New Machine Vision Market Study and Financial Study Report the Latest on Product, Industry Trends and Forecasts for 2007 through 2012

(Ann Arbor, Michigan – March 28, 2008)  A new machine vision market study reports that machine vision and automated imaging continues to be a growth industry in North America.

The 2008 study is based on 2007 actual results and is organized primarily around the major machine vision product markets: optics, lighting, cameras, imaging boards, smart cameras and application-specific machine vision systems (ASMV). While the study predominantly focuses on the North American market, two chapters are dedicated to the emerging Chinese and Indian machine vision markets. The study also provides worldwide estimates of sales.

The study found that the North American economy has indeed had an impact on both U.S. and Canadian manufacturing sectors, with most economists predicting a continued slowdown in the economy for the U.S. throughout 2008, which could result in a decrease in purchases of machine vision products.

Overall, sales results were mixed for 2007; while smart cameras and ASMV system sales were up over 2006, total component sales were down from the previous year. Smart cameras experienced sales of $116.6 million.

Sales revenues for cameras in 2007 increased 0.8% over 2006 with the number of units sold down slightly. Camera sales are expected to have mixed results in 2008 with sales increasing by 0.2% in terms of revenue and decreasing by -1.0% in terms of units sold. The machine vision lighting market has generally declined in size in terms of revenue, but has grown in terms of units sold, in part affected by the growing popularity of LED products, which have become the dominant lighting technology.

The study, entitled Machine Vision Markets – 2007 Results and Forecasts to 2012, is published by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA), the world’s largest and only global machine vision trade group, with over 300 member companies from 26 countries.

“Particularly in these challenging times, where the margin for error in decision-making is very thin, machine vision companies need to base their product-development and sales strategies on the most accurate view of the marketplace possible,” said Paul Kellett, AIA’s Director of Market Analysis.  “AIA has prepared its latest market study with this need foremost in mind. To satisfy this need, the study specifically analyzes sales by product feature, identifying the best-selling feature configurations by product market and key trends that suggest the direction of evolving customer preferences. It also investigates sales opportunities in new geographic markets.”

Additionally, for the first time, a separate Machine Vision Financial Study is available for purchase (free for AIA members who purchase the Market Study). This study is essential reading for machine vision companies that wish to assess their relative financial health, investors of machine vision companies and those exploring merger and acquisition activities. An easy to use, specially developed analysis tool is included on the CD, which will enable non-publicly traded machine vision companies to benchmark their company’s financial performance by comparing their financials to industry averages. 

Said Kellett, “Based on the realization that financial health is not driven by sales activity alone, the new Financial Study is two-part, consisting of a financial ratio analysis and an analysis of stock market performance of twenty-eight of the world’s largest, publicly-traded machine vision companies over a three-year period.” He continued, “machine vision companies that wish to determine their relative financial health will find this new study highly valuable.” The financial community at large, as well as research organizations, will also find the study to be useful.

The latest AIA studies, which are comprehensive yet affordable, are the most in-depth and up-to-date analyses of machine vision and imaging product markets available. The Market Study breaks down sales and revenue trends by product type and feature, and provides essential and actionable information that machine vision companies can apply directly to sales strategies and tactics. The study will allow machine vision companies to gain a sense of the industry’s health, emerging product and application trends, and changes in the marketplace.  Other enhancements to the study include an analysis of new market developments, such as GigE Vision™, Chinese and Indian market opportunities, and additional market intelligence to arm machine vision companies with actionable competitive intelligence.

Consisting of 17 chapters, 237 pages and over 170 data exhibits, the new study estimates market size and growth, focuses on market trends, market characteristics, sales by product feature and new market opportunities outside of manufacturing.

The study is now available for purchase. The AIA member price is $1,045.00 and includes the Financial Study at no extra charge; the non-AIA member price is $1,475.00 for the Market Study and $500 for the Financial Study.  Study participants receive a substantial discount.  To order the study, visit www.MachineVisionOnline.org or call AIA Headquarters at (734) 994-6088.

In addition to the market study, AIA provides regular reports on the health of the machine vision market and economic trends that impact the industry at “Kellett’s Corner,” which is a special section of the Machine Vision Online website.  Machine Vision Online is the world’s most important resource for machine vision and imaging information.

About AIA

Founded in 1984, AIA was organized specifically to promote the understanding and use of image capture and analysis technology and now represents over 300 machine vision suppliers, system integrators, users, researchers, and consulting firms from 26 countries.  In addition to the annual Machine Vision Markets Study,  the AIA is best-known for The Vision Show (June 10-12, 2008 in Boston), the biennial International Robots & Vision Show (June 9-11, 2009 in Chicago), its annual AIA Business Conference and Machine Vision Online (www.MachineVisionOnline.org), the world’s leading online resource for machine vision information.

For more information on AIA, visit www.MachineVisionOnline.org or contact AIA Headquarters at (734) 994-6088.