Pyrometers – Rising Popularity of Contactless Measurement in the Industrial Setting

Pyrometer is a contactless device that is used for measuring the object’s temperature. The ability of the pyrometer to detect the high temperature at a relatively quick speed is significantly driving the demand for the pyrometer market. Simultaneously, its potential to deliver high output in comparison to other available contact-based measuring devices at a moderate cost is further projected to fuel the demand, with the global pyrometer market size expected to increase from US$547.843 million in 2019 to US$742.707 million in 2025 at a CAGR of 5.20%. Moreover, the growing focus by the manufacturers to boost operational efficiency and productivity is leading to rising investment in factory automation solutions, which is further providing revenue generation opportunity for the pyrometer solution providers.  

Popularity of Pyrometers in the Metal Industry

Pyrometers – specifically based on infrared technology, are extremely popular in the metal industry primarily on account of its ability to measure the temperature of a product from a distance. It is considered ideal for measuring hot and moving targets or measuring in an environment where traditional temperature measurement system may not be ideal. Furthermore, three types of pyrometers are used widely in the steel industry – single-wavelength, multi-wavelength, and ratio. Single wavelength pyrometers are preferred when the emissivity is known while the ratio pyrometers are used when the emissivity is not known. Similarly, the multi-wavelength pyrometers are preferred when the utility of the other two types of pyrometers are not feasible.

Global Crude Steel Production, In Million Tonnes

pyrometer market

Source: WorldSteel Association

Moreover, the growth of the pyrometer market is directly correlated with the global steel output. The global crude steel production increased from 189 million tonnes in 1950 to 850 million tonnes in 2000 (source: WorldSteel Association). As per the latest available data from the association, the crude steel production is estimated to be at 1,869.9 million tonnes in 2019.

Global Crude Steel Production Growth Rates

pyrometer market

Source: WorldSteel Association

Furthermore, the development in steel production has been fairly stable, growing at a CAGR of 4.24% between 2000-2019. This has resulted in a continuous increase in the demand for pyrometers, with many companies investing significantly in product developments, enabling them to improve their market position. For instance, in January 2020, Optris GmbH launched a ratio pyrometer that provides contactless temperature measurement of metallic surfaces under extremely adverse conditions. Similarly, Advanced Energy Systems, Inc. recently launched it's Onyx™ – M Pyrometer series that provides measurement applications in the glass, plastics, and metal industries among others. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdown measures being imposed by the government which led to a temporary shutdown in the manufacturing facilities and disruption in the supply chain. As such, the WordSteel Organization forecasts the global steel demand to contract by 6.4% in 2020, and a relatively slower recovery of 3.8% projected in 2021, with China expected to be the prime driver. Thus, the pyrometer market is likely to be impacted as a result of the lockdown measures, with the demand from the metal industry projected to decline in 2020. 

Growing automation in glass manufacturing.

The automation industry has been witnessing a significant increase in the investment over the years, however, the manufacturers in the glass industry have only recently started investing in automating the glass manufacturing process. This is primarily done to improve the development cycle while also boosting operational efficiency. Furthermore, there is a growing number of manufacturers that have intended to further incorporate smart factory solutions to further aid its overall productivity. As a result, investments in the development of smart pyrometer have also scaled up recently as the industry demands for intelligent solutions continue to increase. For instance, Micro-Epsilon offers intelligent thermoMETER TIM 8 pyrometer that provides automatic hotspot detection which enables effective and reliable temperature control for industrial applications. The design of the product is suitable for applications that require installation even in restrictive spaces. Similarly, in May 2018, Fluke Process Instruments launched “Thermalert 4.0” which is an infrared spot pyrometer for non-contact automatic measurement in a difficult and harsh industrial environment. Thermalert 4.0 is an intelligent integrated sensor that is considered ideal for factory automation applications. Furthermore, Keller HCW GmbH offers a smart pyrometer “CellaTemp® PX” that can provide precise optical temperature measurement from O degree Celcius to 3,000 degrees Celcius. 

The global glass production is estimated to be 36.55 million tonnes in 2018, representing a CAGR of just 1.05% over the 2010 figure of 33.63 million tonnes (source: GlassAlliance Europe). The steady increase in glass production along with rising incorporation of factory automation solution within glass manufacturing is projected to boost the pyrometer market growth, specifically, from 2021 onwards. 

The Asia Pacific Is to Provide Good Growth Opportunities

The metallurgy industry is primarily developed in the Asia Pacific region, with China alone accounting for 55.58% of the global alumina production in 2018 (source: British Geological Survey). Furthermore, India and China cumulatively constituted 33.12% of the iron ore production globally in 2018 (source: British Geological Survey) while a similar trend has been observed in other key minerals as well. Simultaneously, the growing focus by the manufacturers to improve operational efficiency and rising intent to automate key factory operations are anticipated to push the pyrometer market growth in the region, with major growth opportunities coming from India, China, Philippines, and Vietnam among others. Moreover, the growing focus by the government of the emerging economies such as India and China to promote domestic manufacturing and become self-reliant is further projected to drive the Asia Pacific market. The expected early recovery of China from the COVID-19 is likely to arrest the downward trend in the demand for steel in the latter half of 2020, with the overall positive growth projected in 2021. Simultaneously, the Japanese pyrometer market is relatively mature and is expected to grow at a slow pace while Australia and South Korea offer stable revenue generation opportunities for the pyrometer manufacturers, primarily from 2021 onwards.  

3D Printing – The New Normal in Global Manufacturing

Traditionally, prototype development and customized manufacturing primarily involved using the conventional manual modeling techniques along with computer-controlled machining in which subtractive manufacturing methodologies were applied. This technique is relatively labor-intensive and resulted in limited time for product designing and innovation. Furthermore, to achieve the goal of time-to-market, the product designing optimization ability was severely reduced as the prototypes were only made ready late in the designing process. This limitation of conventional manufacturing techniques has been addressed by the introduction of 3D printing technology.

