H&P Insights: Driving Growth in Pneumatic Actuators; Internal Versus External Linear Position Sensors
Driving Growth in Pneumatic Actuators
Transportation is a key area for the pneumatics market, so the 18-month global pandemic has had a significant impact on overall sales for pneumatic actuator devices, according to the research and consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI).
“Given that transportation, industrial automation and mining accounted for around 75% of sales of pneumatic actuators, the recovery of these sectors is slated to have a major impact on the market,” the latest FMI report states.
The good news is that as the global economy continues to improve, the actuator market should improve along with it, with FMI projecting an annual growth rate over the next 10 years of 5%, or 1 percentage point higher than the previous five years. One key, however, is that growth markets such as India, which is experiencing a serious increase in COVID-19 cases, can achieve recovery.
“The value share of the transportation sector in the pneumatic actuator market was $4.88 billion of a total global market value of $14.42 billion in 2020,” the FMI report states. “In several ways, this sector continues to bear the brunt of the second, third and fourth waves of the pandemic since the pandemic and associated restrictions have reduced inter and intra-country travel, besides also affecting movement of certain goods.”
Internal Versus External Linear Position Sensors
The use of linear position sensors to measure the movement of hydraulic cylinders on off-highway vehicles continues to grow, and the length of the applications are growing with them. While existing solutions have typically been mounted externally, recent innovations have seen an increase in smart cylinders with embedded sensors. A new Hydraulic & Pneumatics white paper explores common questions about the risks and benefits of internal versus external sensors used in telehandlers, aerial work platforms, concrete and pumps, and other applications.
