CFRP Fiber & Resin Systems Patent Landscape 2026
Toray Industries leads a moderately concentrated field, holding the largest single-applicant position among 1,824 patent families, with shaping and polymer-processing routes dominating the technology mix. Annual filings plateaued near their 2022 peak, signalling a mature but still-active competitive space where positioning now depends on adjacent differentiation rather than volume alone.
Toray leads a moderately concentrated field with a clear Japanese-corporate tier
Toray Industries holds the top position with 147 patent families, nearly double the second-ranked Astemo (83 families) and almost twice the third-ranked Nissin Kogyo (79 families), establishing a measurable lead over all challengers.
The top five filers — Toray, Astemo, Nissin Kogyo, Boeing, and Mitsubishi Chemical — collectively account for 29% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating moderate rather than extreme concentration and leaving meaningful room for challengers and new entrants.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toray Industries, Inc. | 147 | |
| 2 | Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. | 83 | |
| 3 | Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | 79 | |
| 4 | The Boeing Company | 62 | |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | 46 | |
| 6 | Teijin Limited | 40 | |
| 7 | Jiangsu Hengshen Co., Ltd. | 32 | |
| 8 | Harbin FRP Institute Co., Ltd. | 29 | |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | 29 | |
| 10 | Shinshu University | 26 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. | 23 | |
| 12 | Jilin University | 20 | |
| 13 | Taiwan Sakow Industries Co., Ltd. | 20 | |
| 14 | Zhejiang University | 19 | |
| 15 | Harbin Institute of Technology | 18 | |
| 16 | Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Factory | 16 | |
| 17 | Anhui Jialiqi Advanced Composites Technology Co., Ltd. | 16 | |
| 18 | Hyundai Motor Company | 16 | |
| 19 | Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. | 16 | |
| 20 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | 15 |
The dominant tier is almost entirely Japanese corporate, with Boeing as the sole non-Japanese top-five player; Chinese universities and state-affiliated institutes populate ranks six through twenty, reflecting a distinct second tier with a research rather than product-commercialisation orientation.
Filing data for approximately the last 18–24 months is subject to publication lag and will be revised upward as applications are published; apparent softness in 2024–2025 data should not be interpreted as a structural decline.
Activity plateaued near its 2022 peak; shaping and polymer chemistry dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend and the IPC class breakdown together reveal a field that reached its highest recorded annual volume in 2022 and has since stabilised, while the technology mix is heavily weighted toward composite-shaping processes and polymer formulation rather than upstream fibre production.
Annual filing trend
Volume grew steadily from 2017 through 2022, reached a peak of 236 families in 2022, then eased modestly in 2023 and 2024. The 2025–2026 bars are substantially under-counted due to publication lag and do not represent a real downturn; read only the 2017–2023 window as settled data.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B29C (shaping of plastics) is the dominant branch by a wide margin, reflecting that most filings address composite lay-up and moulding processes rather than fibre chemistry. C08J (polymer processing and solutions) and C08K (polymer additives) form a secondary cluster. Upstream fibre branches — D01F (filament features) and D01D (spinning) — are present but notably smaller, pointing to relative sparsity in precursor and spinning IP.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Carbon fiber composite material boom, production m…
The present invention discloses a carbon fiber composite material boom, a production method thereof, and a truck-mounted concrete pump comprising the carbon fiber composite material boom. The production method of the carbon fiber composite material boom comprises: a flexible airbag is inflated to form an airbag in a first state and a carbon fiber prepreg is… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carbon fiber composite material and method for pro… | 174 |
| 2 | Carbon fiber reinforced resin molded product and i… | 160 |
| 3 | Carbon fiber composite material | 144 |
| 4 | Carbon fiber composite material | 111 |
| 5 | Carbon fiber composite material and process for pr… | 78 |
| 6 | Carbon fiber composite material and method of prod… | 75 |
| 7 | Carbon fiber block and its production | 71 |
| 8 | Fiber-reinforced carbon and graphite articles and … | 67 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the patent structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural dimensions — lifecycle stage, competitive concentration, collaboration networks, and geographic reach — shape where incremental R&D investment is most and least defensible in CFRP fibre and resin systems.
