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Viewing report
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Laser Machine Market 2006
Yano Research Institute Ltd., June 2006, Pages: 119
As the IT bubble collapsed and economy slumped, and a wave of overseas transfer of production facilities in the background, domestic capital investment had been rapidly decreasing for several years. In fiscal 2002, however, the economy bottomed out in various industries and started to show gradual recovery.
In recent years, capital investments in production facilities have been activated, supported by the industry-wide economic recovery and the movements to return the production of high performance, high added-value products back to Japan again. Especially increasing is the demand for the laser machines capable of high quality machining in the production of high performance, high quality parts and products.
As a result, the shipment volume of every type of laser machines has exceeding become greater than the preceding year, indicating the fact that individual enterprises are positively investing in the production facilities, which could be an evidence of economic recovery.
2.CO2 laser machine market
In fiscal 2000, CO2 laser market recorded the shipment of 1,630 units which is the highest in recent years, supported by the favorable domestic economy. With the impact of IT bubble corruption, however, the market shrunk down to 760 units in fiscal 2002, less than the half of its peak.
Afterward, domestic capital investment recovered in the areas centered on automobile related industries, and the demand for CO2 laser machines increased. Especially, as parts design with free-curve shapes is becoming popular, and micro-fabrication by press operation a practical production process, the demand for CO2 laser is increasing for replacing conventional technologies such as punching press which could not meet with the advanced technological requirements. Another factor for the increase of demand for CO2 laser is its high laser beam quality and capability of high precision cutting of aluminum parts as increasing number of automobile related parts are made of aluminum, which used to be made of steel.
As a result, the market recovered in fiscal 2005 to the size exceeding 1000 units since fiscal 2001, and expected to reach to 1,080 units or so.
In the future, it is expected that CO2 laser will be employed for remote welding (scan welding) applications by utilizing the conventionally recognized CO2 laser advantages, such as high output capability, high laser beam quality and superior light-harvesting quality.
3.YAG laser machine market
In the YAG laser machine market, the demand for spot welding of optical and related parts suddenly increased in 2000 due to the rapid growth of optical communications centered on the North American market. Also, the strong demand for IT market related micro-machining sectors contributed to achieving the record shipment of 3,867 machines. However, same as for CO2 lasers, the market was influenced by the corruption of IT bubble and shrunk down to 2,204 machines in fiscal 2002, close to one half of the peak year.
After having bottomed in fiscal 2002, however, the economy of electronics industry, a major user segment for YAG laser machines, started to recover in fiscal 2003 or so, increasing the demand for laser machines for micro-machining of semi-conductor and electronic parts, such as marking, cutting, drilling, spot welding, repairing, trimming and so forth. The demand for sheet metal works is also increasing in the automobile and steel mill related industries.
As a result, the market size in fiscal 2005 is expected to expand to 2,901 machines or so, which is the second largest since its peak in fiscal 2000.
It is expected that the demand will keep growing in the future centered on the micro-machining of electronic parts for booming digital electric home appliances.
4.Noteworthy high-tech lasers
THG YAG laser has outstanding features derived from its laser characteristics not available on the other lasers such as capabilities for ultra micro machining and for machining difficult-to-process materials like hard or transparent materials.
The demand for THG YAG laser machines is basically in the increasing trend, although the shipment volume was once decreased in fiscal 2002 when Japanese economy suffered with the industry-wide depression, and the market is expected to grow from 285 units in fiscal 2000 to 495 units or so in fiscal 2005.
In the background of this demand increase for THG YAG laser machines, there is a need for ultra-micro machining to meet the increasing requirements for downsizing of digital home appliances and related products while improving their performance at the same time. In particular, the employment of THG YAG laser machine is increasing in the applications such as repairing of photo-masks or circuits of LSI/LCD, scribing or dicing of Si wafers and LCD substrates, drilling of printed circuit boards, and so forth in the semi conductor and LCD industries.
It is expected that the employment of THG YAG laser will continue to progress in the application areas herein above mentioned, and the demand will increase corresponding to the trend of electronics industries such as semi conductors and flat panel displays.
Fiber laser and disk laser can be characterized by their capability for higher beam quality, lower electricity consumption and miniaturization of equipment compared to the other lasers.
Fiber laser market has been growing constantly, increasing the volume of shipment without experiencing any decrease of volume since its introduction into the market. The demand is driven by the marking applications. The demand for marking is growing in view of product control and environmental measures in response to the changes in the regulations such as recycling and PL related laws and regulations. Although the majority of marking machines are still made with YAG and CO2 lasers, fiber laser machines have outstanding advantages such as higher beam quality which permits superior engraving into metal parts and higher visibility color markings on plastic parts as well as diode-pumping for longer product life and higher energy efficiency compared to the other solid-state or gas lasers.
These various advantages permit to develop new applications and new users and to expand the market in addition to the replacement of conventional laser machines
As a result, the market is expected to grow from the range of 170 units in fiscal 2000 to approx. 830 units in fiscal 2005.
In the future, employment of fiber lasers is expected, by utilizing their outstanding features, in the welding and cutting operations conventionally achieved by YAG or CO2 lasers.
Disk laser has about the same advantages as fiber lasers. Especially, high beam quality and extremely small spot diameter enable high speed cutting and welding operations. As the actual application achievement of disk laser is still limited and the price of equipment higher than the other laser systems, the market of disk laser is not yet established. However, disk laser is expected to be employed in micro machining applications such as welding. Same as fiber lasers, generation of new application and new demand are expected in addition to the replacement of conventional CO2 and YAG laser machines.
Summary of Research Findings
- Triggered by industry-wide economic recovery, capital investment is increasing in Japan.
As the result of economic recovery, domestic capital investment is being increased in every segment of the industry. The demand for laser machines is increasing in automobile related industries, FPD related industries as typified by LCD-TV, semi-conductor and electronic parts related industries.
- Shipment of CO2 Laser machines reached 1,080 units in fiscal 2005 (109.1% of the preceding year)
The demand for sheet metal works increased centered on automobile related industries, especially for high speed, high precision cutting of ferrous and non-ferrous thin sheets. Growing expectations on aluminum cutting operation which has been progressively adopted in automobile production and remote welding (scan welding) operations
- Shipment of YAG Laser machines reaches 2,901 units in fiscal 2005 (118.8% of the preceding year)
The demand is recovering in the electronics industry, a main user segment. The demand is increasing for micro-machining applications such as marking, cutting, drilling, spot welding, repair and trimming operations on semi-conductor and electronic parts
- Noteworthy high-tech laser: THG YAG laser, Fiber laser, Disk laser
THG YAG laser features capabilities for micro-machining and machining hard or transparent materials, and the demand is increasing for micro-machining applications in electronic parts and FDP industries.
Fiber laser and disk laser feature high laser beam quality, low electricity consumption and miniaturization of the devices. The demand of fiber laser is increasing for marking applications. Although the actual applications and achievements of disk lasers are still limited, both fiber and disk laser are expected for future micro-machining applications such as micro-welding, and to create new demands with new applications in addition to the replacement for conventional CO2 and YAG lasers.
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