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January 6, 2012 - A study from Flow Research, The World Market for Liquid Analytical Instruments, finds that the worldwide market for leading liquid analytical instruments is projected to grow substantially and exceed $981 million by 2014. The market totaled $726 million in 2009 and is expected to equal $812.4 million in 2011.
Flow Research projects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2 percent in revenues for the total worldwide liquid analytical instrumentation market through 2014. Dissolved oxygen/oxygen analysis is the fastest-growing application of the eight leading applications studied. It has a projected CAGR of 7.1 percent, followed by pH/ORP (potential of hydrogen/oxidation-reduction potential). The largest applications in terms of revenues are pH/ORP and conductivity/resistivity.
Demand for finer analyses drives the market
A major market driver is the demand for finer analyses of process variables from enhanced industrial process quality targets, more stringent environmental compliance standards, and technology advances. The market is undergoing a fundamental evolution as suppliers move their technology from the laboratory to the process environment and as users realize the benefits of real-time data acquisition. Much of the growth is due to increased demand for analytical instruments in the water & wastewater market. The security and consequent safety of public water supplies has become a front burner issue, with federal funding for the research, development, and deployment of systems providing real-time analysis and reporting.
This study not only determines the fastest growing liquid analytical applications, but also identifies the industries where this growth is occurring. The worldwide data is further broken down into seven regions to aid comparison.
Quality tops the list of process control objectives
End-users place quality at the very top of their list of process control objectives, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and water & wastewater applications. This study determines that traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing methods remain prevalent in the United States. The typical method is to create a batch of a product, and then restore the manufacturing elements to their original pre-batch condition. Manufacturing elements include temperature sensors, flowmeters, strainers, valves, fittings, heat exchangers, and other measurement and control devices. Any of these devices that come into contact with the final product are a potential source of contamination, as well as a potential source of non-compliance with calibrated process parameters.
Overall, the batch method of production is expensive and time-consuming, including CIP (clean in place) and SIP (sterilization in place) methods, various procedures, and post-batch restoration processes. As pharmaceutical suppliers convert to a process form of production, they will gain manufacturing efficiencies that will make them more competitive and ultimately drive down the cost of their products to consumers.
Consumers demand security and speed
Quality control in the water and wastewater industry is also important to consumers, but for the added reason of security. In the U.S., for example, water samples are taken on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even a seasonal basis and are carried to a laboratory location for analysis. If the analytical measurement being pursued is the percent of chlorine content in a body of drinking water, for example, the sample must be obtained in a particular manner, and then handled and transported with special care. Too often, if the sample is not completely enclosed and sealed, then the chlorine in solution may escape and change its proportion in the water sample. When the water is finally analyzed, the results will measure a lower proportion of chlorine in the sample than what actually exists in the body of water. This fundamental weakness in sampling protocol can easily and adversely affect the management of public water supplies.
This routine can consume hours, days, or weeks before the analytical results are available to the process manager for a decision. Now, with online measurement, results are available almost immediately.
According to Dr. Jesse Yoder, president of Flow Research, the market is ripe with opportunities:
“The liquid analytical industry is experiencing a transition from a laboratory environment to an inline/online process control environment. Analytical techniques are evolving at an accelerated pace to meet user demands, including the need for real-time data availability. The opportunities are significant for suppliers who take advantage of these market changes.”
Flow Research, Inc.
Flow Research provides research on flowmeters and pressure, temperature, and analytical instrumentation. Recent market studies include the world market for all types of flowmeters as well as six studies on gas flow measurement. Other recent individual studies include pressure transmitters, turbine flowmeters, and positive displacement flowmeters. Flow Research also publishes quarterly reports on the flowmeter and energy markets as part of the Worldflow Monitoring Service.
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