AIA predicts rosy future for machine vision

The Automated Imaging Association (AIA) has released its annual study, The Machine Vision Market: 2003 Results and Forecasts to 2008, according to Jeff Burnstein, the Association's executive director. Overall, the study forecasts a healthy 7.1% annual revenue growth rate and a 7.8% annual growth rate in units over the next 5 years.

The study reports that North American machine-vision companies sold $2.3 billion in equipment worldwide in 2003, an increase of nearly 5%. The more than 84,000 units represented a 43% increase. Total sales to the North American electronics industry alone totaled $166.4 million, down slightly from 2002, although unit sales increased a substantial 9.8%. Burnstein suggests that the disparity between revenue and unit sales reflects the fact that board manufacturers bought fewer application-specific machine-vision systems last year, as both bare-board and assembled-board production have continued to migrate to facilities in lower-cost regions of the world.

As the world's largest machine-vision trade group, the AIA represents some 210 companies from 23 countries. Its members include leading machine-vision system suppliers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, consultants, and research firms.

In addition to producing its market study, the association produces events such as The Vision Show and the annual AIA Business Conference, manages the Machine Vision Online Web site, and coordinates the Camera Link Standard. You can visit the Automated Imaging Association's Web site at ww.machinevisiononline.org.