Global Markets for Laser Systems, Components and Materials

The global market for lasers in 2010 was $7.1 billion and is expected to reach $7.9 billion in 2011. The market is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% and reach nearly $12.5 billion by 2016. The contribution of the Americas region will change from 29.5% in 2011 to 27.5% in 2016. This market segment is estimated to reach nearly $2.3 billion in 2011 and $3.4 billion by 2016, a CAGR of 7.9% over the five year period. The contribution of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will change from 41.6% in 2011 to 44.1% in 2016. The segment is expected to reach $3.3 billion in 2011, and should reach nearly $5.5 billion in 2016, a CAGR of 10.8% between 2011 and 2016.

Additional Information

INTRODUCTION

“Laser” is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Lasers are not a new invention by any yardstick. Indeed, most of the mainstream laser categories were invented close to 5 decades ago. The newest laser categories covered in this report are fiber lasers, which became commercially available over the last 5 years. The operating philosophy and principles are pretty much the same. In spite of this relative calm on the theoretical front, lasers continue to be part of cutting edge devices across verticals. A cursory look at the applications of lasers reveals that not only are lasers part of the state of the art, they are instrumental in driving the state of the art itself. The continuing appeal of lasers underlines the sovereignty of their value proposition, which can be summed up as coherent, powerful, and pure light.

The generic nature of lasers’ appeal also leads to interesting dilemmas. It is impossible to characterize the laser market as a whole. The picture of its market is a combination of pictures created by the dynamics of the verticals that lasers are employed in and created by the dynamics of raw materials that lasers employ. This disparity is manifested most clearly in the wide range of average selling price values of its modules depending on the application and the energy medium. These values can range from as little as a dollar to tens of thousands of dollars. It would not be out of place to mention that lasers are a fairly accurate indicator of the health of the markets at large.

This report is an attempt to list, elaborate, highlight, and analyze the multitudes of demand and supply side dynamics of lasers at large.

The report focuses on laser modules - lasers at their bare minimum. This distinction is important, as laser modules are available in varied levels of readiness for integration. Customization is the name of the game for lasers, and lasers modules are designed with a particular application in mind more often than not. This report defines a laser module as one that performs basic laser functions of light amplification and focus. The report uses the terms lasers and laser modules interchangeably. The market forecasts do not cover the metrics of the devices that lasers are eventually integrated in.