N American Keyboard & Keypad Market Turned Corner
Natick, MA, April 22, 2003 -- North American demand for keyboards and keypads used in multiple industries will increase, slowly, through 2005.
Growth in the consumption of keyboards and keypads will continue to rebound, albeit slowly, through 2003. Increasing rates of growth will ensue through 2005, as demand in aggregate continues and economies in general improve. The North American market for keyboards and keypads totaled $1.57 billion in 2002 and is forecast to reach $1.92 billion in 2007, growing at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 4.2%.
The ubiquity of these devices in all major sectors will fuel substantial growth in the market during 2006 and 2007. This will be most evident in the flat panel segment -- those with switch activation closure distances less than 1.5 mm (0.06 inch).
- Conductive rubber technology -- Global market segments fed mainly by those products utilizing elastomeric keypads will experience dependable growth throughout the forecast period.
- Mechanical switch keyboards -- High-end product sectors continue to drive the segment. Exception: the increasing popularity of the scissors-type switch mechanism, expected to provide substantial growth to the notebook PC segment.
- Membrane switch market space -- To remain cost-sensitive, vendors need to focus on aspects of providing competitive advantage other than pricing strategy.
In the near term, exceptional growth rates of consumption will be had for medical, military/aerospace, and automotive applications.
To view the entire press release including charts, click here.
U.S. Pressure Switch Market Stands the Test of Time
Despite growing competition from pressure transducers and transmitters, pressure switches will continue to find usage in a variety of applications. VDC's study, The U.S. Market for Pressure Switches, found that the U.S. market for pressure switches was going to grow to almost $363 million in 2006 -- a measly 0.2% CAGR over the forecast period.
Forecast of U.S. Pressure Switch Consumption
(Dollars in Millions)
- 2003: 359.6
- 2004: 360.3
- 2005: 361.4
- 2006: 362.9
According to VDC senior analyst Tim Shea, "Despite hearing lots of 'talk' on the street about pressure switches being displaced by pressure transducers, we found that there are still plenty of applications in which the performance and functionality of a pressure switch does the trick. We see continued demand for pressure switches in industries such as utilities, HVAC, chemical and petrochemical, home appliances, food processing, and pumps and compressors. Yes, there will be some displacement of pressure switches by pressure transducers in industries such as military/aerospace, automotive, and heavy vehicles, among others."
The breakdown in rankings of pressure switch dollar shipments by functional type will not change over the forecast period. Gauge pressure switches will continue to comprise the largest share of the market, followed by absolute, differential, and vacuum pressure switches, respectively.
To view the entire press release including charts click here.
