Machine Vision Market Soared 54 Percent In North America In 2010
Sales of machine vision components and systems in North America soared 54 percent in 2010 to nearly $1.8 billion, according to new figures released Friday by the Automated Imaging Association, the industry's Ann Arbor-based trade group.
The AIA Quarterly Machine Vision Sales Tracking Report recorded robust sales growth in all major machine vision supplier markets, including cameras, lighting, optics, imaging boards, application-specific machine vision systems, software and smart cameras.
The new report also disclosed widespread optimism about the future, with nearly three-fourths of companies submitting data for the report expecting sales to improve over current levels in the first half of 2011.
"The substantial market growth in 2010 demonstrates the importance of machine vision technology to companies in manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors," said AIA President Jeff Burnstein. "We saw strong evidence of this at the recent Automate 2011 Show and Conference, which was our largest in a decade. Exhibitors reported strong interest in machine vision solutions and conference sessions focusing on vision were packed."
Paul Kellett, AIA's Director of Market Analysis, added: "There is every reason to believe that the machine vision recovery will continue at full steam for quite some time to come. Macro-economic indicators and forecasts for the business sector remain positive, and industry expectations point to a solid recovery for at least another six months. Our overall assessment of machine vision sales is therefore very positive."
Founded in 1984, AIA is the world's largest machine vision trade association, representing some 300 member companies from 30 nations. In addition to collecting and reporting market data, AIA is best-known for the annual AIA Business Conference (set for Jan. 18-20 in Orlando, Fla.); The Vision Show (set for May 8-10, 2012 in Boston, Mass.), the development of industry standards such as Camera Link and GigE Vision; and Machine Vision Online, the world's leading resource for machine vision information on the internet, at www.machinevisiononline.org.
