Despite an increasing connection between many companies in the top ten to core science, the Industrial Components & Fixtures industry does not boast an overwhelming connection to science in general. In fact, the industry is the second least connected to scientific research out of all seventeen industries tracked by The Patent Board. This makes the few companies who do stand out all the more interesting. Two companies in the top ten make the list: fourth-ranked Schneider and third-ranked Rockwell Automation Inc (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA). Schneider’s Science Strength™ is over thirteen times higher than the industry average, while Rockwell’s is over eighteen times higher. Aisin Seiki Co Ltd (Aichi, Japan), who also patents in the Automotive & Transportation industry, has the closest connection to core science of any company in the Industrial Components & Fixtures industry, with a Science Strength™ of 654 where the industry average is 17 – a score that is even comparable to the industry average for the high-tech Semiconductors industry. Elster Group SA (Luxembourg, Luxembourg), on the other hand, has the greatest proportion of patents in its small portfolio that are closely connected to scientific research, as demonstrated by its Research Intensity™ score that is over six times the industry average. Elster’s most science-reliant patent relates to energy management for meter reading systems.

There is one newcomer to this week’s Industrial Components & Fixtures Patent Scorecard™: Rain Bird Corp (Azusa, California, USA). Rain Bird debuts at #60 and shows a solidly respectable Industry Impact™ score that is slightly over the industry average. Rain Bird makes watering systems for agriculture, golf courses, residential and commercial landscapes, and sports fields.  Their first patented product reportedly drove a new era in efficient irrigation of food crops with a horizontal-action impact-drive sprinkler head.

For the complete press release please email: cwren@patentboard.com