MEMs market to double in size in five years
29 November 2006
News
Susie Inouye, research director, Databeans
MEMs devices have been around since the 1980s, but it appears that this market has finally achieved mass market acceptance thanks to demand for everything from DLPR TVs to implantable drug pumps. MEMs devices are very small machines that have been combined with silicon to provide equipment with circuit solutions and moving parts. The inkjet printer market benefits from this technology, as the tiny devices are used in printheads, constituting 25% of the worldwide MEMs market. However, the rear projection television market is expected to gain share and bypass the print head MEMs business within the next few years.
In a recent report by Databeans, the MEMs market, estimated at $6,3 bn this year, is on track to double its size in five years, due to increasing economies of scale in manufacturing and new applications that show compelling arguments to use this technology. Not only are there a number of designs using MEMs today, and there will be in the future, but the applications themselves are very high volume. Examples include the mobile phone market, where MEMs will be used to detect motion, providing users with enhanced capabilities and power saving features, such as terminating a call when the handset is placed face down, or connecting when the device is brought up to the ear.
Databeans estimates that revenue generated from MEMs technology will reach $7,6 bn in 2007 with 9% contributed by the consumer market, 10% from the communications market, and 24% from computer peripherals. Automotive remains a strong consumption segment with demand stemming from tyre-pressure monitors and air bag safety systems. Industrial applications, particularly medical applications are also driving growth.
The real opportunity here is outside the automotive space, however, as engineers and marketers begin to fully comprehend the ‘low lying fruit’, experimenting with disposable product design as well as high volume electronics. Examples would include pens with disposable print head cartridges, or even personal self-tanning products that offer customisable bronzing shades through micro-misting.
For more information contact Susie Inouye, Databeans, sinouye@databeans.net
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