EXECUTIVE BRIEF. Technology Insights in CODING AND MARKING 2016

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1 EXECUTIVE BRIEF Technology Insights in CODING AND MARKING 2016 Analyzing Technologies Landscape and Patent Strategies in the Global Coding and Marking Market Author : Alain Dunand January 4, 2017

2 We are pleased to announce the availability of our multi-client study entitled: TECHNOLOGY INSIGHTS IN MARKING AND CODING 2016 The report provides the first of its kind description and up-to-date analysis of the comprehensive range of coding and marking technologies: continuous inkjet (CIJ), piezo DOD inkjet (PIJ), thermal ink jet (TIJ), valve-ink jet (VIJ), thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), laser (LAS), and print and apply labelling (PAL). The report analyzes the technologies and patent landscape, the competitive positioning of the main players, the profiles of the top patent applicants, and the recent patent trends. It also covers exhaustively the latest patent publications including the patent offices patentability opinions. You are looking for... An analysis of technologies and of the patent landscape in coding and marking An overview of the public domain inventions relevant to each coding and marking technology A review of your competitors evolution and patent strategy An identification of the recent 5-year patent trends An exhaustive view of the latest 18-month patent publications, including the patentoffices opinions on patentability You are currently surveying the coding and marking landscape developing a new coding and marking product in search of prior art or public domain considering an entry into a coding and marking technology field Find the most valuable answers are in our report Please feel free to contact us for any question you may have: alain.dunand@augusteconsulting.com 2/7

3 What issues are addressed? Which coding and marking technologies are the most patent intensive? What is the public domain information in a technology field, and who are the applicants and inventors of the earlier patents that constitute the public domain? Which are the outstanding patents in marking and coding? What are the recent trends for each technology and domain? Who are the leading applicants with the most influencing patent portfolios, and with the strongest ability to enforce their intellectual property rights? What is the business profile of the leading applicants? What do the most recent patent publications tell about the applicants current focus? Who should read the report? This report has been carefully designed for senior decision makers at coding and marking technology and solution provider companies worldwide, including individuals in the following roles: CEOs and other C-level positions, Business owners, business strategists, Research and development, product development, Intellectual property, Corporate development and M&A, Marketing. Disclaimer: Auguste Consulting is a consulting firm that provides strategic business and technological analysis and opinions. The research, technical analysis and work contained in our Technology-Insights multi-client reports is not a legal opinion or advice and should not be construed as such. Any views expressed in our reports are those of the authors only and not those of any cited organization. 3/7

4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The coding and marking industry addresses the needs of consumer and industrial goods manufacturers to print a variable code or mark to their products and packages. The primary need is to comply with regulations and to manage the flow of products in the manufacturing, logistics and distribution chains. The industry has been steadily growing since the early 1980 s, driven by regulations of consumer goods manufacturing, the globalization of supply chains, and the adoption of multiple digital printing technologies. TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LANDSCAPE 7 coding and marking technologies are established, based on ink-jet, thermal and laser printing The report covers 7 technologies in use in today s markets: continuous ink jet (CIJ), piezo drop on demand ink jet (PIJ), thermal ink jet (TIJ), valve ink jet (VIJ), thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), laser (LAS), and print and apply labelling (PAL). The patent information used for the analysis comprises patents with priority dates later than 1995, published until The analysis identifies 764 patent families that are relevant to the technologies and market under study. The patent landscape is mature, with many key inventions entering the public domain The patent landscape is mature, with the majority (67%) of published patents already having one patent issuance. Many granted inventions are entering the public domain: 27% of patent families filed since 1996 are lapsed, adding to the number of key inventions that are already in public domain from the previous years. The majority of issued patents cover one single region (USA, Europe, or Asia) The report focuses on the three major coding and marking regions (Europe, USA, and China) that represent more than 70% of the market. The geographical extensions of issued patents indicate that 57% of patent families cover one of the major regions only. 23% of issued patents cover two regions, and 21% cover all 3 major regions. PATENTING ACTIVITY The number of annual patent filings is growing at CAGR 3.4% The annual number of patent filings (for all technologies combined) is growing, corresponding to a CAGR of 3.4% over During 2014, 42 patent families were published. CIJ patents dominate the landscape, with patent claims shifting from printing to ink systems Analysis per technology shows that the CIJ patent families constitute the major proportion of published patents, corresponding to 56% of patent families, followed by PIJ (15%), TTO (10%), laser (7%), TIJ (5%). PAL (4%) and VIJ (3%). The main domain of CIJ patent claims is shifting from the printing function (index [PRI]) to that of the ink systems (index [CSS]) and ink formulations (index [CON]). 4/7

