Industrial Sensor Technologies and Markets

Report Highlights

• U.S. sales of industrial sensors will rise at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 6.2% from $5 billion in 2001 to $6.78 billion by 2006.
• Strongest growth comes from developments in the semiconductor industry and the successful integration of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). These devices are expected to grow at an AAGR of 9.4% to $2.11 billion by 2006.
• These technologies will make up the largest market segment in 2006, rising from their current number two position.
• Older, mature passive, active and electromechanical sensor technologies will grow at more subdued AAGRs of 5.5%, 4.3% and 5.1%, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of this report is to provide a detailed and comprehensive multi-client study of the market in the United States for industrial sensors, and potential opportunities in the future. The objectives include a thorough coverage of the underlying economic issues driving the industrial sensor , as well as assessments of new and potential products and services that companies are developing. Social, political, and regulatory issues are also covered. Another important objective is to provide realistic market data and forecasts for industrial sensors. This study provides the most complete accounting of ongoing industrial sensor developments in the United States currently available in a multi-client format. It provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject. The study also provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of market developments in industrial sensors in the United States. This, in turn, contributes to the determination of what kind of strategic response companies may adopt in order to compete in this dynamic market.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

Significant changes are taking place in the sensors industry, which in the past, has been dominated by small to medium size companies with a "niche" technology to address a specific part of the market. The structural shift that is taking place has been driven by many external forces including new developments in semiconductor technology, the proliferation of distributed networks, and a demand by users of sensors for cheaper yet more complex products.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY AND FOR WHOM

This study provides the most complete accounting of industrial sensor developments in the U.S. currently available in a multi-client format. It provides the most thorough and up-to-date assessment that can be found anywhere on the subject. The study also provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of market developments in the U.S. for emerging MEMS technologies. This, in turn, contributes to the determination of what kind of strategic response suppliers may adopt in order to compete in this dynamic market. Audiences for this study include marketing executives, unit managers and other decision-makers in the industrial sensor companies themselves as well as in companies peripheral to this .

SCOPE AND FORMAT

The industrial sensor industry is not a precisely defined sector. The scope of this report is comprehensive, covering the present status of and future prospects for industrial sensors in the United States. Basically, the scope of the report includes passive, active, electromechanical, and semi-conductive sensors used to detect temperature, position, pressure, force and load, flow, level, and the presence of chemicals.

In addition to industrial sensor types, it also covers the many issues concerning the merits and future prospects of the industrial sensor , including corporate strategies, information technologies, and the means for providing these highly advanced products and service offerings. It also covers in detail the economic and technological issues regard by many as critical to the industry's current state of change. The report provides a review of the industrial sensor industry and its structure, and the many companies involved in providing these products. The competitive position of the main players in the market and the strategic options they face are also discussed, as well as such competitive factors as marketing, distribution, and operations.

The values presented in the forecast tables represent the value of the industrial sensor product as purchased by the instrument or other OEM company. In this report, the term revenue is equivalent to, and is used interchangeably with purchases, demand and sales. All growth rates mentioned in the tables and in the text are based on the average annual rate of growth from 2001 through the year 2006. The compounding method of calculating growth rates is used. Because current dollar measures are used, these growth rates thus reflect the growth in volume or real growth, including the effects of price changes and changes in product/service mix.

METHODOLOGY

The research methodology was qualitative in nature and employed a triangulative approach, which aids validity. Initially, a comprehensive and exhaustive search of the literature on industrial sensors was conducted. These secondary sources included sensor journals and related books, trade literature, marketing literature, other product/promotional literature, annual reports, security analyst reports, and other publications. A patent search and analysis was also conducted.

In a second phase a series of semi-structured interviews were conducted with marketing executives, engineers, unit managers, design engineers, and other personnel of the industrial sensor companies themselves. Other sources included academics, technology suppliers, technical experts, trade association officials, government officials, and consulting companies. These were a rich source of data. Subsequent analysis of the documents and interview notes was iterative.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Initially, a comprehensive and exhaustive search of the literature on industrial sensors was conducted. These sources included brochures and other product literature, technical journals, technical books, marketing literature, other promotional literature, annual reports, security analyst reports, and other publications. There is very little data in the available literature that analyzes the sensor industry as a whole, and the data that do exist, for the most part, present sensors as part of an integrated control system. The challenge was to identify the sensor component market and evaluate where it fits in the industry. An extensive patent analysis was conducted to gauge technological innovation and to determine research activity as it applies to new product development.

The second phase involved formal and informal interviews with personnel in the sensor and instrument industries. Instrument suppliers, design engineers, consulting companies, other technical experts, government officials, and trade association officials were also interviewed, as well as the personnel of the industrial sensor companies themselves

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