3D printing is a process that involves the construction of a product or object from a digital file. The 3D printing technique is considered to be more efficient and effective in comparison to traditional methods through its combination of functionality, ease of use, high design speed, and relatively lower cost. The ability of 3D printers to eliminate the need for complex manufacturing set-ups tends to drive down the operation cost significantly while simultaneously improving the development cycle of the product. Furthermore, its applications in concept modeling, design review and validation, pattern making, and direct manufacturing among others is further leading to its growing demand with the 3D printing market size estimated to grow from US$9.190 billion in 2018 to US$39.640 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 27.59%.

Enterprises Using 3d Printing, % of Enterprise, 2018

3d printing market

Source: Eurostat

The proliferation of 3D printing technology is still a small, but growing market segment. According to Eurostat, only 4% of the enterprises in the European Union-28 are utilizing 3D printing technology, with the highest proportion being observed in Finland. Only 5% of the enterprise in Germany, which is considered an engine of Europe, is making use of 3D printing techniques while 6% of the enterprises in the United Kingdom have adopted the advanced manufacturing and designing solution.

Moreover, even though, China contributes the largest proportion of the global value-added in the manufacturing industry, the adoption of 3D printing technology is still relatively low in comparison to the United States and the European Union. This indicates that the market potential is extremely high, with a large existing manufacturing base, the 3D printing industry is projected to surge rapidly in China in the next five years.

Proportion of Manufacturing Value Added by Country in 2019

3d printing market

Source: World Bank

3D printers are essentially the hardware of the 3D printing ecosystem that builds parts on the basic principle: a digital CAD model is turned into a physical three-dimensional object by joining material layer by layer. Earlier, the sales of 3D printers were primarily driven by the prototyping application used in limited industries due to their high cost. However, today, the scenario has changed, and manufacturers have come up with several advanced technologies that have significantly reduced the prices of 3D printers and have extended its applicability to creating complex components parts and others. Its growing utility in the manufacturing and commercial sectors has significantly resulted in significant growth of the 3D printing market.

Services are an integral part of the 3D printing market since it ensures that end-user industries can make use of 3D printing technology without much investment in buying the machines. The businesses across industries make use of professional 3D printing services to get access to other additive manufacturing technologies than the ones they own in-house. The high cost of some technologies like material jetting significantly leads to higher adoption of these services, thus driving the 3D printing services market growth. As a result, manufacturers like Stratasys, HP, 3D Hubs, Shapeways, Inc., Soch3D, and others are increasingly providing 3D printing services for various end-user industries. For instance, 3D Hubs provide online 3D printing services and other technology-based services like MJF 3D printing service for prototyping and small-batch production.

Recent Market Developments

  • In July 2020, 9T labs entered into a collaboration with Setforge to bring additive manufacturing CRFP to large scale production. 
  • In June 2020, Zortrax announced the launch of an upgraded version of its M200 Plus and M300 Plus 3D printers.
  • Redefine Meat is currently utilizing 3D printing technology to manufacture plant-based meat.
  • Materialise, in May 2020, launched Mindware – an advisory service that offers technology insights on the use of 3D printing technology. 
  • FabRx Ltd announced in April 2020 the availability of its first pharmaceutical 3D printer “M3DIMAKER™” for the manufacture of personalized medicine. 
  • Modix – an Israel based large scale 3D printer developer, launched a 3D printer – Big120Z.
  • Essentium Inc entered into a partnership with LEHVOSS Group in March 2020 to develop high-performance materials for industrial-scale additive manufacturing. 
  • Similarly, Oceanz 3D Printing has recently announced its partnership with AM-Flow to develop completely automated additive manufacturing lines.
  • In February 2020, Intech Additive Solutions – a Bangalore based company, specializing in direct metal laser sintering has launched its new varieties of 3D printers.
  • Wipro3D in collaboration with Indian Institution of Science developed India’s first industry-grade metal 3D printing machine. 

Plastic Is the Dominant 3d Printing Material

The market for 3D printing materials is expanding at an unprecedented scale owing to the increasing adoption of 3D printing solutions for industrial and residential purposes. Furthermore, the rapid advancements in the industry and innovations allowing for newer materials in the market are estimated to further expand this growth in the coming years. Plastics are the most commonly available 3D printing material. They are used extensively in desktop and residential 3D printers due to their lower cost and easy workability. Plastics are used in multiple 3D printing technologies ranging from vat photopolymerization to FDM to powder bed fusion. As plastics are easier to work with and possess multiple distinctive properties, they are highly sought after for residential and commercial 3D printed solutions. In addition to this, the availability of biodegradable plastics has also instigated the use of these materials in other industries such as healthcare for the manufacturing of medical implants, thus further expanding the market potential for plastics. Furthermore, increasing market innovations and a mixture of plastic resins with other materials such as wood are also estimated to increase the scope for the segment to grow further. Moreover, PLA is also estimated to hold a noteworthy share in the market owing to its extensive use in residential 3D printing and is projected to witness good growth on account of increasing focus towards biodegradable plastic sources. PET is estimated to hold a decent market share in the 3D printing materials market due to its limited usability in 3D printing.

High Potential in the Semiconductor Industry

The growing trend of miniaturization is putting pressure on the firms in the semiconductor industry to break the physical limit in the device. The conventional manufacturing process bound the designers with structural and planarity issues. Since 3D printing technology does not follow the subtractive methodology, its utility in the semiconductor is high, allowing the manufacturers to 3D print the semiconductor components efficiently and effectively. Moreover, it also eliminates the need for assembly and soldering, allowing semiconductor devices to be directly fabricated on 3D printed PCB’s. 

Digital Signal Processors – An Integral Component for Wireless Technology

A Digital signal processor is a type of microprocessor that is specifically for handling digital signal processing tasks. The market is poised to witness decent growth during the next five years on account of the rising adoption across numerous industry verticals.

