Lixil Africa – South African trademarks
Updated 8 November 2026
Lixil Africa, formerly Cobra, makes and sells taps, showers and bathroom fittings in South Africa. It is part of the Japanese LIXIL group, which also owns GROHE and American Standard.
How Lixil Africa has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.
Download report (PDF)Lixil Africa trademarks in 45 seconds
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/lixil-africa-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html
A portfolio built over time
Lixil Africa filed its first South African trademark in 1928 and has filed 318 since; its busiest year was 2005, with 42 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.
Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.
The names behind the portfolio
Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.
| Name | Marks | Filing years |
|---|---|---|
| Lixil Africa | 246 | 1951–2022 |
| Cobra Brands | 167 | 1928–2018 |
| Cobra Electronics | 11 | 1979–2007 |
| Lixil | 10 | 2014–2020 |
| Lixil Group | 4 | 2014–2014 |
| Cobra Brands Proprietary Limted | 3 | 2006–2012 |
| Cobra Europe | 1 | 1992–1992 |
Where Lixil Africa expanded its business
Trademark classes show what a business sells. Lixil Africa's portfolio is concentrated in metal goods (class 6), lighting & appliances (class 11), electronics & software (class 9). Its most recent moves were into kitchenware (2016), building materials (2014), construction & repair (2005).
Lixil Africa trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2022
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/lixil-africa-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html
Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.
| Class | Marks | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Metal goods | 146 | 45.9% | 1928 |
| 11 Lighting & appliances | 142 | 44.7% | 1962 |
| 9 Electronics & software | 15 | 4.7% | 1979 |
| 21 Kitchenware | 7 | 2.2% | 2016 |
| 19 Building materials | 3 | 0.9% | 2014 |
| 35 Advertising & retail | 2 | 0.6% | 2003 |
| 14 Jewellery & watches | 1 | 0.3% | 1989 |
| 37 Construction & repair | 1 | 0.3% | 2005 |
The brands Lixil Africa protects most
The word marks and logo names Lixil Africa has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.
| # | Brand | Trademarks | Classes | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COBRA | 12 | 4 | 1951–2005 |
| 2 | LIXIL | 12 | 4 | 2014–2016 |
| 3 | STAR | 4 | 2 | 1980–2000 |
| 4 | CASTLE | 3 | 3 | 1982–1982 |
| 5 | COBRA INDULGE | 3 | 3 | 2022–2022 |
| 6 | COBRA REFRESH | 3 | 3 | 2022–2022 |
| 7 | SAVOUR | 3 | 3 | 2022–2022 |
| 8 | ZEST | 3 | 3 | 2022–2022 |
| 9 | FLUSHMASTER | 3 | 2 | 1962–1988 |
| 10 | 1002 | 2 | 2 | 1980–1980 |
| 11 | 106 | 2 | 2 | 1980–1980 |
| 12 | 111 | 2 | 2 | 1980–1980 |
| 13 | AFRIQUE | 2 | 2 | 1994–1994 |
| 14 | ALPHA | 2 | 2 | 1991–1991 |
| 15 | ALPI | 2 | 2 | 1994–1994 |
Logos filed most often (since 2020)
Lixil Africa's logos
The 1 different logos Lixil Africa has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.
How quickly its trademarks are registered
Over the last five years, Lixil Africa's marks took a median of 2.0 years from filing to registration, faster than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 1.5 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.
Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.
Who files the most in Lixil Africa's classes
Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Lixil Africa's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Lixil Africa's market position, not who is most like it.
In the last five years, Lixil Africa was #5 of 624 filers in class 6 (metal goods), with 10 of 1,047 trademarks; #5 of 983 filers in class 11 (lighting & appliances), with 13 of 1,630 trademarks.
Lixil Africa's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.
Top trademark filers in class 6 (metal goods), South Africa 1975–2024: Lixil Africa
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/lixil-africa-south-african-trademarks/class-6-race-video.html
Main competitors – the companies most like Lixil Africa
Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Lixil Africa's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.
Lixil Africa's closest competitors in South Africa are Building.
Lixil Africa trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/lixil-africa-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html
Trademark filings per year: Lixil Africa (orange) and its five closest competitors.
| # | Company | Relationship | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building | Direct competitor | 55% |
| 2 | Macsteel | 57% | |
| 3 | Rsc Mining | 51% | |
| 4 | Leander Group | Retailer's own brands | 70% |
| 5 | LG Electronics | Other field | 78% |
| 6 | Efficient Engineering | Other field | 70% |
| 7 | Ti Automotive | Other field | 70% |
| 8 | Stage Zero | Other field | 48% |
| 9 | Voltex | – | 70% |
| 10 | Saffer Plumbing and Hardware | – | 69% |
Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.
