CONTINUED GROWTH PREDICTED FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT.

London, 1995.....--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Europe has experienced a fairly rapid growth in its air pollution monitoring market in recent years. Now worth almost US$340 million, the market has been boosted by an increase in legislation at both national and international level.

Continuing concern over atmospheric pollution, the 'greenhouse effect' and depletion of the ozone layer will ensure that the monitoring and control of ambient air quality and the discharge of combustive gases and volatile organic compounds in to the atmosphere - both from fixed installations and from vehicle exhausts will remain important throughout Europe.

In line with this prediction, the market for air pollution monitoring equipment is forecast to grow to a value of over US$422 million by 1999, according to a new report by international market research publisher, Frost & Sullivan.

Vehicle exhaust gas analyzers account for about half - US$169.3 million - of the current market value. Growth in this sector is determined by legislative requirements concerning pollution from motor vehicles which, according to the report, make the market subject to violent fluctuations. Delays in the implementation of legislation can have a profound effect on the consumption of these products in any one year.

Vehicle exhaust gas analyzer technology is relatively mature, however, and this sector is not expected to grow significantly in the years up to 1999.

Leaving out this category, the European market for air pollution monitoring equipment is expected to grow steadily from about US$156.4 million in 1994 to US$239.3 million in 1999 - an annual growth rate of 8.7 per cent.

Stack gas monitors account for about 60 per cent of the non- transport total at present, followed by VOC's and fugitive monitoring with 28 per cent and ambient air pollution monitoring with 12 per cent.

The market for stack gas monitoring, although growing at six per cent per annum at present, is expected to show signs of saturation by 1999. Ambient air pollution monitoring is the fastest growing sector and is expected to maintain a growth rate of over 13 per cent per annum well into the next century.

The largest users of air pollution monitoring equipment are the chemical and petrochemical industries which account for almost 22 per cent of the non-transport total. The power generation and metals and minerals industries are also large consumers but the fastest growth in consumption is expected in the smaller heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector. This market should be worth US$18 million by 1999 according to Frost & Sullivan.

In a competitive analysis, the report says: "The supply side of the air pollution monitoring market is very fragmented with 500 or more companies operating in Europe. These range from small firms supplying a single product to a niche market to multi-nationals for whom pollution monitoring is a relatively small proportion of their business."

"The market offers a number of opportunities, particularly for start-up companies with new technical developments to offer to a niche market. New entrants are, however, likely to find themselves in competition not only with established air pollution monitoring companies but with companies active in health and safety or industrial process monitoring who see expansion into this sector as an attractive strategy for diversification," concludes Frost & Sullivan.

Frost & Sullivan is an international high-technology research firm. All Frost & Sullivan reports are based on extensive interviews with marketing and technical experts from selected companies in each market segment. Primary research is validated by thorough analysis of available secondary research. Frost & Sullivan is the leading publisher worldwide of high-technology research reports.

Code: 3119-15 Publication Date: 1995 Price: $3950

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