5 TTO patents have 2nd largest share, with focus of patent claims on printing domain TTO patents are in 2nd rank in number of published patents. The primary scope of TTO patent claims is related to printing ([PRI]), for up to 78% of recent TTO patents. RECENT PATENT TRENDS ( ) The number of CIJ and TTO patent filings is increasing The proportion of CIJ patents is growing, reaching 58% of published patents in the period ( ). TTO patents are reaching 12%. TIJ consumables patents are on the rise The TIJ patents (directly relevant to coding and marking) are ranking in 3rd position, indicating a rising interest. TIJ patents represent 7% of published patents over the recent period ( ), surpassing PIJ. The majority of TIJ patent claims relate to consumables ([CON]). TOP PATENT APPLICANTS 4 corporate assignees are proprietors of 76% of patents The top 4 patent assignees own 76% of the published patents, namely Videojet Technologies / Danaher Corporation companies, Markem-Imaje, Hitachi, and Domino Printing Sciences. The top 15 applicants collectively represent close to 95% of published patents. Only 3 companies master more than 2 coding and marking technologies The analysis shows that only Domino Printing Sciences, Markem-Imaje and Videojet Technologies have patent positions on more than 2 coding and marking technologies. Videojet and Markem-Imaje are the leading applicants Hitachi, Videojet, and Markem-Imaje are the overall leading applicants in number of patents. Based on a Patent Competition Map tool that combines a comprehensive set of business and patent parameters, the report indicates that Videojet is in a leading patent position in all ink jet technologies. INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION IS IMPACTING PATENTS FILINGS Danaher, Domino Printing Sciences and Dover (a.k.a. the 3D s) are driving strong industry consolidation, impacting the growth of patent filings Danaher, Domino and Dover have acquired in the order of 30 companies in the last 25 years, driving strong industry consolidation. The total number of patents filed by the 3D s affiliated companies has slower growth (CAGR 0.8%) than the average market (CAGR 3.4%), well below the growth of the three leading Japanese applicants Hitachi, Keyence and KGK (CAGR 13.8%). 5/7

6 TABLE OF CONTENT (421 p) SECTION I: (65 p) Executive Summary Introduction o The Author o Scope of the report o Objectives of the report o Terminology for patent analysis o Methodology o Coding and Marking Technologies " Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) " Piezoelectric Drop on Demand Ink Jet (PIJ) " Valve Ink Jet (VIJ) " Thermal Ink Jet (TIJ) " Thermal Transfer Over-printers (TTO) " Laser (LAS) " Print and Apply Labelling (PAL) o Patent Search Strategy o Applicants mentioned in the report Conclusions Bibliography Annexes SECTION II - Global Coding and Marking patent landscape (32 p) SECTION III Remarkable Patent Families (71 p) SECTION IV - Profiles of the top 15 applicants (145 p) SECTION V - Recent patents (108 p) 6/7

7 HOW TO ORDER? Pricing & Order details: One set of the report includes one hardcopy report with electronic files on USB key Extra set of the report, same mailing address for 250 (*) For price in dollars we will invoice at the current exchange rate upon receiving your order, (**) For French customer, add 20 % for VAT. > Please fill-in your order information on our internet site : > Or Send us an or an official order with number and we will invoice you: technology@augusteconsulting.com Request Your Sample of the Report If you are interested in ordering the Technology Insights Report, please contact us with any questions. We can also send you a sample of the report. > Contact: technology@augusteconsulting.com 7/7