Field is at the Maturity stage with annual volume eased from its 2022 peak
Annual filings plateaued near their 2022 peak of 236 families and have since eased, consistent with a mature technology field where foundational shaping and resin-formulation approaches are well-covered. Investment in core B29C processing claims faces high prior-art density. Differentiation through narrower sub-claims, novel resin chemistries, or end-use integration offers more defensible white space.
Lifecycle: MatureModerate concentration with a clear Toray lead and a sizeable challenger tier
The top five filers hold 29% of the hundred largest filers’ combined output — moderate concentration that leaves genuine room for challengers. Toray’s 147-family lead is substantial but not insurmountable in adjacent sub-fields. The second tier (Teijin, Hengshen, Harbin FRP Institute) is active enough to contest specific application niches, particularly in automotive and aerospace sub-domains.
Concentration: ModerateNissin Kogyo anchors the most active co-filing network, partnering with MEFS and Shinshu University
The most frequent co-filing pair is Nissin Kogyo and MEFS (23 joint families), followed closely by Nissin Kogyo and Shinshu University (22 families), forming a tight industry-academia cluster around polymer additive and composite-matrix research. Boeing and Washington State University form a smaller but notable aerospace-academia link (4 families). Toray’s collaborations with Kajima Construction and Sachse Aida indicate building and infrastructure application threads. These networks signal where technology transfer is already active and where partnership entry may face existing exclusivity.
Collaboration: Active clustersChina is the primary filing jurisdiction by a wide margin, with Japan and EPO as secondary markets
China accounts for the largest share of patent records, followed by Japan, EPO, and the United States. South Korea and WIPO-PCT filings provide additional coverage breadth. The China-heavy profile reflects both local R&D investment and the importance of protecting manufacturing process IP in the world’s largest composite-production market. Applicants targeting Europe or North America primarily should note that EPO and US coverage is proportionally lower, potentially exposing gaps in those markets.
Geography: China-dominantGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | MEFS Co., Ltd. | 23 |
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Shinshu University | 22 |
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Resonac Holdings Corporation | 6 |
| Shinshu University | Resonac Holdings Corporation | 6 |
| The Boeing Company | Washington State University | 4 |
| Shinshu University | ENEOS Corporation | 3 |
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Schlumberger Holdings Limited | 2 |
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Okayama Prefecture | 2 |
| Toray Industries, Inc. | Kajima Corporation | 2 |
| Toray Industries, Inc. | Sachse Aida Co., Ltd. | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Toray dominates on fibre and polymer routes; Boeing differentiates on aerospace shaping
The two most influential players occupy distinct technology lanes: Toray concentrates on polymer processing and fibre chemistry while Boeing’s portfolio centres on composite shaping for airframe structures, creating limited direct overlap in their core claim territories.
Toray Industries
Toray holds 147 patent families, the largest position in the corpus. Its technology focus is concentrated in C08J5 (polymer processing and solutions), D01F9 (chemical filament and fibre features), and B29C70 (composite shaping), indicating integrated coverage from fibre precursor chemistry through to finished composite processing. Recent momentum shows a 12% decline versus the prior period, consistent with a mature portfolio managing breadth rather than accelerating new filings.
families: 147The Boeing Company
Boeing ranks fourth with 62 patent families and holds the most aerospace-specific portfolio among the top applicants, with B29C70 (shaping of plastics), B64C1 (aeroplanes and helicopters), and B29L31 (plastic products index) as its primary focus areas — a clear airframe-integration orientation. Recent momentum reflects a 60% decline versus the prior period, which at this portfolio scale is consistent with a strategic shift toward application-engineering IP rather than continued volume filings in foundational composite processing.
families: 62| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Toray Industries, Inc. | 21 | ▼ -12% |
| The Boeing Company | 4 | ▼ -60% |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | 14 | ▼ -22% |
| Harbin FRP Institute Co., Ltd. | 20 | ▲ new entrant |
Under-served branches in additive manufacturing, fibre precursor chemistry, and energy applications
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant shaping and polymer-formulation core carry relatively lower filing volumes, suggesting areas where the existing prior-art landscape is thinner and where a focused programme could establish early positioning — though each requires validation against specific technical and commercial feasibility criteria.
