Motor Protection Devices Enter New Millennium
29 February 2000
Motor Protection Devices Enter New Millennium
SAN ANTONIO--Feb. 29, 2000--While the entire motor protection devices (MPD) market is forecasted to increase across the board, electronic MPDs are at the forefront of the market with new technologies and is taking an increasingly bigger share of the market as it enters a new millennium.Frost & Sullivan's ( www.frost.com ) newest strategic research, "U.S. Motor Protection Market," is an evaluation of the current state and future direction of the motor protection devices industry. This report will analyze the three segments of the MPD market: Electromechanical, solid-state and microprocessor-based.
Frost & Sullivan's research indicates that the three segments combined for revenues of nearly $600 million in 1999. The electromechanical segment accounted for nearly $281 million of that revenue. The solid-state segment reached $223.5 million, but is expected to experience greater growth over the next six years.
The solid-state subsegment of electronic MPDs is the more established of the two electronic segments. It offers more protection than its electromechanical counterpart and as potential customers upgrade to premium efficiency motors, customers need to replace MPDs as well.
"Solid-state devices are finding their greatest acceptance in mission-critical applications," says industry analyst Michael Rasche. "As more potential customers switch from standard efficiency to premium efficiency motors, there is a need to replace controllers. This is due to the higher inrush of currents that accompany the premium efficiency motors. This has opened a perfect opportunity to upgrade to more advanced technology."
All segments of the market are growing. But the electronic market is garnering a larger market thanks to a price reduction of the solid-state segment. This price reduction is allowing them to penetrate against the large installed base of electromechanical MPDs.
"Solid-state MPDs are expected to eventually replace electromechanical devices as the preferred form of motor protection," says Rasche.
The biggest threat facing the electronic MPD market is the level of comfort the industry experiences. The high level of customer satisfaction secures future electromechanical MPD sales. It still remains the most cost-effective alternative. Because of this level of comfort, customers are reluctant to change MPDs.
An increased use of premium efficiency motors urges a higher level of protection, which the electronic MPD segment provides. Product awareness has also accelerated the transition to solid-state MPDs, as well as interchangeability with electromechanical MPDs.
Frost & Sullivan presents 2000 Marketing Engineering Awards to companies that have worked hard to make a positive contribution to the motor protection industry. The 1999 Product Innovation Award was presented to Siemens. The 1999 recipient of the Market Leadership Award is Allen-Bradley.
Frost & Sullivan, which is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a global leader in international marketing consulting and training. Frost & Sullivan monitors the power transmission industry for market trends, market measurements and strategies. This ongoing research is used to complement the "Mechanical Power Transmission Custom Subscription." Free executive summaries are available to the press.
Along with publishing in-depth market consulting reports, Frost & Sullivan also provides custom consulting needs to a variety of national and international companies.
"U.S. Motor Protection Markets" Report: 7226-17 Date: March 2000 Price: $3,950