The major factor that is driving the digital signal processors is the increasing proliferation of smartphones especially across the major developing economies of the world such as India and China among others. These processors process digital data through mathematical manipulations for analyzing the information contained in them. The real-time processing of the data and also have considerably high throughput, thereby making them suitable for numerous applications across various end-use industries that include communications, consumer electronics, healthcare, and military and defense among others. Furthermore, the burgeoning adoption of wireless devices due to the growing middle-class population in both developed and developing economies is also expected to be a major factor positively influencing the digital signal processors' market growth during the next five years. Moreover, the increasing acceptance of smart devices and rising investments in smart homes is further widening up the opportunities for the market to surge in the near future. However, the market for digital signal processors may be restrained by the fact that these require high power for function, thus high consumption of power is projected to inhibit its adoption to some extent in low power devices, thereby hampering the growth in the coming years. However, the recent advent of COVID-19 is anticipated to inhibit market growth to some extent as a halt in manufacturing activities across various industries. Also, the temporary halt by manufacturers operating under the market on account of the disruption in the supply chain is also expected to restrain the market growth, especially during the short run.

Rapid Growth in the Demand of Electronic Devices

One of the key factors bolstering the digital signal processors market growth throughout the forecast period includes the rapid urbanization and increasing middle-class population in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam among others. The rapid increase in the urban population has further raised the standards of living of the people in these countries has led to an increased demand for wireless devices such as smartphones, PCs, and others. Thus, an increase in the demand for these devices will supplement the growth of the digital signal processors market during the next five years. Furthermore, the booming acceptance of wireless surveillance systems across the globe is also considered to be a major factor that is projected to positively influence the demand for digital signal processors in the near future.

 

Digital Signal Processors

 

The digital signal processors market has been segmented on the basis of the number of cores, type, end-user industry, and geography. On the basis of the number of cores, the market has been segmented into, single-core and multi-core. By the type, the segmentation of the market has been done into, DSP multiprocessors on a die, 32-bit flash floating-point, 16-bit fixed point. By the end-user industry, the segmentation has been done into consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and others. Geographically, the market has been classified into North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific.

Segment Overview

By the number of cores, the single-core segment is anticipated to hold a substantial share throughout the forecast period on account of considerably advanced processing capabilities. Moreover, vast applications of single-core DSPs across high-end medical, aerospace, and defense and advanced test and measurement industries is also a key factor supplementing the growth of this segment over the course of the next five years. The multi-core segment is expected to show healthy growth throughout the forecast period.

By the end-user industry, the consumer electronics segment is expected to hold a considerable market share throughout the forecast period. The major factors supplementing the market growth throughout the forecast period on account of wide applications of DSPs across numerous wireless electronic devices such as printers, PCs, smart devices, and others. The automotive segment is projected to witness a decent growth throughout the forecast period on account of the integration of technology across the automotive vehicles that has led to an upsurge in the demand for digital signal processors for the automotive industry. The aerospace and defense, and the healthcare segments are anticipated to show a healthy growth on account due to the presence of a variety of products for the applications across these industries. Also, the increasing healthcare and military spending especially across the developing economies for the up-gradation of technology and infrastructure.

Geographically, the North American region will hold a noteworthy market share throughout the forecast period on account of the early adoption of technology and the availability of state-of-art infrastructure across the numerous end-user industries. Furthermore, the presence of key market players in the region is a major factor that is supplementing the digital signal processors market growth in the next five years. The European region is anticipated to hold a substantial share in the next five years primarily due to the presence of a highly advanced automotive industry as well as the electronics industry in various countries across the European region. However, the Asia Pacific region will witness rapid growth during the next five years on account of rapid adoption of automation solutions across the varios industry verticals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachit Gulati is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from automation to food and beverages, with a special knack for automotive and healthcare. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Commerce, and Finance, he is able to provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com.

Understanding the World of Software as Medical Device (SaMD)

Software as Medical Device (SaMD), according to the definition by the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) is a “software intended to be used for one or more medical purposes and perform given purposes without being part of a hardware medical device”. The popularity of SaMD is continuing to increase owing to the growing adoption of IoT in healthcare, developments in regulations for software as a medical device, and concerns regarding misdiagnosis in healthcare, further driving the growth of the global software as a medical device (SaMD) market during the forecast period. However, strict regulatory procedures for the development and approval of medical devices and concerns regarding data security and privacy may pose a threat in restraining market growth during the forecast period.

Rising Adoption of IoT in Healthcare

The market is expected to grow during the forecast period with the growing adoption of IoT in healthcare. Some of the applications of IoT in healthcare include continuous monitoring of the blood pressure, heartbeat, respiration rate, body temperature, and providing remote assistance among other applications. The growing adoption of these IoT devices is being driven by the growing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide and also with the growing geriatric population suffering from various age-associated diseases, especially in remote monitoring of patients, fueling the market growth as well. Additionally, the growing investments in IoT are continuing to fuel the innovations in the field of healthcare which include innovations such as AI and big data analytics and thus are having a significant impact on fueling the growth of the global software as a medical device market in the forecast period. Furthermore, with the growing consumer preferences for sophisticated wearables, the popularity of the connected devices in healthcare is increasing with the rise in the disposable income of the customers worldwide during the forecast period.

 

software as a medical device market

 

SaMD is a niche area experiencing a rapid increase in use and, therefore, is receiving attention from the various regulatory bodies. Regulations and guidelines are also being updated to keep up with the new technology. Recently in February 2019, Health Canada proposed the regulatory requirements for software as a medical device (SaMD) based on International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) guidelines. Similarly, in April 2018, The US Food and Drug Administration proposed to pre-certify vendors of certain medical device software allowing the companies to skip the agency's much more rigorous pre-market approval process for hardware-based medical devices. The proposed program is for the review of "software-as-a-medical-device" products. Thus, the standard guidelines and streamlined regulatory pathway will help promote technology innovation keeping in view the patient’s safety, thereby favoring the software as a medical device (SaMD) market trend during the given time frame.

