The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. The automotive extrusion moulding industry is advancing due to increased demand for lightweight, durable parts, advancements in material science, technological advancements, and government regulations. The automotive industry utilizes various extrusion moulding technologies, such as Sekisui Kasei’s two-step method, Benteler’s scratch-resistant process, Arkema‘s honeycomb-structured process, and continuously reinforced thermoplastic (CFRT), to enhance strength and durability. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: automotive extrusion moulding. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, integrated multi-motor drivetrains, electric power steering (EPS), and post-collision handling are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Variable compression engines, V2V distance monitoring, and turbocharger shaft bearings are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and plasma-jet ignition, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Automotive extrusion moulding is a key innovation area in automotive
Automotive extrusion moulding is a manufacturing process where a material is extruded and then moulded into specific shapes required in producing various automotive parts such as foam insulation, food casings, and insulators. The process involves the use of materials such as polyolefin resin, chlorinated polyethylene resin, and glass fiber reinforced polypropylene-based resin to produce foam articles that are light in weight, with good dimensional stability, bending rigidity, and excellent microbial adherence and affinity for pore areas.
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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of automotive extrusion moulding.
Key players in automotive extrusion moulding – 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 automotive extrusion moulding
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Sekisui Kasei is one of the leading patent filers in automotive extrusion moulding. The company has filed a new two-step extrusion method for improved strength and durability. This innovative technology could make vehicles lighter, more fuel-efficient, and durable, potentially reducing fossil fuel reliance and improving air quality. Other patents are focused on honeycomb structure and scratch resistance. Sekisui Chemical and 3M are some of the other key patent filers in this space.
In terms of application diversity, DKS leads the pack, while Viscofan and Kaneka stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Viscofan held the top position, followed by Asahi Kasei and Daikin.
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.
