This report offers an in-depth analysis of the European human machine interface (HMI) market to determine its future demand potential and enable stakeholders to devise strategies accordingly. It also determines the current market demand for HMIs across Europe and, more importantly, the manner in which this demand will change in the future and the operational challenges that vendors will face. It also identifies the drivers for uptake, restraints for adoption and factors affecting the demand for the HMI systems across different process and discrete applications.

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Customers Clamouring for Advanced Technical Features

Factors such as the need for technically enhanced human machine interface (HMI) in Europe and the availability of growth opportunities in price-sensitive markets such as eastern Europe will intensify the competition among vendors in the HMI market. Although the financial crisis affected most end-user sectors across the world, the demand for HMI has been sustained through government-aided stimulus packages in key end-user segments. Steady market expansion will derive from end users looking beyond conventional HMI functionalities to more advanced technical features.

The increasing importance of sophisticated and high-definition displays will support market prospects. The visualisation factor, which communicates the system parameters and displays the execution of the process on a screen, is highly valued by shop floor operators. “The need for newer and more sophisticated displays is gaining importance,” notes the analyst of this research. “The ability of an HMI to fulfill this demand is continuing to drive the growth of the HMI market.” Increased government spending on infrastructure, including power and water, is also strengthening the market’s growth potential. As an effect of the recession of 2008-2009, governments of developed economies have been aiding investments in infrastructure development, primarily in the power segment and for smart grid projects. This has resulted in a boom in the utilities segment, especially in the use of HMI applications.

Demand for Advanced Functionality Creates both Challenges and Opportunities

A key challenge relates to the fact that end users are looking beyond the conventional functionality of HMI. Currently, customers are not satisfied with the usual features of data monitoring offered by HMI. They want the system to be more intelligent and intuitive. “Software is the key to intelligent HMI solutions,” states the analyst. “An appropriate mix of technologically advanced hardware and software will successfully address the demand for more intelligent functionality.”

Additionally, the advent of HMI integrated with video capabilities will enable proactive diagnostics in the event of a fault. HMI vendors need to focus on such intuitive trends to meet customer requirements.

Analysts thoroughly examine the following end-user segments in this research:

Discrete manufacturing industries:

Automotive
Metals manufacturing
Packaging
Other discrete applications (aerospace and defence, machine tools, electronics and semiconductors, textile and woodworking)

Process industries:

Food and beverage
Pharmaceuticals
Utilities
Other process applications (chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, cement processing, mining and quarrying and textile production)

By Geographic Region

Germany
France
Italy
United Kingdom
Benelux
Scandinavia
Iberia
Eastern Europe
Rest-of-Europe

By Product

Graphic interfaces
Text-based interfaces
Mobile operator interfaces
Software

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary

   1.1 Market Segmentation

   1.2 Industry Challenges, Market Drivers and Market Restraints

   1.3 Summary of Major Findings

   1.4 Technology Trends

2. Introduction 

   2.1 Aims and Objectives

   2.2 Research Methodology

   2.3 Definitions and Scope of Research

3. Identification of Challenges 

   3.1 Identification of Industry Challenges

   3.2 Timeframe Analysis

4. Total Human Machine Interface Market

   4.1 Market Dynamics

       a. Market Drivers

       b. Market Restraints

   4.2 Revenue Forecasts and Trends

       a. Total Market Revenue Forecasts

       b. Trends by Product Type

       c. Trends by Region

       d. Trends by End User Segment

   4.3 Competitive Analysis

       a. Competitive Structure

       b. Market Share Analysis

5. HMI Market in the Discrete Manufacturing Applications

   5.1 HMI Market in the Automotive Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   5.2 HMI Market in the Metals Manufacturing Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   5.3 HMI Market in the Packaging Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   5.4 HMI Market in the Other Discrete Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

6. HMI Market in the Process Industry Applications

   6.1 HMI Market in the food and Beverage Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   6.2 HMI Market in the Pharmaceutical Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   6.3 HMI Market in the Utilities Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

   6.4 HMI Market in the Other Process Industry Applications

       a. Revenue Forecasts and Trends

7. Conclusion

   7.1 Key Findings

LIST OF FIGURES