Investment Trend

Several investments in the form of collaborations and partnerships by many market players are being observed in the field of digital therapeutics, resulting in providing effective treatment and diagnosis possible in the real-time scenario. Such investments will continue to fuel the market growth in the forecast period and the coming years. One of the examples includes the recent collaborative agreement between Click Therapeutics and Otsuka America, Inc. for the development, advancement, and commercialization of prescription digital therapeutics in the treatment of MDD. Following the collaboration, the focus lies on leveraging the Click Therapeutics ability to discover and validate a software application and its deployment commercially utilizing Otsuka’s expertise in the development of approved prescription therapies for patients suffering from severe mental illnesses. The app will be classified as the Software as a Medical Device and will fall under the FDA regulatory framework which is known to support the innovation and commercialization of digital tools while protecting the health of the patient. The company, Otsuka is geared to provide full funding to Click’s mobile application namely Ct-152 for MDD in addition to commercializing the application on a global level after gaining the regulatory approvals.

Segment Overview

By device type, the software as a medical device (SaMD) market is segmented based on PCs/laptops, smartphones/tablets, and wearable devices. Software as a medical device is widely used across a broad range of technology platforms including PCs and Laptops. Increasing accessible healthcare and growing demand for personalized treatment is expected to be the prime drivers for the growth of the market for PCs and Laptop segment during the forecast period. Today new smart sensor laptops are changing the way users can work, in simple words, the combination of sensing technology and laptops/PCs can handle the computing capabilities of advanced healthcare applications and software to monitor the daily activities of patients. The increasing number of product launches couple with favoring regulatory policies increases the competition in the market which is anticipated to positively impact the overall healthcare industry in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

In the Asia Pacific region, the concept of SaMD is in its niche stage and is slowly gaining traction with regulatory bodies in countries like Japan, China, and Australia working towards creating a framework for the SaMD adoption. Japan has regulated the software as a medical device under the Japanese Pharmaceutical and Medical Device (PMD) Act that regulated the SaMD for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. As a result, companies are involved in getting approvals from the regulatory body to make their product available to the healthcare facilities in the country. In China, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has issued a draft “Appendix of Medical Device Good Manufacturing Practice for Standalone Software” in February 2019 that specifies the requirement of SaMD production quality management and is used as a reference for the software component of the medical devices.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rajat Sudan is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from Healthcare to food and beverages, with a special knack for automotive and healthcare. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Commerce, and Finance, he can provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com.

The Instant Coffee That Drives Our Instant World

The What!

It is a dried portion of the roasted coffee that is soluble and is brought to the consumers in powder or granulated form enabling them to make the pick-me-up instantly simply by adding hot water to whereas the insoluble pasts which are also known as spent coffee grounds remain in the factory to be disposed of by the manufacturer. Even though widely acknowledged as instant coffee, this fast-moving consumer good also goes by the moniker of dried coffee extract and soluble coffee extract.

Even More of the What!

A majority of coffee-drinking cultures have conscientiously insisted that the “finished instant coffee” instant coffee which stands ready for consumption should be made by using roasted coffee and hot water that is inclusive of steam as well. Nevertheless, for the very construct of instant coffee to be commercially vial necessitates the addition of aroma oils which are brought about by either non-organic solvent method or by mechanical pressing. 

Thus, instant coffee is the dried form of this sort of an extract and is allowed to be only labeled so or with terms that are synonymous to the former or with the foreign language equivalent of the same only if the end product is in conformity with the same. In the case of other soluble beverage ingredients, which may be contained in the product, the appropriate labeling should be ensured in order to convey the correct information to both newbies and coffee aficionados. Additionally, it may be noted that certain soluble mineral contents for example sodium or calcium ions may be present in the product to the extent of approximately 1000 p.p.m., which finds its way from the water used in the extraction.

Further, if the hands of time are dialed backward, until 1950, the majority of instant coffees had an additional amount of carbohydrates (somewhere to an extent of 50% w/w) in the form of corn syrup solids because of the acknowledgment of the fact that a general aqueous roasted coffee extract, which when extracted under atmospheric conditions to the tune of 100 °C, could not be satisfactorily dried to obtain a low hygroscopic and a free-flowing powder. Come 1950, instant coffee was made commercially available as 100% pure coffee solids at a healthy scale. This revolution came into the existence after the discovery of a process that entails the execution of further aqueous extraction at temperature up to 175 °Cthat facilitates the obtainment of desirable carbohydrate from the roast coffee itself, subsequently adding it to the simple extract before the drying takes place resulting in a powder with physical properties that are desirous of. Therefore, a higher yield of soluble substances is fionid in instant coffee in comparison with a normal household brew that is achieved by preparing the beverage at 100 °C   or below.  Thus, the consumers of this marvelous beverage who resort to a teaspoon of instant coffee have often found themselves in a clear and present conundrum towards discerning ‘which is the best for them – is it the instant coffee or the roasted coffee?’. In view of above it is beneficial to know that despite a continuum that exists between a cup of instant coffee and a cup of brewed coffee, the proportion of components integral to each type will vary due to the disparate degree of solubilization achieved.

 

instant coffee market

 

Further, in its earliest days of instant coffee marketing, the product was sold almost entirely in a spray-dried powder made available in the range of light to dark shades of brown color free-flowing powder and above all with a suitable bulk-free flow density. The ensuring of bulk-free flow density and the physical properties enable an uninterrupted spooning experience from the respective coffee container. Simply to provide an idea a typically half heaped teaspoon will contain around 2 grams of instant coffee in order to be used for 150–170-ml cup catering to the normal taste preference of consumers of the occident. Thereafter, 1965 onwards with the same physical properties the immortal instant coffee was made available in granule form with the exception of shade which was relatively darker in comparison with the powder concomitantly with the capability to improve the retention of aromatics which made them at par in terms of preferable with their powder counterparts. Moreover, as far as packaging is concerned, since 1960s instant coffee has been made available in tins. Nevertheless, currently, they are available in a variety of packages. Further, there are various government policies whereby the allowed weights are demarcated and the market players are expected to strictly adhere to it.

