Electronics.ca Research Network

Developers who want to gain the benefits in size and performance of embedded components need to understand some critical points before joining in this new trend. The complexity of printed boards is poised for a significant change as embedded components become more common. A growing number of OEMs and printed board suppliers are burying passives and actives in printed boards as a way to trim both costs and size. Vendors are seeing increasing interest. Embedded components are gaining more interest from our customer base, since it is one way to miniaturize electronics. We see requests from medical, industrial sensors, mobile devices and initial interest in automotive for special applications.

The market is estimated to be worth $2.7 billion in revenue during 2012 and is expected to reach $8.3 billion in 2018, growing at an estimated CAGR of 17.71% from 2013 to 2018. In terms of product, Wrist-wear accounted for the largest market revenue at $876.70 million, while neck-wear enjoyed the least market share as of 2012. For application segment, Consumer application sector accounted for the largest market revenue at $2,367.99 million, while enterprise and industrial application enjoyed the least market share with market revenue of $73.04 as of 2012. However, enterprise and industrial application is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 21.14%, during the forecast period, 2013 to 2018. North America with U.S. accounting fort more than 80.00% of the market is the single largest market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period as well. However, Asia Pacific with China, leading the way is likely to grow at the highest CAGR during the same time.

Electronic medical device manufacturers are under constant pressure to deliver innovative products on time and within budget, while contending with rapidly changing technologies, increasing product complexity and strict compliance and safety standards across a global marketplace. To help address these challenges, IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries® will host a one-and-a-half day conference, “Innovations in Electronics in Manufacturing for Medical Devices,” June 12–13 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Since the end of March, availability of smartphone components, including memory, displays, and ICs, has been limited. As a result, brands and manufacturers have been aggressively procuring components. There are a few reasons for the tight supply. Most brands announce new products at the Mobile World Congress, then launch before Labor Day and the summer holidays. This seasonality means that there is a huge demand for components in calendar Q2. In addition, smartphones continue to use customized designs, and generally can't use standard components. The component supply shortage is especially serious in China, where most of the brands want to deliver all of their new devices to stores and channels in time for Labor Day promotions, continuing into the summer holidays. If a product is not delivered to channels before the end of April for stocking in stores, annual sales could be impacted.

Global market for Rolled Glass is projected to reach 3.0 million metric tons by 2018, driven by sustained demand from residential, commercial, and specialty applications. Worldwide consumption of glass is growing led by its increasing use in automotive and building construction markets. Demand trends in the flat glass market are shaped by the pace of economic development as well as the legislative and regulatory landscape. Flat glass is produced using two float, rolled and sheet glass techniques, with float glass accounting for a predominant share of the overall demand. In contrast, rolled glass accounted for a very small percentage of the global flat glass demand during 2012.

Global market for Proximity and Displacement Sensors is projected to reach US$2.8 billion by 2018, driven by technology advancements, expanding application areas, and increasing demand in developing nations. Position sensing is a ubiquitous need in everyday applications. From providing position feedback for accurate control of down-hole drilling equipment, to providing position and altitude measurement data for satellites to offering position data for efficient functioning of engine systems in automobiles, position sensors represent an important measuring technology. As types of position sensors, proximity and displacement sensors find application in every imaginable system that requires position measurement, especially so in machine tools and plant automation control wherein precise positioning is critical. Given the mission critical uses of proximity and displacement sensors, key variables for product success in the marketplace include reliability, accuracy, durability, and superior cost to benefit advantages. In addition to robust product solutions, manufacturers of proximity and displacements sensors are increasingly focusing on providing cutting edge technical support as a major differentiating factor in the marketplace. As competition intensifies and prices come under pressure, the importance of providing superior customer service and support to earn repeat customers and to build customer loyalty can no longer be undermined.

Global market for Distribution Transformers is projected to reach US$19 billion by the year 2018, primarily driven by surging demand for electricity in emerging economies and growing replacement demand in developed economies. Distribution Transformers provide the final voltage transformation in the electric power distribution system. They play an important role in decreasing the voltage level in the distribution lines to the level required by the consumer. As is the case with most of the transmission and distribution equipment, distribution transformers are also susceptible to changes in the regulatory environment, and economic cycles. Periods of downturn in key end-markets tend to influence demand patterns. Given its high levels of dependence on economic health, the global electric power transmission and power distribution equipment market suffered a severe setback in the year 2009, primarily due to the global economic recession, which was at its peak during the year. The complete meltdown of the construction industry, especially the housing sector, crippled the distribution transformers market, largely because new housing construction creates new demand for these transformers by opening up newer and additional subdivisions for distributing power.

The telecom industry is rapidly moving from wireline based to wireless. However, wireline continues to provide the infrastructure for the entirety. In this day of everything going wireless, it is important to separate access from network. Wireless is an access service, as is FiOS, Uverse, POTS, etc. They all use the wireline network to interconnect. Investment in wireline supports the network carriage of all access traffic, including wireless. Challenged by the ever-increasing demand for more network capacity, primarily due to mobile traffic growth, telecom carriers worldwide have been building their networks using new technologies – ROADMs and DWDMs largely.  A new report  - "Another Telecom Network Bust, 2000 All Over Again? Optical Network Market Analysis and Equipment Forecast 2013" investigates the market and technologies for ROADMs, DWDMs, Switches, and Routers.

The global market for flexible devices manufactured by roll-to-roll (R2R) technologies increased from $8.5 billion in 2010 to nearly $10 billion in 2011, and was valued at nearly $10.8 billion in 2012, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% during the two-year period. Circuit devices currently account for a nearly 96.9% share of all revenues in 2012. Sales within this segment are primarily associated with flexible printed circuits. Displays and other optoelectronic devices account for a 2.5% share of the R2R flexible devices market, with total 2012 revenues of $264 million, while solar cells, sensors, and other emerging applications currently represent a combined share of only 0.7% of the total. The diffusion of R2R technologies is expected to have a marked effect in lowering the unit prices of these devices. Consequently, while consumption in terms of volume is forecast to rise very rapidly, revenues will increase somewhat more moderately. As a result, the total market for R2R flexible devices is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 16.1% from 2012 to 2017, reaching global revenues of nearly $22.7 billion by 2017.

According to a new study,  the global market for thermal interface materials (TIMs) was worth nearly $426 million in 2011 and $458 million in 2012. The market is expected to grow to $762 million in 2017 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% between 2012 and 2017. Computers made up the largest end-use segment for thermal interface materials in 2011, with global sales of $145.4 million. Medical and office equipment composed the second-largest segment, followed by industrial and military equipment ,and telecommunications. Computers and especially medical and office equipment should gain market share over the next five years, whereas telecoms and industrial and military equipment are expected to see decreases in their shares. The Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) is the largest and fastest-growing TIM market, earning more than $251 million in 2011 and establishing a CAGR of 12.3% between 2012 and 2017. The 2011 U.S., EU, and Japanese markets were roughly similar in size, and have comparable projected annual growth rates (in the 7.5%-8.3% range) over the next five years.