Market Trends of InGaAs Camera Industry
Industrial Automation Expected to Occupy the Largest Market Share
- One of the key factors driving market growth is the increasing demand for InGaAs cameras in various applications. Another factor driving market growth is the increasing use of InGaAs cameras in the industrial automation sector. InGaAs cameras are used in industrial automation applications like thermal imaging, machine vision, and quality control because they outperform other types of cameras.
- The increasing adoption of machine vision systems is expected to drive demand for InGaAs cameras in the industrial automation segment. In a machine vision environment, a camera system is used to scan products on a production line. The camera captures the image and compares it to pre-defined criteria.
- Moreover, machine vision is increasingly being used in conjunction with robots to improve their effectiveness and overall value to the business. These robots have a camera mounted at the hand position that guides them through the task at hand. For example, according to IFR's 2023 report, the global stock of operational robots was to reach a new high of approximately 3.5 million units in 2022. In the meantime, the value of installations reached an estimated USD 15.7 billion.
- Furthermore, with the adoption of industrial robots expected to increase over the forecast period, the studied market is expected to see a positive increase in demand from the industrial segment. The annual installation of industrial robots is expected to reach 518 thousand units by 2024, according to IFR.
- Different industries use this technology to automate production and improve product quality and speed. The growing need for high-quality inspection and automation in various industries drives the demand for machine vision, eventually boosting the InGaAs camera market. Furthermore, increased R&D and the launch of new products by InGaAs camera market players are propelling the InGaAs camera market significantly.
- For instance, in January 2023, Lucid Vision Labs unveiled its brand-new 1.3MP and 0.3MP Triton SWIR IP67-rated industrial vision cameras. The Triton SWIR is a GigE PoE camera with wide-band and high-sensitivity Sony SenSWIR 1.3MP IMX990 and 0.3MP IMX991 InGaAs sensors capable of capturing images in visible and invisible light spectrums and a pixel size of 5m.
North America is Expected to Account for the Largest Market Share
- The rising use of robotics like UAVs and UGVs in military and defense applications is expected to increase demand for InGaAs cameras in North America. Moreover, higher penetration of automation and advanced technologies in the industrial domain favors the growth of the studied market in the region.
- The production of machine vision systems will be increased as a result of government programs like the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which aims to encourage businesses, academic institutions, and the federal government to invest in cutting-edge automation technologies. This will create a positive outlook for the market's growth.
- As InGaAs cameras are widely used in the military and defense sector to see through unfavorable conditions such as smoke, fog, haze, and water vapor, countries like the United States have increased their defense budgets and expenditure on advanced equipment. For example, a budget request for national defense of USD 813.3 billion in the United States has been made for the fiscal year 2023. Such defense spending is expected to drive market demand.
- Furthermore, the semiconductor industry, where demand for InGaAs cameras in applications such as silicon wafer pattern inspection is increasing, is gaining traction in the North American region, particularly in the United States. Favorable government investments, such as the US CHIPS Act, and vendor investments in the chip industry are thus expected to drive demand for InGaAs cameras during the forecast period.
- InGaAs cameras provide high sensitivity and low noise in medical imaging applications such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and spectroscopy. Countries such as the United States, Canada, and others are constantly investing in advancing their medical industries, which is expected to drive growth opportunities in the increasing use of InGaAs cameras in medical imaging applications.
- The InGaAs camera market in North America is anticipated to experience favorable growth rates during the anticipated period due to the steadily increasing demand for advanced and effective imaging systems from various end-users operating in the area. Furthermore, advancements in industrial automation with the widespread adoption of robots and government spending in the defense and military industries are expected to drive the market in the coming years.