So Now What!

Presently it is acknowledged that the yield is insubstantially directly proportional to the intrinsic quality. Above all, the important aspect is the extraction and the retention of the extraction insubstantial during the entire manufacturing process is of the paramount importance of ascertaining the quality of flavor. The general finding is that a brewed coffee will contain around 21% w/w yield of soluble solids from roasted coffee that will account for up to 32% in exhaustive extraction at 100 °C and distinctly for it would be to the tune of 40–55%. These are entirely dependent on the type of roasted coffee from which the instant coffee is derived from.

Now to wrap it up, it could be insinuated with certitude that a cuppa joe that one so dearly longs for right in the morning and throughout the day has had such an expansive privilege of being featured in the consideration of government policies and documents, food technologists’ research, manufacturers’ manual, marketers’ strategy, retailers’ delight and finally of the consumers purchasing disposition which are expected to ricochet if it catapults the instant coffee market trend in the immediate future. Further to fuel the market is the dichotomous trend pf coffee consumption like that of on-premise and off-premise coffee consumption wherein both premises have their unique advantages that can be capitalized by the coffee manufacturers to woo in and retain more consumers.

Protective Clothing: An Integral Aspect of the Toughest Jobs on the Planet

The rationale behind such an increasing interest in Protective Clothing Market across the world.

Workers’ safety has emerged as a consideration that is of paramount importance when it comes to the manufacturing and other processes of an entire value chain. Additionally, the need for protective clothing in sectors like oil and gas exploration and downstream process, healthcare, construction, chemicals processing industry, mining operation and the increasing cognizance of the workplace safety across the sectors are estimated to drive the protective clothing market growth during the immediate future which with further will augmented by various innovations brought about by investments in the protective clothing market.  Presently due to the spread of CoVID19 the end-user segment of healthcare is expected to hold a healthy market share. Furthermore, the fast-paced development that is being witnessed in the pharmaceutical sectors due to the race to bring about a valid vaccine is also expected to augment that aforementioned. The other essential application that necessitates the use of protective clothing is for smooth operationality in hazardous environments that are faced by military personnel.  Further, the continuous investment in the fertilizers and specialty chemicals sectors is also driving the growth of this market to new heights.

The manner in which the market is responding to the demand for Protective Clothing Market

2020

  • Speeding Production: In March, it was reported thatthe production and delivery of Tyvek hazmat suits which are intended for the use by healthcare professionals in the US will be expedited by DuPont (NYSE: DD)., These HAZMAT suits are made out of polyethylene fibers enabling a full-body protection form fluids and aerosols.
  • Hazmat Suits becomes a part of daily business activity: In may it was reported that a UK based tech firm Reevo 360 that offers CGIs, floorplans, photography for property agents, and virtual house tour calls have decided to protect their staff from COVID19 by equipping them with Hazmat suits. The suits are at the disposal of any party that’s inclusive of both vendors, clients among others who are keen on visiting the properties.

2019

  • In September it was reported that an agreement deployment and utilization of Japanese technology pertaining to personal protective equipment in general, between Toray Industries, Inc., (TYO: 3402) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was reached. Under the purview of this agreement, the capacity to control infection will be rendered a battle-ready status thereby making them capable of facing any sort challenged posed by a sudden outbreak of disease. LIVMOA®5000 protective clothing will be used by Toray Industries, Inc., which has developed this product to disseminate knowledge and spread awareness about healthcare-associated risk.  The aforementioned product enables the wearers to perform their duties efficiently simultaneously allowing them to protect themselves from biohazardous materials as well as permitting the flow of moisture allowing the ease of operating along with comfort.
  • Launch: In February, it was reported that the London, UK based Survitec Group Limited which is a military equipment manufacturer launched two new protective bodysuits namely, DERMON ICE and NormMb for military personnel operating in hazardous conditions. These suits are categorized as chemical, biological, and radioactive (CBR) protection suits. Low-level gamma rays of up to 130Kev are reported blocked by DERMON ICE suit that is made out of from liquid metal particles with a high thermal conductivity that aids in keeping the soldiers’ body temperature cool. Whereas, NormMb suit is a combination of carbon and membrane technologies in hybrid design and is intended for scenarios that involve chemical and biological hazards.  
  • Launch: Tarmac which is a British building materials company has reportedly attempted to solve the dearth of sufficient maternity workwear for expectant mothers in workforces across the country by developing a specialist protective clothing that is specially designed for pregnant women and at the same time it is fully compliant with British safety standards.

2018

  • Acquisition: It was reportedly announced that Safety Supply Corporation, which is aa leading manufacturer of high quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and the parent organization of Radians, Inc., acquired Neese Industries, Inc., which is a renowned global leader in flame-resistant (FR) clothing and protective rainwear for over five decades. Together they were reported to possess manufacturing facilities in Mexico. This would improve the lead times on several products. Furthermore, with the production and in-house design capabilities both the companies will be able to swiftly respond to the unique customer needs. Above all this acquisition enables the Radian to expand its portfolio of flame-resistant (FR) clothing and protective rainwear markets.
  • Launch: Identifying a gap in the dearth of protective clothing which is specifically meant for women engaged in civil, commercial, and industrial careers and consequently helps them stay safe and aid them in performing at their highest level, a Texas-based organization called SeeHerWork launched a line of personal protective clothing and equipment for women. The organization tasks itself with designing, manufacturing, and selling workwear, safety equipment, and other job-specific products.

