New orders for motion control products are up 19% through the third quarter of 2011, according to the Motion Control Assn. (MCA). However, market growth appears to be slowing, the third quarter up a little more than 4% year-over-year, compared with 24% year-over-year growth in the second quarter and 29% in the first quarter.
“The results of the third quarter strongly suggest that the motion control market recovery is continuing, but at a slower pace,” said Paul Kellett, MCA’s director of market analysis.
“Despite concerns about the economy, industry experts have reported to us that they expect the motion control market to remain relatively flat for the final quarter of the year,” added Dana Whalls, MCA’s vice president.
MCA will provide further updates on the motion control market at its business conference in January. A panel of industry leaders—including Arun Jain, Siemens; John Payne, Yaskawa Electric America; Ken Sweet, Parker Hannifin; and Andy Vogl, Kollmorgen—will participate in a session focused on the outlook for the coming year. Alan Beaulieu, senior analyst, economist and principal at the Institute for Trend Research, will discuss the outlook for the global economy.
