354 in 2013 to 203,465 in 2023 (+174%), peaking at 220,347 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B23 are ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) (3,407 applications), FANUC (3,120 applications) and DISCO ABRASIVE SYSTEM (2,777 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

B23 comprises 9 subclasses with filings; the largest is B23K with 31.8% of the class's 1,621,901 applications between 2013 and 2023.

Subclasses of class B23 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	B23K, Soldering or Unsoldering; Welding; Cladding or Plating by Soldering or Welding; Cutting by Applying Heat Locally, e.g. Flame Cutting; Working by Laser Beam	Soldering or Unsoldering; Welding; Cladding or Plating by Soldering or Welding; Cutting by Applying Heat Locally, e.g. Flame Cutting; Working by Laser Beam	516,255	31.8%
2	B23Q, Details, Components, or Accessories for Machine Tools, e.g. Arrangements for Copying or Controlling; Machine Tools in General, Characterised by the Construction of Particular Details or Components; Combinations or Associations of Metal-Working Machines, Not Directed to a Particular Result	Details, Components, or Accessories for Machine Tools, e.g. Arrangements for Copying or Controlling; Machine Tools in General, Characterised by the Construction of Particular Details or Components; Combinations or Associations of Metal-Working Machines, Not Directed to a Particular Result	452,253	27.9%
3	B23P, Metal-Working Not Otherwise Provided for; Combined Operations; Universal Machine Tools	Metal-Working Not Otherwise Provided for; Combined Operations; Universal Machine Tools	233,653	14.4%
4	B23B, Turning; Boring	Turning; Boring	180,015	11.1%
5	B23D, Planing; Slotting; Shearing; Broaching; Sawing; Filing; Scraping; Like Operations for Working Metal by Removing Material, Not Otherwise Provided for	Planing; Slotting; Shearing; Broaching; Sawing; Filing; Scraping; Like Operations for Working Metal by Removing Material, Not Otherwise Provided for	132,167	8.1%
6	B23C, Milling	Milling	50,049	3.1%
7	B23H, Working of Metal by the Action of a High Concentration of Electric Current on a Workpiece Using an Electrode Which Takes the Place of a Tool; Such Working Combined With Other Forms of Working of Metal	Working of Metal by the Action of a High Concentration of Electric Current on a Workpiece Using an Electrode Which Takes the Place of a Tool; Such Working Combined With Other Forms of Working of Metal	21,842	1.3%
8	B23G, Thread Cutting; Working of Screws, Bolt Heads or Nuts, in Conjunction Therewith	Thread Cutting; Working of Screws, Bolt Heads or Nuts, in Conjunction Therewith	18,811	1.2%
9	B23F, Making Gears or Toothed Racks	Making Gears or Toothed Racks	16,856	1.0%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

shaping by flame CUTTINGDRILLING plastics or substances in a plastic state in generalMACHINE(S) toolsmachining operations on METAL(S), or mechanical treatment of METAL(S) (working METAL(S))making METAL(S) articlesWORKING any substance by process applicable to metalWORKING metal

9 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B23B TURNING; BORING
B23C MILLING
B23D PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
B23F MAKING GEARS OR TOOTHED RACKS
B23G THREAD CUTTING; WORKING OF SCREWS, BOLT HEADS OR NUTS, IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH
B23H WORKING OF METAL BY THE ACTION OF A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT ON A WORKPIECE USING AN ELECTRODE WHICH TAKES THE PLACE OF A TOOL; SUCH WORKING COMBINED WITH OTHER FORMS OF WORKING OF METAL
B23K SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
B23P METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
B23Q DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL, CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT

Top Applicants

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

ITW (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS) US 3,407
FANUC JP 3,120
DISCO ABRASIVE SYSTEM 2,777
HAN'S LASER TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY GROUP COMPANY 2,629
ROBERT BOSCH DE 2,468
FANUC 2,273
DISCO CORPORATION JP 2,267
GE (GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY) US 1,611
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,534
ISCAR IL 1,499