Magnetic sensors market to reach $3.2 billion by 2017


The
global market for magnetic sensors is forecast to reach over US$3.2 billion by
the year 2017, according to Global Industry Analysts.


The
growth will be driven by the rapidly burgeoning demand from the automotive and
cell phone end-use segments. E-compassing, the recent market find for GPS
enabled cell phone devices is likely to spur rapid expansion in the magnetic
sensors market.


Rise
in global shipments of smartphones will increase the penetration of e-compasses
and 3-axis magnetometers. Technology innovations, unique end-use applications,
interoperability with devices and competitive pricing will position magnetic
sensors on a robust growth trajectory.


Increasing
demand from developing markets of Asia-Pacific and Latin America will further
enable rapid technology and product developments.


The
global market for magnetic sensors has been growing at a steady pace, both in
terms of technology and applications. The sensors include a range of products
that find applications in industrial and science frontiers as well as personal
and commercial use.


Position
sensors, speed sensors and record heads in hard disk drives in computers are
the most commonly used magnetic sensor types currently in vogue.


One
of the rapidly expanding application areas includes e-compassing used in
passenger cars, GPS enabled hand-held devices, cell phones and dead reckoning
(DR) in personal vehicle, aircraft and marine navigation.


Initially,
magnetic sensors were developed and used purely for navigation and tracking
purposes. Over the years however, these sensors evolved in terms of
sensitivity, compactness and flexibility, as a consequence of ever-growing need
for enhanced technology.


Today,
magnetic sensors enjoy myriad uses ranging from high-priced sensors for
industrial and automotive applications to low-priced devices for consumer
appliances and cell phones.


Ultra
sensitive SQUIDs or superconducting quantum interface devices are currently the
most sought after magnetic sensor types for medical applications. Detection
capabilities of these new found SQUIDs are superior to other existing
technologies, a major reason for their increase in popularity.


Silicon-based
magneto resistive sensors, both AMR and GMR, are being implemented in a variety
of new applications thus posing a challenge for traditional hall devices.
Manufacturers are investing more on further improvements in GMR technologies,
attributed mainly to the significant growth in the HDD area density.


Magnetic
sensors are fast replacing outdated equipment such as micro switches,
potentiometers and reed switches in traditional application areas. Hall sensor
ICs dominate the market along with magneto resistive sensors including, AMR and
GMR sensor types.


Although
the automotive and electronic segments retain dominance in the magnetic sensor
market, several new areas are opening up exciting business arenas for silicon
magnetic sensors.


Key
applications includes mobiles, desktop PCs; mobile handsets; gaming; audio and
video devices and personal electronics among others. Technological advancements
and miniaturization run parallel in the magnetic sensors market.


Platforms
for miniaturizing the dimensions of sensors are provided by the silicon
processing and MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) technologies.


The
global market for magnetic sensors was marginally impacted by the recent
economic recession during the years 2008-09. With the crisis hitting all major
end-use industries, growth in the market remained relatively flat during the
period. However as demand surged in 2010, mainly from the automotive, consumer
and industrial markets the pre-crisis strong growth level reemerged for the
market.


The
US and Europe represent equal contenders in the magnetic sensors market, as
stated by the new research report on Magnetic Sensors. Asia-Pacific, led by
technology-centric markets of India, China, Korea and Taiwan is expected to
forge ahead at the overall fastest compounded annual growth rate of 12 percent
through 2017.


By
product segment, Hall Sensor ICs constitutes the largest market globally. With
respect to long-term potential, the giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors are
poised to take the lead, expanding at a CAGR of over 12 percent.


The
end-use application segment, Electronics, dominates the magnetic sensors
market, trailed closely by the automotive segment. Both the markets are also
poised for a robust growth rate over the years as newer application areas are
developed.


By
Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]