The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, and the growing importance of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 425,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in construction: pneumatic door closers. 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.
80+ innovations will shape the construction industry
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 232,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, self-healing concrete, waterproof floor drains, and construction 3D printing are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Smart glazing, regeneration control hydraulics, and floating breakwaters are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are wall surface temperature controls and embossed floor panels, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the construction industry
Pneumatic door closers is a key innovation area in construction
Pneumatic door closers are mechanical devices that use air pressure to control the opening and closing of a door. They use specifically designed components such as pistons, cylinders, and valves to regulate the air flow and provide a controlled closing motion of the door.
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 20+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of pneumatic door closers.
Key players in pneumatic door closers – a disruptive innovation in the construction 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 pneumatic door closers
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| GEZE | 356 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Dormakaba | 317 | Unlock Company Profile |
| In & Tec | 189 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Allegion | 115 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Assaloy | 95 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SUGATSUNE KOGYO | 44 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ASSA ABLOY Group | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| SIMONSWERK | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hettich | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ryobi | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hampton Products International | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Samuel Heath & Sons | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Eni | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Montagu Private Equity | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ECO Schulte | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| JELD-WEN | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Anthony Innovations | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| KONE | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hawa | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Savio Group | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhejiang Yasha Decoration | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
GEZE is the leading patent filer in the area of pneumatic door closers, along with Dormakaba. GEZE is among the world’s leading providers of innovative solutions for door technology, while Dormakaba’s EntriWorX EcoSystem includes predefined door templates for fire protection, accessibility, or access control that can be planned in accordance with standards and building regulations. Some other leading patent filers in this area are Allegion, Assa Abloy, and Sugatsune Kogyo.
In terms of application diversity, Montagu leads the pack, while Samuel Heath & Sons and Zhejiang Yasha Decoration stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, SUGATSUNE KOGYO held the top position, followed by Hettich and Ryobi.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Construction.
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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.
