Quality and Standards Promote Steady Growth in the European Temperature Sensor and Instrumentation Market.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 1996--"With ever growing emphasis on quality among consumers of process industry products and ever increasing health, safety and hygiene standards to be met, the demand for monitoring of processes -- and thus for sensors -- continues to increase," concludes a report from the international marketing consultant Frost & Sullivan.

Smart transmitters have radically changed the market for temperature sensors and instrumentation in Europe as process manufacturers have substituted digital transmitters for their existing analogue equipment.

Frost & Sullivan reports that the total European market had a value of $495.9 million in 1995 and that thermocouples were the dominant market segment. Resistance thermometer devices generated 22.9 percent of revenues, followed by thermometers (17.2 percent), pyrometers (12.6 percent), transmitters (9.7 percent) and thermistors (1.4 percent).

Dr. Lia Paschalidou, research manager at Frost & Sullivan, states: "A low rate of growth is predicted in all sectors of the European temperature sensor and instrumentation market into the next century, although growth in the thermocouple market will be weakest and radiation pyrometers are expected to gain market share."

Frost & Sullivan reports that, "The increasing centralization of control and monitoring is expected to reduce the demand for traditional dial thermometer equipment as more monitoring will be done electronically in the control room and less by operatives in the plant."

Further trends include the increasing popularity of four wire transmitters over two wire transmitters, and increased competition in the RTD market from sensors using thin-film technology. Frost & Sullivan forecasts that the resolution of Fieldbus standards will promote growth in the temperature transmitter market.

Competitors in the European temperature sensor and instrumentation market total over 100 and Frost and Sullivan warns of a growing threat from low-cost Asian competitors and American and Japanese corporates. The many small indigenous competitors in Europe are faced with the threat of takeover as their counterparts continue to use merger and acquisition as the primary strategy for growth.

The quest for economies of scale is aggressively fought by companies increasing their sales territory and product ranges, while rationalizing their research and development investment. Customer service is highlighted as an increasingly important arena of competition in the European temperature sensor and instrumentation market, but product quality, delivery and price continue to dominate competition.

Hartmann + Braun/Sensycon is the European temperature sensor and instrumentation market leader, followed by Heraeus. However, these companies control just a third of the overall market. Fragmentation persists, therefore, despite the maturing and consequent consolidation of the market.

Companies participating in this market include: ABB Kent-Taylor, AGEMA Infrared Systems AB, AJ Thermosensors Ltd, Alexander Wiegand GmbH & Co, AMV Armaturen & Messgerte GmbH, Apparatebau Hundsbach, ARi Industries (UK) Ltd, AS Clausen, ASLEC, Auxitrol, Bailey-Fischer & Porter, Betatherm Ireland Ltd, BICC Pyrotenax Ltd, Bourdon Sedeme, British Rototherm Ltd, Camille Bauer AG, Coreci, Dale-Draloric Electronic GmbH, Digi Table Thielen GmbH, Digitron Instrumentation Ltd, Dwyer Instruments Ltd, Elsag-Bailey, Endress+Hauser (International) Holding AG, Englehard Pyrocontrle, ETS Fabritius SPRL, Fisher- Rosemount Ltd, Foxboro Eckhardt AG, Frode Pedersen & Co AS, Gefran Elletronica SpA, Georgin SA, Grant Instruments (Cambridge) Ltd, Haenni & Cie AG, Hans Turck GmbH, Hartmann & Braun AG, Heimann Optoelectronics GmbH, Heraeus Holding GmbH, HL-Planartechnik GmbH, Honeywell Europe SA, Inor AB, Ircon Ltd, IST AG, Italmec Elettronica, Jumo, Kamstrup Metro AS, Kelatron SA, Labfacility Ltd, Labom Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH, Land Instruments International Ltd, Measurement Technology Ltd, Metrix SA, Micro Matic Instruments AS, Minco Products Inc, Mittel European Sensors Instrument Technology srl, M K Juchheim GmbH & Co, Moore Industries Inc, Newport Electronics Ltd, Nuova Fima SpA, Nulectrohms Ltd, Omega Engineering, PO Box 1, Pepperl & Fuchs GmbH, Philips Process und Maschinen-Automation, PR Electronics AS, Pyrotherm BV, R Stahl Schaltgerte GmbH, Raytek GmbH, Rochester Instrument Systems Ltd, Rodax NV SA, Ronan Engineering Ltd, Rssel-Messtechnik GmbH & Co, Rueger SA, Sensing Devices Ltd, Sensotherm Temperatursensorik GmbH, Sensycon GmbH, Sfere SA, Siemens AG, Smar Equipamentos Industriais Ltda, Status Instruments Ltd, TC Ltd, Telerex NV, Thermibel SA, Thermo Electra Measurement & Control Technics bv, Thermo Electric International BV, Thermo Est SA, Thermocouple Instruments Ltd, Tillquist Process AB, WIKA, and Williamson Corp.

Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting company that monitors the test & measurement industry for market trends, market measurements, and strategies. This ongoing research is utilized to update a series of research publications and to support industry participants with customized consulting needs. Free executive summaries of all Frost & Sullivan reports are available to the press. -0- Code: 3284-30 Publication Date: April 1996 Price: $3950

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