Strategic Analysis of the Electric Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry

Frost & Sullivan, July 2011, Pages: 76

This research titled Strategic Analysis of the Electric Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry analyses applications such as loading, lifting and transport equipment (LLTE), storage equipment and retrieval system, automated handling equipment and robotics. It also identifies key market drivers and restraints and provides revenue forecasts for the total market and each product type. The research covers AC, DC and servo drives.

Market Overview

Range of Benefits Push AC and Servo Drives Ahead of Flagging DC Drives

The European material handling industry is demanding advanced alternating current (AC) drives with better product quality, ease of operation, enhanced efficiency, improved communication technology and process control. Most direct current (DC) drive applications are being replaced by AC and servo drives which offer advantages such as better and easier motion control, higher energy efficiency and improved performance. With advancements in AC drives technology and its availability at lower cost for similar power rating applications, AC drives are gaining popularity and widely being accepted among end users.

"Increased awareness among end-users and OEMs in the material handling industry about the energy saving potential of electric drives is improving their market penetration in the industry,” notes the analyst of this research. "AC and servo drives are gaining popularity and replacing DC drives in most material handling applications.” Awareness levels about the benefits of drives have been quite high among OEMs and end-users in Western Europe. In contrast, end-users in Eastern Europe are still not completely aware of drives and there is huge untapped potential in this region. However, efforts by manufacturers to emphasise the payback period and return on investment (ROI), while using drives is set to boost uptake levels.

High Initial Costs Deter Uptake

A key challenge to market prospects is the high cost of initial investment; in some cases, the initial outlay needed to install a drive may exceed the cost of the motor. As a result, many small and medium-sized companies in the material handling industry opt for inefficient and inexpensive alternatives, such as hydraulic equipment or gear boxes, which are almost ten times cheaper than drives "However, end-users forget to take into consideration the ROI and pay back period with drives which is less than two years in most cases,” remarks the analyst. "In the last decade, prices of drives have witnessed a significant fall, and the technology has been robust with continuous product innovations.”

Apart from loading lifting transportation equipment, automated handling equipment, especially automated guided vehicles and robotics, are expected to drive growth and sales in the overall market. This equipment enhances productivity, and can be easily integrated into factory or warehouse environment.

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following product segments in this research:

- AC drives
- DC drives
- Servo drives

By Application:

- Loading, lifting and transport equipment
- Automated handling equipment
- Storage equipment and retrieval system
- Robotics

By Geographic Area

- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom (U.K.)
- Italy
- Iberia
- Scandinavia
- Benelux
- Rest of Western Europe
- Eastern Europe

1. Introduction

1.1 Research Aims and Objectives

1.2 Research Methodology

1.3 Definitions and Scope of Research

2. Executive Summary

2.1 Market Segmentation

2.2 Industry challenges and Market Drivers and Restraints

2.3 Trends by Product Type

2.4 Trends by Application and Power Rating

2.5 Conclusions

3. Industry Challenges

4. Total Electric Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Market Drivers and Restraints

4.3 Revenue Forecasts

4.4 Trends by Product Type

4.5 Trends by Geographic Region

4.6 Trends by Application and Power Rating

4.7 Pricing Trends

4.8 Technology Trends

4.9 Technology Roadmap

4.10 Distribution Channel Analysis

4.11 Competitive Structure

4.12 Market Share Analysis

5. Analysis of AC Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry

5.1 Revenue Forecasts

5.2 Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region

5.3 Revenue Forecasts by Application

6. Analysis of DC Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry

6.1 Revenue Forecasts

6.2 Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region

6.3 Revenue Forecasts by Application

7. Analysis of Servo Drives Market in the European Material Handling Industry

7.1 Revenue Forecasts

7.2 Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region

7.3 Revenue Forecasts by Application

8. Conclusions

9. Appendix

9.1 Acronyms

9.2 List of Key Market Participants

10. About Frost & Sullivan

10.1 Who is Frost & Sullivan

10.2 What Makes Us Unique

10.3 T.E.A.M. Methodology

10.4 Global Perspective

List of Figures

- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Industry Challenges, Market Drivers and Restraints (Europe), 2011-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Usage of Product Types by Application (Europe), 2011-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Usage of Power Rating by Application (Europe), 2011-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenues by Geographic Region (Europe), 2007-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Competitive Structure (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Product Profiling of Major Companies (Europe), 2010
- AC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- AC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Consolidated Market Characteristics (Europe), 2010-2017
- AC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region (Europe), 2007-2017
- AC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Application (Europe), 2007-2017
- DC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- DC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Consolidated Market Characteristics (Europe), 2010-2017
- DC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region (Europe), 2007-2017
- DC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Application (Europe), 2007-2017
- Servo Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- Servo Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Consolidated Market Characteristics (Europe), 2010-2017
- Servo Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Geographic Region (Europe), 2007-2017
- Servo Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts by Application (Europe), 2007-2017

List of Charts

- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Market Segmentation (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Product Type (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Application (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Power Rating (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Industry Challenges (Europe), 2011-2017
- Total Electric Drives in the Material Handling Industry: Market Drivers and Restraints (Europe), 2011-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenues and Per cent of Revenues by Product Type (Europe), 2010 and 2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenues and Per cent of Revenues by Geographic region (Europe), 2010 and 2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Application (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Power Rating (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Technology Improvements (Europe), 2010-2017
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Technology Roadmap (Europe), 2005-2020
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Per cent of Revenues by Distribution Channel (Europe), 2010
- Total Electric Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Company Market Share by Revenues (Europe), 2010
- AC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- DC Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017
- Servo Drives Market in the Material Handling Industry: Revenue Forecasts (Europe), 2007-2017

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