Hand Protection Equipment – Essential of Worker Protection

Hand protection equipment refers to those types of protective gear that are essential for the protection of the hands of workers working across numerous industry verticals such as healthcare, oil and gas, chemical, and others. Various types of hand protection equipment include armlets, gloves, and wrist cuffs among others. These equipment are made from several types of materials that are suitable for different industries. The market for hand protection equipment is projected to witness a healthy growth during the next five years majorly on account of the presence of various regulations and laws regarding the use of protective equipment in various industries. These laws mandate the usage of various types of personal protective equipment due to the inclined focus of the governments of various countries towards the safety of workers. Also, the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has also led to an upsurge in the demand for gloves, especially across the healthcare sector around the globe. Gloves are being used across each and every sector majorly for reducing the risk of the spread of this highly communicable disease through human-to-human transmission. Thus, positively influencing the demand for hand protection equipment market growth during the next five years.

COVID-19 is driving the market growth

One of the prime factors that is shaping up the global hand protection equipment market growth especially during the short run is the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus disease that has rapidly boosted the adoption of gloves across various industries operating under the different industry verticals and for home use also. The World Health Organization has declared this virus as a pandemic as it is highly difficult to contain which can be stated by the fact that the number of positive COVID-19 cases has grown exponentially since the outbreak of the disease in December 2019. For instance, according to the coronavirus disease situation reports by the World Health Organization, the total positive COVID-19 cases globally reached 8,708,008 as of 21st June 2020 from only 282 as of 20th January 2020. This, clearly states that the patient curve has not flattened yet despite the constant efforts by the government of various countries of the world to reduce the impact and control the spread. The governments of almost all countries have implemented various regulations such as quarantine and social distancing measures. Moreover, directives by the governments for the use of gloves, masks, and other protective products is also a major factor bolstering the growth, especially during the next six to eight months. Also, the WHO estimates that to meet the response of COVID-19 around 76 million examination gloves, 1.6 million goggles, and almost 89 million medical masks are required globally.

 

hand protection equipment market

 

Government regulations are also driving the market growth

The market for hand protection equipment is also being driven by the fact that there are various regulations framed by the government of major developed economies of the world regarding the use of proper protective equipment due to the increased focus for the safety of workers. For instance, the standard number 1910.138, by the Occupational Safety and Health, the U.S Department of Labor, that employees should use appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazardous chemicals, temperatures and are prone to cuts and abrasions among others. Thus, regulations framed by various countries regarding the use of proper hand protection equipment is also considered to be a key factor that is supplementing the demand for various types of hand protection equipment, thus playing a significant role in shaping up the global hand protection equipment marketthroughout the forecast period.

Segment overview

The global hand protection equipment market has been segmented on the basis of type, material type, end-user industry, and geography.

By type, the market has been classified into gloves, armlets, elbow protectors, and wrist cuffs. The gloves segment is projected to hold a substantial share throughout the forecast period on account of the major applications of gloves across various industries. Moreover, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease has led to a rapid increase in the demand for gloves for both residential and commercial uses. The armlets segment is anticipated to witness considerable growth in the coming years due to the growing adoption across the construction industry.

By material, the segmentation of the market has been done on the basis of natural rubber, leather, polyamide, vinyl, and others. The natural rubber is expected to hold a considerable share during the next five years. The key factor supporting the growth of this segment includes high application across oil and gas and chemical sectors due to high resistance.

By the end-user industry, the classification of the global hand protection equipment market has been done into oil and gas, construction, chemical, healthcare, and others. The healthcare segment is anticipated to show a robust growth especially during the short run as the intense outbreak of COVID-19 has amplified the use of gloves especially in the healthcare industry as professionals working in the healthcare sector are more susceptible to this disease on account of being in close contact with the patients. Furthermore, the oil and gas, and chemical industries are projected to hold a decent share in the market on account of strict regulations regarding the use of appropriate protective gear and equipment due to extremely harsh working environments in these industries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachit Gulati is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from automation to food and beverages, with a special knack for automotive and healthcare. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Commerce, and Finance, he is able to provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com.

Understanding the importance of Algaecides

Algaecides are often called biocide (chemical) which is generally used for killing and preventing the growth of algae. It is difficult task to kill black algae due to its waxy coating; hence most algaecides are designed to remove black algae. Algaecides include chelated copper, copper sulfate, and quaternary ammonia, among others. 

Growing environmental awareness of nutrient pollution 

Nutrient pollution is one of the most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems that the world is facing today and is caused by surplus nitrogen and phosphorous in the water. Rapid Industrialization across the globe is causing nutrient pollution in the water bodies, thus forming algae in them. Nutrient pollution can lead to serious problems such as a low level of oxygen dissolved in the water. Severe algal growth not only blocks the light that is needed for plants such as seagrasses to grow but also when the algae and seagrasses die, they decay. In the process of decay, the oxygen in the water is used up and leads to a low level of dissolved oxygen in the water which in turn can kill fish, crabs, and other aquatic animals. Environmental awareness of nutrient pollution is the key driving factor that is boosting the algaecides market growth. For instance, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working diligently with its partners to combat nutrient pollution and prevent algae formation in the United States water bodies. These agencies are also working on regulatory programs such as reviewing and approving state water quality standards that contain numeric nutrient criteria under the Clean Water Act and publishing strict guidelines for industrial and municipal discharges that may contain nutrient-related limits.

Rising demand for high agricultural productivity 

Population pressure is continuing to be the deciding factor against proper land and water management in many developing countries. Agriculture production is critical for any form of suitable future but focusing on the agriculture industry alone without regard for other important factors that influence and increase food production is certainly not the way to tackle the problems of food security. The application of algaecides is not causally related to the production of crops, instead, it helps in contributing towards agricultural production which includes weed and pest control outside the farm buildings, nurseries, greenhouse, and other growing operations. In addition, Growing demand for increased crop cultivation owing to the rising population requires the use of algaecides as it covers the treatment of agricultural farm equipment such as sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, and tube wells among others, located in the fields to control algal growth. With the rise in population growth and limitation to the usage of natural resources, there is an increasing demand for high agricultural productivity. A high level of productivity needs to accompany the growing demand for food and agricultural products which are considered as the driving factor for the growth of the algaecides market.

