The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity 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 as well as higher quality construction products and materials. In the last three years alone, there have been over 248,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Modular construction in Construction: Drainage filters.  Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 179,000 patents to analyse innovation intensity for the construction industry, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry. 

Drainage filters is a key innovation area in modular construction 

Filter drains collect and filter runoff water, removing excess silt and pollutants. Water passes into a trench filled with gravel, which acts as a filter to remove silt. Filter drains find application in many areas where excess water should be discharged and filtered to protect infrastructure and the local environment, such as roads, housing, pavements, and other infrastructure. 

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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of drainage filters. 

Key players in drainage filters – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators. 

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’. 

Patent volumes related to drainage filters

ACO Severin Ahlmann is one of the leading filers in filter drains. The company, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers for draining technology, has developed various devices for cleaning and controlling water discharge. ACO Severin Ahlmann has generally sought to improve cost of production and installation and assembly, for example, the joining of the grating teeth and the gully guide rail needs to be designed in a way that the installation is efficient, while maintaining structural integrity and strength when in use. 

In terms of application diversity, Quikrete is among the leaders in the pack, along with Totetu Manufacturing. By means of geographic reach, Hangzhou Fuyang Xinyuan New Energy held the top position, followed by Nippon Koei and Xylem. 

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research reports on Construction. 

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.