Electric drives keep growing

Frost & Sullivan estimates that West European demand for electric drives reached $2.5 billion (£1.4b) last year, but could exceed $3b (£1.65b) in 2012. Increasing energy prices, and a greater focus on improved plant efficiency and performance, will boost sales, says the consultancy. “Drives manufacturers hope that surging energy prices and a greater awareness of energy consumption will drive companies to review their electricity demands,” said Richard Tamworth, programme manager at the consultancy. However, a shift of production to lower-cost regions and reduced investment in heavy manufacturing in Western Europe may take the shine off these new opportunities. Separate research from IMS shows healthy growth for AC and DC motor drives in 2005. The ‘Europe, Middle East and Africa’ region dominates the market, with 2005 sales of $2.5b, a 12% increase on the previous year. Asia-Pacific is growing faster, but the market is about half the size. At the same time, IMS predicts that the world market for wireless communications in automation will grow at 28% per year over the next five years, according to IMS Research. Wireless communications is not widely used within the automation environment at present, but a proliferation of new products is being introduced.