Linear motors spur enhanced customer demand

The emergent European linear motors sector counts among the most dynamic in the motion control industry, according to a new survey.

The emergent European linear motors sector counts among the most dynamic in the motion control industry.

Rising user awareness and application penetration allied with high performance standards are ushering the market on the route to robust, sustained growth.

This is reflected in the projected doubling of revenues and the quadrupling of unit sales between 2001 and 2008.

Across a range of application areas, linear motors tend to be more reliable and require less regular maintenance than mechanical systems.

Lower maintenance needs are translating into higher levels of efficiency and savings due to reduced downtime.

Consequently, OEMs are increasingly looking to incorporate linear motors into a wide range of applications.

Mechanical systems can lag behind linear motor specifications, thereby creating a new customer base of machine builders for linear motor manufacturers.

In particular, OEMs are excited about the high speed and precision standards provided by linear motor solutions.

"The use of linear motors has been increasing, with growth partially attributed to machine requirements driving the need for more precise movements at higher speeds.

With more advances expected over the coming years, replacement of traditional components to gain high machine specification is expected to continue to drive future growth", notes a new study by Frost and Sullivan, the international marketing consulting company.

Industry Analyst Sean French says: "Superior acceleration and control attributes, in particular, are expected to drive a substantial need for high specification devices.

Other promising technological advances such as the emergence of tubular motors is further expected to widen the application base and drive demand".

In a price-sensitive market, customer uptake of linear motors has been dampened due to its high costs.

However, the anticipated fall in prices due to rising volumes is expected to stimulate demand.

The projected decline in prices coupled with the benefits of linear motors is expected to boost penetration, revenues, and unit sales.

High rates of investment have also played their part in converting linear motors from a niche to a more mainstream technology.

Larger organisations have acquired and invested in smaller manufacturers of linear motors.

Investments pouring in from all areas of the European linear motors market have contributed to advances in both product and manufacturing processes.

This, in turn, has supported reduced product prices and increased customer uptake.

Low levels of customer awareness have been a major challenge to potential market expansion.

"However, the advancing use of linear motors in a wide range of applications has raised their profile over the last few years.

Moreover, positive feedback from new end-users has enhanced the reputation of linear motors, thereby encouraging the prospect of strong future sales", notes French.

A larger, expanding customer base is expected to underline the widening applications, volumes, and revenues of linear motor solutions.

Accordingly, the total market is expected to increase from $57.0 million to $125.0 million by 2008.

Unit shipments are forecast to enjoy even stronger growth, soaring from 33,300 to 125,500 units between 2001 and 2008.

The largest contributor to market revenues, in the long term, is expected to be the machine tools application segment.

By 2008, this sector is expected to surge ahead of the semiconductors sector as the largest application market for linear motors, accounting for 24% of revenue shares.

A positive increase between current and future revenue contribution is anticipated to derive from the others segment consisting of applications such as medical, military, and rides at theme parks.

Here, new and emerging areas of deployment are likely to stimulate above average market growth rates and demand.

The relatively well established semiconductors and electronics sectors were the first and second largest application sectors for revenues in the European linear motors market in 2001.

While still significant, their revenue shares are likely to fall as emergent application segments experience higher rates of growth.

A similar trend is also expected to be observed in general handling, which is forecast to remain both the smallest application segment and revenue contributor.

As a substantial base of potential customers in Europe becomes acquainted with, and increasingly installs linear motor technologies, growth will benefit.

Germany will remain at the forefront of demand even though its revenue share is likely to decline as other regions grow at a faster rate.

Italy, the Benelux countries, and Switzerland are already significant users of linear motors and demonstrate strong growth potential.

With this lucrative market poised for take off, competitive pressures are intensifying.

Both large companies with a broad product range and small businesses with dedicated product offerings are in the fray.

Siemens is perched at the number one position with its specialist linear motors division producing technology primarily for the machine tools sector.

Anorad follows in second position trailed by Baldor, Aerotech, Etel and Bosch Rexroth.

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