Sensors to drive global MEMS market to $8.8 billion in 2012
Together with consumer electronics, the mobile handsets, automotive, and industrial process control segments will account for more than 60% of total MEMS market revenue in 2012.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 9/1/2008
The global market for MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) will expand to $8.8 billion in 2012, up from $6.1 billion in 2006, iSuppli Corp reported, making specific note of consumer electronics and wireless applications.
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According to iSuppli, the worldwide market for accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, pressure sensors, BAW (bulk acoustic wave) filters, flow sensors, micro-fluidic chips, microbolometers, thermopiles, and oscillators is growing at an 11% rate annually, growth that overtook the actuator market for the first time ever in 2007.
The consumer electronics, mobile handsets, automotive, and industrial process control segments collectively will account for slightly more than 60% of total MEMS market revenue in 2012. Aside from the consumer and wireless applications, the research company said the market is being driven by the automotive sector, an established area set to receive new impetus as a result of mandates for safety and new emissions standards. ISuppli further reported that demand will be driven by a diverse range of applications in industrial processing and control.
Meanwhile, actuators will see growth from RF MEMS switches used in mobile handsets and test equipment. This market will grow at an annual rate of more than 100% from 2006 to 2012, and will account for $261 million in actuator revenue in 2012, up from just $6 million in 2007, iSuppli estimated.
"The consumer electronics and mobile communications fields are much more dynamic than the previous mainstay markets for MEMS, ie inkjet heads, diverse industrial applications, and automotive uses,” Bouchaud said. "Existing companies have a great opportunity to ride this wave and new players have a chance to address a relatively open market. However, deep R&D pockets are essential to compete in this area, and the companies that will succeed will be those that bet on and invest in building dedicated mass-production facilities.”
ISuppli reminded that companies with brand new MEMS products tend to enjoy a lengthy monopoly in the market, such as Texas Instruments with its DLP chip or Knowles with MEMS microphones. However, in fast-moving markets like consumer electronics and automotive sensors, economies of scale will be the norm, with sensor companies attempting to address both sectors, iSuppli said. The research company expects the pace of mergers and acquisitions to accelerate in 2008 and 2009, concentrating MEMS market share among fewer players.
