‘Flexibility’ and ‘Scalability’ Keys to a Technological Revolution in Material Handling Industry

September 02, 2015

Wellesley, Mass., September 02, 2015 – The next decade in the automated material handling equipment and systems industry should bring technological advancements that will allow companies to reconfigure rapidly to accommodate changes in throughput, SKU velocity, and product mix.BCC Research reveals in its new report that experts predict that flexibility and scalability will define an industry in technological transition.

North America’s automated handling segment is anticipated to reach $4.8 billion and $7.1 billion in 2014 and 2019, respectively, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. Overall, the global market value was estimated at $120 billion in 2013.

The material handling industry provides the connections that move goods through the supply chain and into consumers’ hands. It impacts the North American economy broadly, touching everything from raw materials at the point of origin to final delivery at the front door of the consumer to recycling and end-of-life disposal. Automated material handling products and systems are either sold directly by their manufacturers via factory-owned branches or through material handling distributors, suppliers and special services providers.

The vast diversity of the entire material handling industry helps it weather just about any negative economic cycle. This includes the estimated nearly 38% drop in market value the industry’s automated material handling segment experienced during the 2008 and 2009 economic downturn.

However, signs of improvement abound, promising healthy growth during the forecast period. Technology will be a key driver. Areas such as robotics, autonomous control, driverless vehicles and wearable computing will significantly impact the industry during the next 15-20 years.  

“The concept of flexibility is related to the concept of scalability. A system is scalable when its capabilities can be incrementally increased or decreased as business needs dictate,” says BCC Research analyst Lisa Marshall. Citing the robotics industry as an example, she says the area is “in the midst of a true revolution as capabilities increase and costs decrease. Although most industrial robots are currently found in manufacturing applications, they are becoming more viable for material handling and logistics applications in the future.”

Automated Material Handling Equipment and Systems: The North American Market(IAS099A) examines the global market in terms of growth, size and opportunities for different products, technologies, and also regionally. The report includes forecasted trends and revenue through 2019.

Editors and reporters who wish to speak with the analyst should contact Steven Cumming at steven.cumming@bccresearch.com.

Automated Material Handling Equipment and Systems: The North American Market( IAS099A )
Publish Date: Aug 2015    

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