Legislation, R and D investment and EU enlargement poised to provide stimulus for growth in noise and vibration monitoring markets
Legislation, R&D investment and EU enlargement poised to provide stimulus for growth in noise and vibration monitoring markets
Keywords Noise measurement, Survey, Vibration
The European Market for Noise and Vibration Monitoring Systems (Report 3674)
A new study by Frost &Sullivan, the international marketing consulting company, identifies legislative pressures, increasing investment in research and development and the projected enlargement of the European Union as the three main drivers behind growth in the European noise and vibration monitoring systems market.
Improvements to Windows software, increasing demands from customers for precision sounds, expansions to the laptop market and a growing public concern for health and safety issues represent further factors contributing to growth, says the study.
Eastern Europe represents a significant opportunity for growth for a number of companies, although the present crisis in Russia is likely to reduce the immediacy of development in the region. However, those companies that are not already active in this market are likely to find it increasingly difficult to gain entry, particularly as competition tightens.
"In the future, it is essential that companies address the competitive issues in the market- place. Those that do not meet the challenges imposed by the highly competitive nature of this market will find themselves losing market share in the noise and vibration monitoring systems market", reports John Raspin, research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.
The study values revenues in the European noise and vibration monitoring systems market at US$362.6 million in 1998, expected to rise to US$487.2 million by the end of the forecast period in 2005.
John Raspin continues:"Legislative pressure is almost certainly the most important driver in the European noise and vibration monitoring systems market.
"A growing number of EU Directives and domestic regulations are being implemented through national legislation to ensure that both working conditions and the urban environment meet suitable limits with regard to environmental and industrial noise and vibration."
The research and development (R&D) sector of the market is currently providing the best opportunities for suppliers of systems for the monitoring of noise and vibration. A number of industries that are important end-users to this market are experiencing booms in R&D investment, largely as a result of stiff competition in their industrial sectors. Examples include the automotive and telecommunications industries.
Richard Jackson, joint author of Frost & Sullivan's latest study, comments: "The market is characterised by the ongoing shift away from dedicated instruments in favour of PC-based monitoring solutions as well as by the increasing focus on software development, especially with regard to predictive/simulation packages, sometimes referred to as virtual instruments".
Frost & Sullivan's study draws attention to the fact that dedicated instruments fade in the wake of PC-based solutions while distribution companies and systems builders are stealing the customer base away from manufacturers.
The product vibration systems market represents the leading product sector in the overall European noise and vibration monitoring systems market, currently accounting for just over 50 per cent of total revenues. However, Frost & Sullivan expect only moderate revenue growth as the market approaches maturity.
As end-users tap into the increasing body of knowledge that has been made available to them, the sound quality monitoring systems market has been pushed into second position.
Ranking third is the market for environmental noise monitoring systems. The development of user-friendly software packages and the increasing use of laptop PC systems are beginning to alter the nature of the environmental noise monitoring systems market. As these developments continue, it is anticipated that demand will shift from dedicated portable systems to permanent monitoring solutions.
The largest geographic markets in the noise and vibration monitoring systems market are Germany,France, Italy and the UK. These markets combined account for approximately 70 per cent of the total European business.
The leading companies in the marketplace in 1998 include Bently Nevada, Schenck, Brüel & Kjaer,LMS International, Norsonic, CEL Instruments, Ziegler Instruments, Data Physics and HEAD Acoustics.
The most important strategies employed by the manufacturing companies are those concerned with cost reduction, distributor selection, single source responsibility, depth of product range and globalisation. For the distributor companies, the study highlights complete solutions, additional services, supplier selection and market research.
For the systems builders,Frost & Sullivan highlight concentration on software development, selection of hardware supplier, strategic partnerships with end-users and multiple connectivity.
The report (code 3674) was published in October 1998, price: US$3,950.
For further press information, contact Frost & Sullivan's Public Relations Department. Tel:+44 (0)171 915 7824; Fax: +44 (0)171 730 3343; E-mail: kristina.menzefricke@fs-europe.com
