Machine-vision industry experiencing trying times

A recent study from the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) reports that the machine-vision industry in North America is undergoing trying times, primarily due to the uncertain business cycle. “But this is not the first time the industry has faced such severe challenges,” said Paul Kellett, director of market analysis at the AIA and author of the organization's 2008 Machine Vision Markets study (Ref. 1). “It has always come back and experienced a strong rebound.”

In North America, sales of machine-vision systems, including smart cameras, are expected to rise to $1.75 billion by 2012. Source: Automated Imaging Association.

The machine-vision market is divided into three segments: components (such as optics, lighting, cameras, imaging boards, and third-party software) and two kinds of systems—smart cameras and application-specific machine-vision (ASMV) systems. In 2007, the study reports, sales volumes for machine-vision components in North America reached $205.8 million, sales of smart cameras reached $116.6 million, and sales of ASMVs reached $1.23 billion (Table 1). Together, these totaled just over $1.5 billion, an amount that is expected to grow to $2.1 billion by 2012.

The study also looks at sales of machine-vision products in Europe and Asia-Pacific (see “Machine vision in India and China poised for growth”). Worldwide sales of machine-vision components in 2007 totaled $683.5 million, sales of smart cameras totaled $387.3 million, and sales of ASMV systems totaled $4.1 billion. By 2012, these totals are expected to grow to $928.9 million, $545.1 million, and $5.35 billion, respectively. European markets have the largest share of world sales at 32.6%, while North America and Asia-Pacific each have a 30.1% share.

Although the overall North American market has been growing since the post-2001 recovery began, sales growth in 2007 flattened. The study's forecasts assume an economic slowdown this year, but not a recession. According to the study's executive summary, “...we expect the slowdown experienced in 2007 to intensify in 2008.” But if a recession occurs, then sales volumes will probably dip lower than those forecasted.

The growth rates of individual component, system, and software markets in 2007 varied, due to the different trends affecting them. For example, the average unit price of cameras has not declined at the same rate as that of other components. Kellett explained that this is probably due to the trend toward digital images, which has increased digital camera sales at the expense of analog camera sales. “Within the digital slice, there are several major changes,” he said, “including the increased need for higher resolution and faster speeds, and the consequent growth of high-bandwidth interfaces, specifically Camera Link and GigE.” Color is also becoming important.

There are also major trends that affect most of these product markets. “The capabilities of all machine-vision products are expanding over time, but their prices are declining,” said Kellett. At the same time, miniaturization and integration are increasing via electronic components.

For all of these reasons, “Machine-vision companies should focus on the long-term prospects of the industry,” said Kellett. “In the short term, there will be some gnashing of teeth, but in the long term, prospects are bright.”

Table 1. 2007 Worldwide machine-vision markets (Millions $US)