B33Y · Additive manufacturing (3D printing) of CFRP
B33Y appears with only 26 patent records in the corpus, a notably low count given the broad industrial interest in 3D-printed continuous-fibre composites. The technical case is plausible: direct fibre placement via extrusion or filament-winding processes for complex geometries is an active engineering challenge. Entry paths include continuous-fibre FFF process claims, resin-impregnation nozzle designs, and structural optimisation methods tailored to printed CFRP lattices. Given the sparse prior art, a targeted filing programme could establish foundational claims before the field matures.
Search this in Eureka →D01F · Chemical filament and fibre features (precursor chemistry)
D01F carries 373 patent records versus 2,139 for B29C, a roughly 6:1 disparity that reflects the downstream-heavy nature of the current corpus. Precursor chemistry — PAN oxidation, stabilisation conditions, surface sizing formulations — underpins fibre tensile strength and matrix adhesion but is underrepresented relative to its technical importance. Toray and Teijin hold known positions here, but the sub-class remains less contested than composite shaping. An entrant with novel sizing or surface-treatment chemistry targeting specific resin systems (epoxy, thermoplastic, or bio-based) could find defensible claim space, particularly in combination claims linking precursor treatment to end-use mechanical performance.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across composite-shaping, polymer-chemistry, and fibre-precursor routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | B29C 70 · Shaping of plastics | C08J 5 · Polymer processing & solutions | C08K 7 · Use of additives in polymers | D01F 9 · Chemical filament & fibre features | B29L 31 · Plastic products (index) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. | Moderate · 29 | Strong · 144 | Strong · 111 | Moderate · 32 | Absent |
| Toray Industries, Inc. | Strong · 51 | Strong · 64 | Emerging · 7 | Strong · 59 | Emerging · 8 |
| The Boeing Company | Strong · 54 | Moderate · 12 | Absent | Absent | Moderate · 26 |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | Strong · 18 | Strong · 20 | Absent | Strong · 12 | Absent |
| Teijin Limited | Strong · 17 | Strong · 20 | Absent | Strong · 13 | Absent |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Strong · 27 | Moderate · 13 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Shinshu University | Absent | Strong · 26 | Strong · 14 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The analysis covers 1,824 patent families globally. China is the leading filing jurisdiction by patent records, followed by Japan, EPO, and the United States.
Toray Industries holds the largest position with 147 patent families, roughly double the second-ranked Astemo at 83 families and the third-ranked Nissin Kogyo at 79 families.
The field is at the Maturity stage. Annual filings plateaued near their 2022 peak of 236 families and have eased since, indicating that foundational claim space in core shaping and resin-formulation routes is densely occupied.
B29C (shaping of plastics, primarily composite lay-up and moulding) is the largest branch by patent records, followed by C08J (polymer processing and solutions) and C08K (use of additives in polymers). Upstream fibre-chemistry branches such as D01F and D01D are present but proportionally smaller.
The most active co-filing pairs are Nissin Kogyo with MEFS (23 joint families) and Nissin Kogyo with Shinshu University (22 joint families), forming the most cohesive industry-academia cluster. Boeing and Washington State University share 4 joint families in an aerospace-focused collaboration. Toray has filed jointly with Kajima Construction and with Sachse Aida.
B33Y (additive manufacturing / 3D printing of CFRP) has only 26 patent records, making it the sparsest adjacent branch relative to its technical relevance. D01F (chemical filament and fibre features, covering precursor chemistry and surface sizing) is active but significantly under-represented compared to composite-shaping branches, and H01M (batteries and fuel cells) and F17C (pressure vessels) carry low counts despite growing hydrogen and energy storage applications.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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