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17 Jun 2002
Laser 2001: Industry analysts dissect the laser market at the industry forum for laser processing.
Speaking at the international forum on industrial laser applications held at Laser 2001, Munich, industry authority David Belforte of US-based Belforte Associates revealed the latest market highs and lows, and made predictions for the oncoming years.
Claiming that the entire laser industry has been affected by the present economic situation, Belforte said: "This has been more dramatic than expected due to the automobile market cancelling major orders, and I project a [continued] world market slowdown throughout 2001."
Belforte claims that solid-state-laser sales have outstripped those for carbon dioxide lasers, while the excimer-laser market has been boosted by a growing lithography sector. He revealed that North America and Europe dominated the industrial-laser market in 2000, taking 64% of the world's systems installations.
Also highlighting key industrial laser markets, Belforte was disappointed by the limited growth opportunities in welding, and asserts that sales lag behind technological growth. "[However], the automobile industry is the major consumer and in two to three years welding will take 20% of the market," he added. Marking applications were cited as hitting a "small slump", but Belforte argues that growth in South-East Asian markets will counteract this. A recent sales drop in sheet-metal-cutting sales is expected to return to "double-digit growth levels" as the level of automation in the industry increases.
Predicting that microprocessing would be the dominant laser-processing sector, he concluded: "Foundries in South-East Asia are cranking up production, which is a good sign, and although the worldwide economy has slowed down, great technology means that growth will pick up."
· Also speaking at the forum, Arnold Mayer of Switzerland's Optech Consulting claims that European laser-material processing is poised for continued market growth. "By 2010 I expect more than 10% growth a year," he said. According to Mayer, North America's market lead is influenced by exchange rates, while a trend towards the miniaturization of devices will increase the use of lasers.
"Ten years ago, printed circuit boards in mobile phones that have been manufactured with lasers were beyond our imagination," he added.
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