Regulatory issue 

The restriction for using algaecides in the aquatic or water environment is defined on the manufacturer’s product label and may include restrictions for water use after algaecide application. Rules and regulations set by the governing bodies are expected to hinder the market growth during the forecast period. Some states require applicators of algaecides to be licensed and certified and expect to have much understanding about the whole process of algaecides along with the environmental concerns. For instance, algae control approaches within National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) framework have certain guidelines like the discharge of residual algaecides must meet the applicable water quality standards; it must meet basin plan narrative objectives for floating material, suspend material and toxic pollutants among many others. Following the conditions of regulatory authorities and aquatic pesticide monitoring requirements may not be considered as the cost-efficient tool for the manufacturers and vendors before applying algaecides in the water bodies thus is expected to restrain the favourable algaecides market trend in the coming years.

 

algaecides market

 

Segment Overview

The algaecides market has been segmented based on type, application, and geography. On the basis of type, the segmentation is done based on copper-based, quaternary ammonia, others. By application, the segmentation is done into agriculture, aquaculture, surface water treatment, others. Geographically, the global algaecides market is segregated into the Americas, Europe Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The Americas is projected to hold a noteworthy share in the global algaecides market. As per the data published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the U.S. is the third-largest marine capture producer with the total production valued at 4.72 million tons in 2018. Furthermore, the country remained one of the major exporters of fish and fish products globally and witnessed a significant increase in exports in recent years. The rising number of hotels and restaurants in the country coupled with increasing expenditure on amusement and recreation facilities will increase the number of swimming pools, thereby adding to the demand for algaecides in the country. Furthermore, companies are increasing their research and development expenditure to introduce a new product in the market, thereby augmenting the demand for algaecides. In Canada, economic growth and favorable long-term economic outlook of the Canadian economy will continue the trend of increasing aquaculture expenditure. Rising residential construction investment will bolster the number of swimming pools and fountains in the country owing to the improvement in the standard of living and rising disposable income. This will boost the demand for algaecides in Canada over the next five years. 

Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness exponential growth in the coming years and an increasing number of tourists arriving in countries like China and India will boost the expenditure for restaurants and hotels offering luxury amenities such as a swimming pool for tourists and ponds & fountains for providing an aesthetic appeal. The booming number of swimming pools and fountains in hotels coupled with rising construction expenditure in the region will drive the demand for algaecides over the forecast period.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rajat Sudan is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from healthcare to agriculture, with a special knack for agriculture sector. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Commerce, and Finance, he is able to provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com.

Infection Prevention Product and Services – Requisite to Meet the Pandemic Response

The infection prevention products and services refer to those products or services that are highly being adopted nowadays for reducing the risk of the spread of various types of communicable diseases through human-to-human transmission. Especially, at this time of the pandemic in which the whole world is suffering from the outbreak of the novel-coronavirus disease. Furthermore, the high prevalence of healthcare-associated infections is also one of the key factors driving the demand for various types of infection prevention products such as gloves, masks, sanitizers, and gowns among others, thereby positively impacting the market growth during the next five years. For instance, according to the estimates by the World Health Organization, one out of ten patient that get an infection while receiving healthcare. Also, effective infection prevention and control further reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections by around 30% (Source: The World Health Organization), this in turn is providing ample of opportunities for the market to surge during the next five years. Furthermore, the updated guidelines by the World Health Organization in the year 2018, regarding the prevention of surgical site infections is also anticipated to propel the adoption of various infection prevention services and products during the next five years.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease is shaping up the market growth

The major factor which is augmenting the market global infection prevention product and services market growth during the short run is the global pandemic of the deadly coronavirus disease that has rapidly boosted the adoption of numerous infection prevention products that includes gloves, masks, protective apparels, and disinfectants among others. This virus outbreak has already been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and is also said to be highly difficult to contain that can be backed up by the number of positive cases throughout the globe which has shown an exponential increase during the past six months. As per the COVID-19 situation reports by the World Health Organization, the total positive cases were around 11,953 as per the Situation Report on 1st February 2020 and the number of cases reached 6,416,828 by the month of June according to the situation report of 4th June 2020. This can be clearly seen that the curve has not flattened yet though after the struggling efforts made by the governments of various developed countries despite the focused efforts made by them. The strict regulations implemented by governments such as social distancing and quarantined measures. Additionally, the strict directives by the governments regarding the use of PPE kits, disinfectants, and sanitizers is also anticipated to drive the demand throughout the year 2020. Moreover, the booming requirements across the various sectors have also led towards the ramp-up in the manufacturing activities by the key players of the market. The estimates by the World Health Organization states that around 89 million medical masks, 76 million examination gloves, and more than 1.6 million goggles are required each month globally for meeting the response of this disease. The WHO also states that the companies operating under this market must ramp up production by at least 40% to meet the globally growing demand.

 

infection prevention product and services market

 

Also, these products and services are also expected to become part of people’s lifestyles hereafter, as people begin to realize the benefits these offer for a price so low. This is expected to continue boosting the market growth throughout the projected period.

Geographically, the global infection prevention product and services market has been classified into North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The North American region is anticipated to hold a decent market share on account of the presence of state-of-art healthcare infrastructure in countries like the United States and Canada among others. Furthermore, the presence of key market players in the region is further supplementing the market growth throughout the forecast period. The growth in the number of surgeries along with strict guidelines by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services is further propelling the adoption of various products and services to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections is also bolstering the market growth in the region during the coming years. The market in the Asia Pacific region is projected to witness a rapid growth primarily on account of the outbreak of COVID-19 from its epicenter in Wuhan, China. The growing concerns regarding the spread of the disease have led to the booming usage of various products that include sanitizers, gloves, disinfectants, and masks among others. Also, enforcement of various regulations by the governments of countries like India and China regarding proper sanitization of public places, use of PPE kits and masks by the general public for mitigating the risk of spread is further amplifying the market growth in the APAC region, especially during the short run. Additionally, the booming investments by companies to ramp up their production capabilities to meet the globally growing demand further shows the potential for the market to grow at a rapid pace during the next six to eight months. For instance, recently in 2020, Honeywell International announced its plan to boost the production of N95 masks to meet the response of the growing demand. Similarly, 3M also announced to double the production capacity of masks as the global demand is increasing in the month of March.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachit Gulati is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from automation to food and beverages, with a special knack for automotive and healthcare. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Commerce, and Finance, he is able to provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit www.knowledge-sourcing.com.

