E02 HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL-SHIFTING
Classification Context
- Section:
- FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- Class:
- HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL-SHIFTING
Description
Class E02 encompasses structures and engineering works related to water management, ground stabilization, and earth movement. It covers hydraulic infrastructure such as dams, locks, canals, and flood control systems, as well as foundation design and soil mechanics for construction projects. The class also includes techniques for excavation, dredging, soil compaction, and ground improvement methods. Adjacent classes address specialized building construction (E04) and general civil engineering works beyond the hydraulic and soil-related scope of E02.
Filing statistics
IPC E02 recorded 533,747 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 23,276 in 2013 to 71,379 in 2023 (+207%), peaking at 72,770 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E02 are KOMATSU (3,549 applications), CATERPILLAR (2,893 applications) and HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY (2,390 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- KOMATSU JP 3,549
- CATERPILLAR US 2,893
- HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY JP 2,390
- HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY COMPANY 2,340
- POWERCHINA HUADONG ENGINEERING CORPORATION 2,336
- CHINA CONSTRUCTION EIGHTH ENGINEERING DIVISION 2,174
- SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 2,119
- HOHAI UNIVERSITY 1,821
- KOMATSU 1,775
- POWERCHINA GUIYANG ENGINEERING CORPORATION 1,725