In the auto parts production area, multiple manipulators are working tirelessly, and pieces of auto parts have been moved out of the mold... This is what the reporter saw in a car factory recently. It is with the mold production technology that the production of a car from the engine to the hood, the roof, and the bumper can be realized here. Not only that, even many parts of plastic barrels, cups, rice cookers, telephones, computers, mobile phones and other products used in people's daily life are also produced by mold processing. Therefore, the mold is also known as "the first of all industries, the mother of industry".

Relevant data show that in recent years, the annual sales revenue of China's mold manufacturing industry is more than 180 billion yuan. In the mold manufacturing industry, automobile panel stamping dies and optical plastic molding dies are widely used. In these two fields, the number of patent applications of Chinese enterprises has increased rapidly in recent years, but compared with foreign giants, there is still a certain gap between domestic enterprises. In the face of the patent "matrix" laid by international giants, experts suggest that domestic enterprises must increase investment in personnel training, mold design and manufacturing refinement, and improve their technical strength and patent reserves through continuous innovation. in order to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises.

The rapid rise of Chinese enterprises

In recent years, with the rapid development of China's automotive and electronics markets, the mold market has also shown a vigorous development. In particular, many internationally renowned mold manufacturers have seized the Chinese mold market by virtue of their technical advantages in automotive panel stamping molds, injection molds and other fields, and have formed a "encirclement" situation for Chinese companies.

In order to understand the development status and patent layout in the mold field, the examination business management department of the patent office of the state intellectual property office and the mechanical invention examination department have implemented the 2014 patent analysis popularization project "patent technology analysis in the mold industry. The researchers of the research group told our reporter that Chinese enterprises are rising stars in the two major fields of automobile panel stamping die and optical plastic molding die.

"As of July 31, 2014, in the field of stamping dies for automobile panels, the number of patent applications by domestic applicants has increased rapidly. Among them, 1378 patent applications have been submitted in the Chinese market, such as Tianjin Automobile Mould Co., Ltd. and Ruihu Automobile Mould Co., Ltd. have submitted multiple patent applications." Research group of researchers to our reporter.

The relevant person in charge of the Intellectual Property Department of Tianjin Automobile Mould Co., Ltd. introduced to this reporter that at present, the company has submitted nearly 100 patent applications in the field of molds, and the technical content involves car side molds, automobile door inner panel molds, and body stamping. Parts and other fields.

"As a rising star, China's mold enterprises have great potential for future development. However, at present, in the field of molds, China's enterprises are still in their infancy, although the number of patent applications is growing rapidly, but the patent strength is still unable to compete with foreign giants." Research group researchers said.

Mold processing

Multinational giants have obvious advantages

It is understood that in the field of mold technology, the advantages of foreign companies are very obvious. For example, the researchers of the research group said: "as of July 31, 2014, in terms of optical plastic molding molds, applicants have submitted 1625 relevant patent applications worldwide, of which Olympus has submitted 103 patent applications, Kodak has submitted 86 patent applications and Johnson & Johnson has submitted 40 patent applications. Applicants have submitted 440 patent applications in China, but in the Chinese market, there is only one Chinese company among the top ten companies in terms of patent applications."

The reporter learned in the interview that for a long time, enterprises in Japan, Germany, the United States and other countries have monopolized the global mold market by virtue of their technological advantages in mold production. These giants maintain a leading position in the development of high-precision and composite molds, especially in mold design and manufacturing technology. Founded in 1919, Olympus is an early company involved in optical lenses. In its development process, through technological innovation, it continuously adjusts and improves the local structure of the mold to improve the accuracy of mold technology. It is through active innovation that Olympus has become the company with the largest number of patent applications in the global mold industry, and it is also the company with the highest market share in this field.

Compared with Olympus, Johnson & Johnson has not been involved in the field of optical plastic molding technology for a long time, but its patent operation means are very mature. "Due to the small number of patents in the mold field, Johnson & Johnson tends to file multiple patent applications for an invention technology, and these patent applications are interlocking to strengthen patent protection. For example, in 1995, Johnson & Johnson filed 14 patent applications that provided comprehensive patent protection for the entire process of processing contact lenses." Introduction of the research group.

Strengthen innovation to win the initiative

In the face of Honda, Toyota, GM, Olympus, Johnson & Johnson and other international giants in the field of mold patent "matrix", as a rising star of Chinese enterprises face what challenges, and how to deal?

"China started late in the field of mold, whether it is technology research and development or patent layout, there is a certain gap with foreign giants. For example, in the research and development of automotive mold technology, Honda, Toyota, General Motors and other companies occupy an important position. Domestic companies Tianjin Automotive Mould Co., Ltd. and Ruihu Automotive Mould Co., Ltd. also have a certain number of patent applications, but the overseas patent layout is relatively weak; In terms of automotive mold application, many basic patents are in the hands of foreign giants, and domestic automotive mold companies need to increase innovation, to improve competitiveness." Tianjin Automotive Mould Co., Ltd. Intellectual Property Department responsible person said.

In view of this situation, the person in charge believes that relevant Chinese companies should increase the research and development of core technologies in the mold field, continuously improve the level of process manufacturing, and strive to develop some refined and competitive mold technologies. In addition, domestic enterprises should actively carry out patent layout in domestic and foreign markets in the process of product research and development.

In terms of optical plastic molding dies, domestic enterprises are in their infancy in terms of technology research and development and patent layout. "Domestic enterprises should pay more attention to mold technology and patent layout, and actively cooperate with scientific research institutes to jointly develop related technologies while increasing R & D investment." Wu Yu, director of the market development department of Chengdu Aojing Technology Co., Ltd., said in an interview with our reporter that domestic companies can acquire small companies with development potential or acquire a R & D team of a company, which is also an important way to quickly enhance their own strength.

In view of the development status of Chinese enterprises in the field of mold, the researchers of the research group put forward more specific development suggestions to domestic enterprises. "Fine manufacturing and information management of mold technology will be the future development direction." Researchers from the mold research group said that on the one hand, domestic enterprises should learn and learn from the advanced technology of European and American enterprises; on the other hand, enterprises should strengthen cooperation and constantly improve their competitiveness; in addition, relevant government departments should also issue corresponding support policies to support and guide enterprises to continuously increase innovation and actively carry out patent layout, so as to take the lead in the competition in the mold market.

-- Reprinted from People's Daily Online