New product development fuels rapid growth in the UK electrochemical process analyser market

Citation

(1999), "New product development fuels rapid growth in the UK electrochemical process analyser market", Sensor Review, Vol. 19 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.1999.08719bab.003

New product development fuels rapid growth in the UK electrochemical process analyser market

New product development fuels rapid growth in the UK electrochemical process analyser market

Keywords Chemicals, Environment

The UK electrochemical process analyser market has experienced rapid growth over the last five years. According to a new report from MarketLine International, this has been driven primarily by the strong performance of the liquid analyser market, although gas analysers have also seen a significant improvement in sales.

The report, European Electrochemical Analysers, reveals that between 1993 and 1997, the specific ion analysers market was the fastest growing sector of the market, achieving average yearly growth of 14.7 per cent, followed by dissolved oxygen analysers, which grew at an average rate of 6.1 per cent over the same period.

The report also reveals:

1. 1.

   New product development and extended applications have been crucial to market growth in the UK.

2. 2.

   ABB and Rosemount lead the UK market through dominance of the gas and liquid sectors, respectively.

1. New product development and extended applications have been crucial to market growth in the UK

According to MarketLine, manufacturers of electrochemical process analysers have been particularly successful at expanding the UK market through creating new products and new applications for older products. Key new product developments in recent years have included:

• •

  higher accuracy;

• •

  better repeatability;

• •

  an extended envelope of ambient conditions;

• •

  higher reliability;

• •

  in-built diagnostics;

• •

  pre-selected failure modes;

• •

  operator information displays;

• •

  programme-driven instrument calibration;

• •

  communication buses.

These product improvements have led to the process analyser being treated in much the same way as standard measurement instruments by many process engineers. In a breakdown by application in the UK, the process industries still consume the largest amount of analysers, accounting for 41 per cent of liquid analysers and 18 per cent for gas (see Figure 4).

Figure 4 UK electrochemical process analyser market by market sector, 1997

For liquid analysers the predominant requirement is for on-line process analysers. The main industry sectors being the chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries although process analysers are also required in food processing and other industries.

The process industries are also the main users of electrochemical analyser products for the wastewater and boiler feed water sectors. The paper industry and the metals industries are significant markets for wastewateranalysers, and the power industry is obviously a principal market for boiler feed watermonitors.

According to MarketLine, the largest market for electrochemical gas analysers is in combustion control, an important market for oxygen analysers as well as for combustion monitors. The hazardous area monitoring market is a declining sector, being largely associated with mining and heavy industries that are themselves in decline. Electrochemical analysers are in competition with other types of gas analyser in the air quality monitoring sector.

2. ABB and Rosemount lead the UK market through dominance of the gas and liquid sectors, respectively

According to MarketLine, Rosemount is the dominant company in the UK market for electrochemical process liquid analysers, with almost one quarter of the market. The main international competitors are all well represented in the UK market, but despite this, 30 per cent of the market is made up from small specialist suppliers with less than 5 per cent. These suppliers include many companies distributing imported products, such as Acal Auriema.

In the gas sector, ABB is the market leader with a share of 17 per cent. The UK gas process analyser sector, as is common across Europe, is highly fragmented, with a large number of specialist suppliers taking small market shares. According to MarketLine, almost 50 per cent of the UK market is taken up by companies with a market share of less than 5 per cent. The gas analyser market is also subject to greater competition from other analysis techniques, especially electromagnetic sensors.

For further information contact Russ Milburn, Tel: +44 (0)171 316 0001; Fax: +44 (0)171 316 0002; E-mail: rmilburn@datamonitor.com