North American Machine Vision Market Sets New Record in 2015

Ann Arbor, Michigan – North American sales of machine vision components and systems grew to $2.3 billion in 2015, its highest annual total on record, according to new statistics issued by AIA, the industry’s trade group.

Total machine vision sales, which grew less than one percent, include sales of machine vision components and systems.

The machine vision components category saw growth of four percent to $316 million in 2015. The leading growth categories for machine vision components in 2015 were lighting (16%), imaging boards (10%), and software (four percent). The machine vision systems category was flat in 2015 at $2.0 billion. Within machine vision systems, sales of application specific machine vision (ASMV) systems increased one percent to $1.7 billion, while smart cameras contracted by four percent to $289 million.

Despite the record performance overall, the machine vision market in North America continued to see the effects of a cyclical slowdown in the fourth quarter of the year, which was driven by a decrease in sales of machine vision systems. More specifically, the systems category saw a 17% decrease in sales from the fourth quarter of 2014, marking the second consecutive quarter of year over year contraction. When combined with the flat growth in machine vision components, total North American sales for machine vision decreased by 15% in the fourth quarter of 2015.

“Fifty-nine percent of industry experts are expecting things to turn upward for machine vision component markets in the first six months of 2016, 39% believe they will remain flat, and three percent expect further declines,” said Alex Shikany, AIA’s Director of Market Analysis. “For machine vision systems, 56% of survey respondents believe the category will remain flat, 32% expect an increase, and 12% expect a decline.”

“Interest in vision and imaging technology is at an all-time high today,” said AIA President Jeff Burnstein. “We continue to see new and exciting applications emerge for vision in all aspects of automation. Imaging technology is being used more and more outside the factory as well, with growth in areas like life sciences and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is an exciting time to be involved in this industry.”

On the heels of a record year, AIA expects its flagship trade show, The Vision Show, to draw record attendance on May 3-5, 2016 in Boston, MA. The show will also feature an additional hall, devoted to vision technologies being used in growing applications such as collaborative robotics, life sciences, and a pavilion highlighting leading vision research. AIA is also offering a full educational conference at The Vision Show which will feature its Certified Vision Professional (CVP) Basic and Advanced training programs. Registration is now open on AIA’s website to attend and exhibit at The Vision Show in 2016.

AIA’s sister group, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is also hosting its International Collaborative Robots Workshop in conjunction with The Vision Show on May 3-4, 2016 in Boston. More information about the event can be found on RIA’s website, www.robotics.org.

About AIA
Founded in 1984 to advance the understanding and use of imaging and vision technologies and to drive global expansion and growth through education and promotion, AIA now represents over 325 vision suppliers, system integrators, users, researchers, and consulting firms from 32 countries. AIA is best known for The Vision Show (May 3-5, 2016 in Boston); vision and imaging standards such as GigE Vision®, Camera Link®, Camera Link HS™ and USB3 Vision™; the Automate Show (April 3-6, 2017 in Chicago); the annual AIA Business Conference (January 18-20, 2017 in Orlando); the Certified Vision Professional program; AIA Certified System Integrator program; and Vision Online (www.visiononline.org), the world’s leading online resource for vision information. AIA is part of the Association for Advancing Automation. For more information on AIA, visit www.VisionOnline.org or contact AIA Headquarters at (734) 994-6088.

About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
The Association for Advancing Automation is the global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. A3 is the umbrella group for Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, and the Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA). RIA, AIA, and MCMA combined represent some 900 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms from throughout the world that drive automation forward. For more information, visit the following websites: A3 - www.A3automate.org; RIA - www.robotics.org; AIA - www.visiononline.org; MCMA - www.motioncontrolonline.org.