The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in curable epoxy adhesives is driven by performance enhancement, versatility, sustainability, durability, and smart adhesives, and growing importance of technologies such as epoxy resin formulation, additives, modifiers, structural adhesive film technology. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Advanced materials in automotive: curable epoxy adhesivesBuy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Curable epoxy adhesives is a key innovation area in advanced materials

Curable epoxy adhesives are products used to bond two surfaces together by crosslinking the resin with a hardener creating a tough, durable, and heat-resistant connection. These adhesives can be cured at room temperature, but the process can be accelerated with heat or UV light.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 100 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of curable epoxy adhesives.

Key players in curable epoxy adhesives – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to curable epoxy adhesives

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Bridgestone 42 Unlock Company Profile
Sekisui Chemical 55 Unlock Company Profile
maxingvest 43 Unlock Company Profile
T&K Toka 9 Unlock Company Profile
Toray Industries 43 Unlock Company Profile
BYD 9 Unlock Company Profile
Henkel 84 Unlock Company Profile
Kobe Steel 11 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor 10 Unlock Company Profile
Sika 44 Unlock Company Profile
Tatsuta Electric Wire & Cable 21 Unlock Company Profile
SAES Getters 10 Unlock Company Profile
Sekisui Kasei 10 Unlock Company Profile
3M 103 Unlock Company Profile
Honda Motor 22 Unlock Company Profile
Asahi Kasei 10 Unlock Company Profile
Kaneka 20 Unlock Company Profile
PPG Industries 16 Unlock Company Profile
General Motors 21 Unlock Company Profile
Nitto Denko 100 Unlock Company Profile
Doosan 15 Unlock Company Profile
Sumitomo Bakelite 32 Unlock Company Profile
Resonac 76 Unlock Company Profile
Dai Nippon Printing 17 Unlock Company Profile
LG 194 Unlock Company Profile
Denso 9 Unlock Company Profile
Ajinomoto 24 Unlock Company Profile
Furukawa Electric 132 Unlock Company Profile
BML 23 Unlock Company Profile
DIC 9 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 14 Unlock Company Profile
POSCO 10 Unlock Company Profile
DuPont de Nemours 37 Unlock Company Profile
Dexerials 78 Unlock Company Profile
Xerox 10 Unlock Company Profile
Zephyros 89 Unlock Company Profile
Namics 14 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

LG is one of the leading patent filers in curable epoxy adhesives. The company has developed innovative epoxy resin formulations that exhibit superior bonding strength, durability, and resistance to environmental factors. The formulations can be tailored to meet specific industry or application requirements. LG has invested in the development of environmentally friendly epoxy adhesives with reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) content or bio-based raw materials, to comply with stricter environmental regulations. Some other key patent filers in the space include Furukawa Electric and 3M.

In terms of application diversity, LG leads the pack, while Furukawa Electric and Secom stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sekisui Chemical held the top position, followed by LG and Henkel.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.