EMI/RFI: Materials and Technologies

Report Highlights

• Demand for EMI/RFI shielding options is estimated to have been about $725 million in 2006 and is expected to marginally increase to only $745 million by 2012. This forecasted low growth is due primarily to ever increasing activity offshore, especially China.
• Major shielding options include metal cabinets, conductive coatings, conductive plastics/elastomers, laminates/tapes, and a widely diverse "miscellaneous" category.
• Metal cabinets will show the strongest growth of 5.6%/year due to several factors led by increased use of higher frequencies. They should reach a value of $182 million by 2012. Many of the other EMI/RFI shielding types are undergoing modest growth.

INTRODUCTION

This study is an updated version of previous EMI/RFI shielding reports. The objective in each report is to review and analyze electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) problems, along with electrostatic dissipation (ESD) issues encountered in the operation of electronic equipment and implications for plastics and competitive materials/technologies used to suppress that interference.

In each study, past trends in plastics EMI/RFI shielding are compared to those forecast for the near-term future. There are several important differences between the shielding industry of today compared with several years ago led by the increased number and quantity of devices and components requiring shielding.

Another issue is the ever increasing frequencies being encountered along with the proliferation of wireless devices, which may result in shifting of shielding options. The impact of other technologies such as Bluetooth, absorptive EMI, and fiber optics will be assessed. In addition, this study will analyze and quantify effects on material usage caused by these and other issues.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This report:
• Analyzes state-of-the-art EMI/RFI shielding materials options and compliance issues in demanding applications such as healthcare, aircraft, manufacturing, consumer products and many other critical areas of the economy.
• Provides a complete technical/economic analysis with quantitative market forecasts by material and by application.
• Quantifies market demand for, and applications of, shielding options by type and by material. Performance characteristics of the shielding options are noted and evaluated.
• Includes the markets for all key materials such as coatings, cabinets, plastics and polymers, alloys, tapes, films, gaskets, fibers, fabrics, plating and many other materials including emerging technologies such as carbon nanotubes.
• Updates patent developments, R&D initiatives, market shares and changes in the competitive landscape. Includes complete company profiles and industry structure.

METHODOLOGY

The following procedures were used to gather information and included the following:

• A review of EMI supplier literature
• An analysis of the electronic industry in terms of EMI shielding
• Contacts with EMI suppliers, trade associations, editors of trade magazines, etc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Research analyst Mel Schlechter has over 40 years in the chemical industry, and specializes in plastics market research. He has been with BCC Research for over 10 years and holds a B.S. in chemistry, M.S. in organic chemistry and a M.B.A. in marketing.