B27L REMOVING BARK OR VESTIGES OF BRANCHES; SPLITTING WOOD; MANUFACTURE OF VENEER, WOODEN STICKS, WOOD SHAVINGS, WOOD FIBRES OR WOOD POWDER
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- Subclass:
- REMOVING BARK OR VESTIGES OF BRANCHES; SPLITTING WOOD; MANUFACTURE OF VENEER, WOODEN STICKS, WOOD SHAVINGS, WOOD FIBRES OR WOOD POWDER
Description
B27L encompasses machinery and processes for primary wood preparation and conversion operations, including bark removal, debarking of branch remnants, wood splitting, and the manufacture of wood-derived products such as veneer sheets, wooden dowels or sticks, wood shavings, wood fibres, and wood powder. This classification covers debarking equipment, splitting mechanisms, and processing technologies that transform raw or partially processed wood into intermediate or finished materials for further manufacturing or end use. Applications range from sawmill preparation of logs to production of wood composites, engineered wood products, and cellulose-based materials.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B27L recorded 9,518 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 414 in 2013 to 813 in 2023 (+96%), peaking at 1,346 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
B27L ranks 8th of 11 subclasses with filings in B27, with 9,518 applications between 2013 and 2023, 5.4% of the class. Annual filings grew 96% 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 | 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 | 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
6 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B27L 1/00 Debarking or removing vestiges of branches from trees or logs; Machines therefor
- B27L 11/00 Manufacture of wood shavings, chips, powder, or the like; Tools therefor
- B27L 3/00 Debarking by chemical treatment
- B27L 5/00 Manufacture of veneer
- B27L 7/00 Arrangements for splitting wood
- B27L 9/00 Manufacture of wooden sticks, e.g. toothpicks
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