Lixil Africa – relevant export countries
South Africa exported US$11.9 billion of the goods Lixil Africa's main classes cover in the last year – common metals and their alloys; small items of metal hardware; transportable buildings of metal; metal materials (class 6); water; heating; steam generating; lighting (class 11); computer software; software; computer hardware (class 9); brushes; containers; combs; glassware (class 21); building materials; asphalt; building glass (class 19). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Lixil Africa's trademarks matter most.
Where South Africa exports Lixil Africa's top goods
Lixil Africa's trademarks most often cover water, common metals and their alloys, brushes and building materials. South Africa's ten largest export markets for these goods took 63% of its exports of them in 2024.
South Africa's exports of each good to the country in 2024 (US$ million). The goods are the ones Lixil Africa's specifications mention most in its main classes; the figures are national exports, not the company's own sales.
Adjust the weightings
These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.
Worldwide
| # | Market | Score | SA exports | Import growth / yr | Route | Cost, 5 classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Union | 81 | US$1.9 billion | -7% | National | US$2,388 |
| 2 | United States of America | 75 | US$1.1 billion | -2% | National | US$3,425 |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 66 | US$181 m | -2% | National | US$1,371 |
| 4 | Japan | 65 | US$473 m | -5% | National | US$1,774 |
| 5 | India | 64 | US$169 m | -2% | National | US$1,295 |
| 6 | China | 63 | US$1.4 billion | -7% | National | US$1,224 |
| 7 | Mozambique | 61 | US$1.4 billion | +0% | ARIPO | US$450 |
| 8 | Türkiye | 60 | US$65 m | -6% | National | US$1,258 |
| 9 | Canada | 60 | US$54 m | -8% | National | US$2,192 |
| 10 | Australia | 58 | US$70 m | -3% | National | US$2,380 |
Africa
| # | Market | Score | SA exports | Import growth / yr | Route | Cost, 5 classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mozambique | 61 | US$1.4 billion | +0% | ARIPO | US$450 S&Z |
| 2 | Zimbabwe | 55 | US$384 m | +9% | ARIPO | US$450 S&Z |
| 3 | Morocco | 54 | US$49 m | +13% | National | US$1,408 |
| 4 | Tanzania | 54 | US$113 m | +4% | ARIPO | US$450 S&Z |
| 5 | OAPI (17 states) | 53 | US$139 m | -4% | National | US$1,563 S&Z |
| 6 | Nigeria | 53 | US$7.7 m | -13% | National | US$1,015 S&Z |
| 7 | Namibia | 53 | US$336 m | +6% | ARIPO | US$450 S&Z |
| 8 | Egypt | 52 | US$16 m | -4% | National | US$2,278 |
| 9 | Lesotho | 52 | US$124 m | +19% | National | US$326 |
| 10 | Malawi | 52 | US$58 m | +22% | ARIPO | US$450 S&Z |
SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 5 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$301 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.
Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.
Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z
| Brand | Classes | Nigeria | OAPI (17 states) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COBRA | 4 | US$812 | US$1,378 |
| LIXIL | 4 | US$812 | US$1,378 |
| STAR | 2 | US$406 | US$1,009 |
| CASTLE | 3 | US$609 | US$1,194 |
| COBRA INDULGE | 3 | US$609 | US$1,194 |
S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.
TM Country Selection Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.
Word marks you may have considered opposing
For Lixil Africa's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Lixil Africa's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.
Similar to COBRA (classes 6, 9, 11, 14; searched 2018-03-28 to 2026-11-08)
| Mark | Published | Class | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|
| COBRA | 2021-11-24 | 9 | adp Gauselmann GmbH |
Similar to LIXIL (classes 6, 9, 11, 19; searched 2024-02-28 to 2026-11-08)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to STAR (classes 6, 11; searched 2018-08-29 to 2026-11-08)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to CASTLE (classes 6, 9, 11; searched 2019-03-27 to 2026-11-08)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to COBRA INDULGE (classes 6, 11, 21; searched 2018-03-28 to 2026-11-08)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.
How S&Z can help you
S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.
We manage your trademarks – not just file them
Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:
Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices
S&Z prices – South African trademarks
| Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificate | US$240 |
| Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same time | US$225 |
| Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing) | R1,027 ≈ US$62.29 |
Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.
Lixil Africa's next five years of renewals
91 of Lixil Africa's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$5,668 over the five years.
Lixil Africa: frequently asked questions
What should Lixil Africa consider for its trademarks?
- Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Lixil Africa – relevant export countries”).
- Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 7 (machines), class 8 (hand tools) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
- Brand coverage: Star is protected in only one or two classes – check whether related goods or services (for example merchandise or online services) need cover too.
- Similar marks: we found 1 word mark of other companies that we consider confusingly similar to its top brands (see “Word marks you may have considered opposing”) – a watch service flags new ones while they can still be opposed.
- Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 2.8 to 2.6 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
- Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.