USE OF INDUSTRIAL LASERS CONTINUES TO INCREASE

Sales jump 44.9 percent and prospects look bright for the remainder of 2011 as new technologies are brought to market and fiber lasers continue to expand.

In a recent survey that analyzes industrial laser usage, shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems in 2010 are reported at $356.2 million, according to AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA). Unit sales jumped 44.9 percent for a total of 1,210 units. CO₂ lasers accounted for 88.5 percent of the value of shipments, which is virtually unchanged since 2009. Unit sales of CO₂ lasers made up 70.2 percent of shipments. The report compiled from 19 manufacturers and distributors also shows the number of lasers configured as full systems accounted for the same share of shipments as in 2008 after a spike in 2009. The value of orders configured as full systems was $309.2 million.

Year-end figures for 2010 are based on actual data reported by companies voluntarily participating in the Laser Market Data Survey. Growth is based on revised 2009 data reflecting any changes that survey participants made during the course of 2010. “The 37 percent pick up in 2010 is a modest rebound in the face of the nearly 50 percent decline in sales during 2009,” stated Patrick McGibbon, the vice president of strategic information and research and membership. “Prospects look bright for the remainder of 2011 as new technologies are brought to market and fiber lasers continue to expand.”

The breakdown of unit sales is shown in Figure 1. 849 CO₂ units were shipped at a value of $315.3 million, much higher than the 361 YAG machines shipped at a value of just under $41 million. Complete laser systems accounted for $309.2 million, or 53.3 percent of shipments, as opposed to source only or workstation only sales.

The web-based benchmarking survey tracks and reports actual order data from North American manufacturers and suppliers of industrial lasers including:
• complete industrial laser machines (workstations and laser source)
• beam delivery only (workstations)
• source only

Data is collected at a transaction level which enables multi-dimensional reporting across destination, application, configuration, and end user industry which enables participants to analyze the market by different criteria.  Participation is free, but detailed data is available only to companies that actively contribute data.  Any North American company building or supplying industrial laser equipment may participate in AMT’s Laser Market Data Survey.

Companies that meet the eligibility requirements and would like to participate in AMT’s statistical program should register at www.amtlasersurvey.com or contact Russ Waddell, Industry Economist, at rwaddell@AMTonline.org or 703-827-5258.

www.amtonline.org