3D Printing: Revolutionizing the Future

3D printing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file by laying down layers of a material in succession. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing enables one to produce complex shapes using less material which is one of the key factors that are attracting a large pool of manufacturers. Currently, the 3D printing market growth is primarily driven by the Aerospace and manufacturing industry where the technology is majorly being used for prototyping, tooling, and creating complex geometries. Its adoption is growing at an exponential rate owing to the increasing number of industries like healthcare, construction viewing it to innovate the process within their respective industry. Thus, players in this market are continuously working towards proliferating 3D printing technology not only at industrial level but also for personal use which is boosting the market growth. For instance, in March 2019, Boston-based 3D printer manufacturer Mark forged has launched its additive manufacturing program to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing in the industry, thus overcoming the barrier to its adoption. Also, in May 2019, Materialise NV has partnered with HP, Nikon, and Essentium to bring improved productivity and connectivity to additive manufacturing operations.  Therefore, 3D printing is set to grow at a staggering rate during the forecast period owing to automotive and healthcare industry set to leverage the technology for the mass production of various components.

Increasing investment in research and development

Growing competition across industries like manufacturing, automotive, construction, and healthcare among others is increasing the focus of industry players towards improving margins by reducing manufacturing costs. Cost of labor and materials are some of the major contributors to the overall manufacturing cost and as industry players continue to realize the potential of additive manufacturing technology to offer a significant reduction in these costs, the demand for 3D printing solutions is growing at an exponential rate. In order to remain globally competitive and to tap the potential this market holds, market players are investing heavily into research and development to fuel innovation and develop efficient 3D printing solutions using advanced technology, thus capable of offering high value to the customers. For instance, DNV GL announced a collaboration with Sembcorp Marine for investing in the establishment of Global Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Singapore which is sought to serve as an incubator for R&D of additive manufacturing technology for the oil and gas, and offshore and marine (O&M) sectors. Earlier in February 2017, Oerlikon announced the expansion of its global additive manufacturing (AM) business through the opening of an advanced R&D and production facility in North Carolina, U.S. Along with this; new players are also attracting huge funding to augment their 3D printing technology across industries. For instance, in September 2019, Freemelt announced the completion of a $1.6 million capital investment to drive the metal 3D printing revolution forward using its open-source electron beam melting (EBM) 3D printing technology. Thus, similar investments across the world are driving the adoption of additive manufacturing solutions by the industry players, thus favouring the 3D printing market trend.  

 

3d printing market

 

Component Analysis

By component, the hardware segment holds the major share in the market owing to the growing demand for 3D printers for both industrial and residential uses, as multiple industries are adopting 3D printing solutions to produce parts and components. As the hardware is still relatively high priced, multiple smaller businesses are adopting 3D printing services to assist their manufacturing process, rather than investing in the hardware itself, thus boosting the service industry significantly. 3D printing materials market is estimated to witness the fastest growth in the coming years on account of increasing investment and focus towards development of the 3D printing materials to enhance the 3D printing speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness which can benefits various industries. The software segment is also estimated to hold a decent share in the market; however, its growth is hindered by the concerns regarding piracy and availability of multiple free software alternatives.

Impact of COVID-19       

The spread of global pandemic COVID-19 has caused the disruption in manufacturing plants, broke the supply chain and the global lockdown has led to the restriction in production facilities. The crises that world have never experienced before having forced companies to review their current methods and adopting new tools and technologies such as 3D printing. The healthcare industry is one of the best served sector that is using the additive technology during the period of pandemic and after witnessing the various shortages it is expected that companies will shift their focus towards the development of 3D printing technologies after Covid-19. Even, the additive manufacturing and 3D printing community is making many efforts to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, recently The European Association for Additive Manufacturing (CECIMO) is responding to a request of European Commission to aid in producing medical equipment which include valves and ventilators.

Recent updates

  • April 2020: the developer of a metal composite 3D printing technology, Velo3D that supplies 3D printers to SpaceX raises US$28 million in funding.
  • December 2019: The Lighting Research Center (LRC) in Troy, New York signed a deal with Eaton Corporation, the American multinational power management company for the development of a full 3D printed LED-integrated luminaire which is funded by the United States Department of Energy.
  • December 2019: Swiss SLS 3D printer manufacturer named Sintratec entered a collaboration with Daimler AG, the German multinational automotive corporation for supplying spare parts using Sintratec’s S2 3D printer.
  • December 2019: GE Healthcare signed a partnership with FormLabs to accelerate additive manufacturing of anatomical models used by surgeons to prepare for the procedures.

FUTURE PROSPECTS: 

Currently, 3D Printing is revolutionizing the whole semiconductor and IOT industry. The increasing investment in research and development by major market players coupled with growing government support and initiative is expected to drive the growth of 3D printing market. Also due to the rapid adoption of 3D printing technologies in various end-user industries like healthcare and automotive the market is anticipated to grow at an exponential rate during the forecast period.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rajat Sudan is a Market Research Analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence, working on estimates and global/regional specific reports on multiple industries ranging from semiconductor to food and beverage, with a special knack for packaging and ICT. With the addition of his formal education in Economics, Mathematics, and Finance, he is able to provide more light on the macro aspects of the story. To read more articles by him, and for more information regarding multiple global markets, visit https://www.knowledge-sourcing.com.