The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by automation, recyclability, and increasing the shelf life of the product, and growing importance of technologies such as biodegradable packaging, Internet of Things, and active packaging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 427,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in packaging: clamshell-type preformed packaging.
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.
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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.
30+ innovations will shape the packaging industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 77,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
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Within the emerging innovation stage, cellulose fiber 3D printing, biodegradable packaging films, and multilayer barrier films with energy recovery are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. RFID packaging, anti-counterfeiting bottle caps, and clamshell-type packaging are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are resealable medication vials and synthetic resin containers, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the packaging industry
Clamshell-type preformed packaging is a key innovation area in packaging
Clamshell packaging is usually made of thermoformed plastic and the edges, if required, can be sealed for ensuring airtight protection.
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 160+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of clamshell-type preformed packaging.
Key players in clamshell-type preformed packaging – a disruptive innovation in the packaging 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 clamshell-type preformed packaging
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
General Electric is the leading patent filer in clamshell-type preformed packaging. Some other key patent filers in the space include Bradford Company, Parjointco, Belron France, and China International Marine Containers (Group).
In terms of application diversity, Vestas Wind Systems leads the pack, while Safran and B&W International stand in second and third positions, respectively.
By means of geographic reach, Belron France holds the top position, followed by Daikyo Seiko and Tupperware Brands.
Clamshell-type preformed packaging will continue to be important due to features such as increased safety, space optimization, and product visibility through transparent packages.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Packaging.
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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.
