B27D WORKING VENEER OR PLYWOOD
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- Subclass:
- WORKING VENEER OR PLYWOOD
Description
B27D encompasses machinery and processes for manufacturing, processing, and finishing veneer sheets and plywood products. This classification covers equipment for peeling, slicing, or otherwise preparing veneer from logs, as well as devices for assembling, bonding, pressing, and trimming veneer layers into composite plywood structures. It includes technologies for controlling veneer thickness, moisture content, and grain alignment, along with finishing operations such as surface treatment and edge finishing specific to plywood manufacture. Adjacent classes address raw wood preparation (B27B) and general woodworking operations on solid timber (B27F).
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B27D recorded 19,260 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 859 in 2013 to 1,907 in 2023 (+122%), peaking at 2,723 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B27 are NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (960 applications), ROBERT BOSCH (762 applications) and HOMAG (384 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B27D ranks 4th of 11 subclasses with filings in B27, with 19,260 applications between 2013 and 2023, 11.0% of the class. Annual filings grew 122% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+168%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B27C, Planing, Drilling, Milling, Turning or Universal Machines for Wood or Similar Material | Planing, Drilling, Milling, Turning or Universal Machines for Wood or Similar Material | 30,601 | 17.5% |
| 2 | B27G, Accessory Machines or Apparatus for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Tools for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Safety Devices for Wood Working Machines or Tools | Accessory Machines or Apparatus for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Tools for Working Wood or Similar Materials; Safety Devices for Wood Working Machines or Tools | 27,470 | 15.7% |
| 3 | B27B, Saws for Wood or Similar Material; Components or Accessories Therefor | Saws for Wood or Similar Material; Components or Accessories Therefor | 22,308 | 12.8% |
| 4 | B27D | Working Veneer or Plywood | 19,260 | 11.0% |
| 5 | B27N, Manufacture by Dry Processes of Articles, With or Without Organic Binding Agents, Made From Particles or Fibres Consisting of Wood or Other Lignocellulosic or Like Organic Material | Manufacture by Dry Processes of Articles, With or Without Organic Binding Agents, Made From Particles or Fibres Consisting of Wood or Other Lignocellulosic or Like Organic Material | 17,739 | 10.1% |
| 6 | B27M, Working of Wood Not Provided for in Subclasses; Manufacture of Specific Wooden Articles | Working of Wood Not Provided for in Subclasses; Manufacture of Specific Wooden Articles | 17,572 | 10.0% |
| 7 | B27K, Processes, Apparatus or Selection of Substances for Impregnating, Staining, Dyeing or Bleaching of Wood, or for Treating of Wood With Permeant Liquids, Not Otherwise Provided for; Chemical or Physical Treatment of Cork, Cane, Reed, Straw or Similar Materials | Processes, Apparatus or Selection of Substances for Impregnating, Staining, Dyeing or Bleaching of Wood, or for Treating of Wood With Permeant Liquids, Not Otherwise Provided for; Chemical or Physical Treatment of Cork, Cane, Reed, Straw or Similar Materials | 15,050 | 8.6% |
| 8 | B27L, Removing Bark or Vestiges of Branches; Splitting Wood; Manufacture of Veneer, Wooden Sticks, Wood Shavings, Wood Fibres or Wood Powder | Removing Bark or Vestiges of Branches; Splitting Wood; Manufacture of Veneer, Wooden Sticks, Wood Shavings, Wood Fibres or Wood Powder | 9,518 | 5.4% |
| 9 | B27J, Mechanical Working of Cane, Cork, or Similar Materials | Mechanical Working of Cane, Cork, or Similar Materials | 7,997 | 4.6% |
| 10 | B27F, Dovetailed Work; Tenons; Slotting Machines for Wood or Similar Material; Nailing or Stapling Machines | Dovetailed Work; Tenons; Slotting Machines for Wood or Similar Material; Nailing or Stapling Machines | 6,332 | 3.6% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
3 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B27, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY 960
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 762
- HOMAG DE 384
- HARBIN ARTS AND CRAFTS COMPANY 350
- NORTHEAST FORESTRY UNIVERSITY 343
- SWISS KRONO TEC CH 304
- MAKITA CORPORATION 298
- DIEFFENBACHERMASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU DE 296
- VAELINGE INNOVATION SE 287
- HUSQVARNA SE 282