Are Proximity, Photoelectric and Linear Displacement Sensors Meeting Machine Builders’ Needs?

Aug. 9, 2004
As manufacturing processes become increasingly sophisticated, machine builders and other users of proximity, photoelectric and linear displacement sensors in their designs are demanding more functionality from their sensors. But times have been tough for suppliers says VDC. According to their analysts, if suppliers are to boost the low, and at times negative, growth rates of the past four years, it will be necessary for them to deliver new or enhanced technologies to meet the emerging and sometimes specialized needs of production equipment builders serving diverse markets. A past Venture Development Corp. (VDC, www.vdc-corp.com) market study totaled the U.S. market for proximity and photoelectric sensors at $655 million in 2000 and the market for linear displacement sensors at $314 million in 2000.Specifically, says VDC sensor suppliers should:Provide new shapes and smaller sizes,

Use advanced housing materials like Teflon, chrome-plated steel etc. to meet durability requirements,

Offer support for open and proprietary networking protocols,

Incorporate networking interface circuits, and

Increase sensing range and performance.

What technologies are becoming attractive to sensor buyers? The best prospects are:Proximity And Photoelectric SensorsCapacitiveLargest Market Segment - Automotive Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment - Assembly/Robotics Equipment, Medical Equipment & Petroleum Industry are tied

Inductive

Largest Market Segment - Metalworking Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment - Packaging Equipment

Magnetic Actuated

Largest Market Segment - Valve Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment – Material-Handling Equipment

Photoelectric

Largest Market Segment – Material-Handling Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment - Automotive Industry

Ultrasonic

Largest Market Segment - Paper/Film Converting

Fastest-Growing Segment - Printing Equipment

Linear Displacement SensorsCapacitiveLargest Market Segment - Disk Drive Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment - Semiconductor Industry

Inductosyn Encoder

Largest Market Segment - Metalworking Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment - Metalworking Equipment

Magnetic Encoder

Largest Market Segment - Metalworking Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment – Undetermined—vendors are expanding market efforts beyond metalworking equipment

Optical Encoder

Largest Market Segment - Metalworking Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment - Printing Equipment & Textile Industry

Inductive

Largest Market Segment - Semiconductor Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment - Packaging Equipment

Laser

Largest Market Segment - Electronics Industry††

Fastest-Growing Segment - Electronics Industry††

LVDTs

Largest Market Segment - Military/Aerospace Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment - Assembly/Robotics Equipment

Magnetostrictive

Largest Market Segment - Plastics Manufacturing Equipment

Fastest-Growing Segment - Lumber Industry

Ultrasonic Largest Market Segment - Food & Beverage Industry

Fastest-Growing Segment - Assembly/Robotics Equipment

†† Exclusive of semiconductor industry portionVDC's is proposing to update its past research. “Proximity, Photoelectric, and Linear Displacement Sensors: North American Market Assessment, Seventh Edition” aims to outline the changing requirements of control environments and help suppliers create strategies to address these important issues by providing granular, relevant market analysis if this industry.

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