Nanotechnology increases global dimensional metrology equipment demand

The report finds that the market earned revenue of $1.91 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach $2.55 billion in 2017. The study covers coordinate measuring machines and optical digitizer and scanners.

Miniaturization has led to the economical and sustainable manufacturing of complex, innovative and energy-efficient electronic products, boosting the need for dimensional metrology equipment to enable higher accuracy nanometer and micrometer-scale level measurements. Solutions such as vision measuring machines and white-light scanners that measure intricate objects rising are gaining popularity in the rapidly growing semiconductor and electronics industries.

“Under competitive pressure to improve quality, end users are also turning to dimensional metrology for the efficient inspection of manufactured products. Stringent quality norms requiring customers to adopt design, manufacturing and quality process methodologies have further increased the uptake of customized metrology solutions globally,” comments Aravind Govindan, Measurement and Instrumentation Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Although the uncertain global economic environment is likely to curb investments – especially in the Eurozone – the dimensional metrology market will bounce back as the economy makes a gradual recovery. However, expensive, high-end sophisticated metrology machines may not find buyers in cost-conscious regions, like the Asia-Pacific – where electronics manufacturers do not see dimensional metrology equipment as a necessity.

Govindan adds: “Offering low-cost equipment and launching marketing initiatives, particularly in Asia-Pacific, are crucial for sustainable growth. Customized solutions will widen the prospects of dimensional metrology vendors and add to profitability.”

The markets in developed economies will grow with North America likely to experience highest growth because end users have been at the forefront of adopting dimensional metrology to streamline the quality process and improve manufacturing efficiency.