The Maturing ESD Market: Challenges and Opportunities for The Future

Report Highlights

• The U.S. market for ESD products is estimated at $986.1 million in 2004 and projected to rise to $1.472 billion in 2009, at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 8.3%.
• Packaging is projected to have the highest AAGR of any segment over the next five years (10.9%) to $463 million in 2009, followed by static control polymers (9.2%) and $373 million.
• Market segments that are projected to grow more slowly than the market as a whole include furniture (7%), flooring (6.8%) and apparel (4.6%).
• Packaging currently holds a 28.3% market share that is projected to climb to 31.4% in 2009. Polymers will rise from 25.0% to 25.3% and furniture from 14.7% to 16.3%.

INTRODUCTION

Concerns about electrostatic discharge (ESD) have waxed and waned over the last two decades. For computer disk drive manufacturers, without careful attention to ESD in the production process, the percentage of defective units increases dramatically. Semiconductor facilities are designed from the ground up to take advantage of ESD flooring, benches, clean rooms, etc. With ESD packaging, auto manufacturers transport, on the assembly line, the ever-increasing number of circuit boards found in an average vehicle. Pen manufacturers install ESD flooring, ionizers and benchtops to protect expensive test gear.

This BCC report focuses on the market for ESD products and their applications. It examines six types of ESD products: static control polymers, packaging, furniture, garments, flooring and electronics. It evaluates markets and applications for these materials, primarily in the U.S. It takes a long, hard look at ESD products, and finds reasons for both excitement and caution. While the ESD industry is maturing, new products are being developed that may offer solutions to long-standing problems. Some areas of the industry clearly will have significant growth.

The ESD industry is not monolithic, but highly fragmented. Most manufacturers are not dedicated to ESD products and frequently, ESD goods represent a relatively small percentage of a . Given this fragmentation, it is not surprising to find that markets for some ESD products are growing much faster than others.

SCOPE OF STUDY

The report contains:

• An overview including broad details of static electricity, the terms used in the industry and how firms deal with static in the workplace
• A thorough description of vendor industries and manufacturers along with company profiles
• Descriptions of ESD products, including
  • polymers (dissipative and conductive, filled and coated)
  • packaging (rigid and flexible)
  • furniture (including laminates)
  • apparel (head-to-heel grounders)
  • flooring (poured, vinyl and carpet)
  • electronics (to protect from, or detect static)
• Market applications and forecasts for all products through 2009.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

Primary information sources for this report were interviews with more than 50 people in the ESD industry, in manufacturing, consulting and production. Many of them are recognized authorities in the field, and provided invaluable assistance and insight. Secondary sources include the Internet, corporate literature, publications in peer-reviewed literature, and meetings.

Dollar amounts are in constant 2003 dollars, and average annual growth rates (AAGRs) are calculated using standard tables.

RESEARCH CREDENTIALS

Samuel Brauer and Andrew McWilliams jointly authored this report.

Samuel Brauer published more than a dozen BCC studies. The author also has carried out custom studies for BCC, and presented original research to corporate clients. Additionally, Dr. Brauer has presented his research at numerous conferences and was invited to speak at the Chemists Club in New York on Nanotechnology. He earned a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry researching the formation of chromium complexes in an interdisciplinary group.

Mr. McWilliams is a partner in the Boston-based international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel LLC. He is the author of several other BCC studies of advanced materials, including GB-290 Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Evaluation and C-184R Biomaterials from Marine Sources.