Macro level technological advancements in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology are driving the demand for application-specific laboratory analytical instruments and services across the world. Market developments include a trend toward integrated instrumentation as well as extensive research in biochemistry, drug discovery, and environmental testing. Greater emphasis on quality control in manufacturing processes and prospects of a vibrant economy are also creating a positive impact.

This Frost & Sullivan research examines the World Laboratory Analytical Instrumentation Markets and its product segments: separation technologies, molecular analysis, and elemental analysis instrumentation. The report also provides revenue forecasts, regional analysis, and varying strategies to address market challenges.

User-friendly Systems, Interconnectivity, and New Geographic Markets Provide Numerous Opportunities

Improvements in instrument design such as miniaturization, incorporation of statistical methods, and user-friendly software are aiding customers in easy use and maintenance of equipment. Vendors are focusing on compatibility of instruments with research facilities such as Lab-on-a-chip and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to enable complete interconnectivity. Application-specific equipment such as surface analyzers for semiconductor chip, and infrared spectrometers are increasing the demand for these instruments as a whole.

Manufacturers are shifting focus to the emerging markets of Asia Pacific and South America as increasing decentralization as well as privatization of key industries and research operations in these regions provide enormous opportunities. According to the analyst, "Developing nations envisage a greater utilization of laboratory instrumentation in major industries such as food and beverages, power generation, gas refining, chemicals, and petro-chemicals due to deregulatory measures. This is generating a steady demand for different chromatographic, spectroscopic, and electrophoresis equipment."

Strategic Collaborations and Integrated Applications Thrust Future Expansion

Market participants are concentrating on replacement sales, cost-cutting measures, and better price-performance ratio to overcome the challenges posed by market saturation, downturn of the semicondctor industry, and edicts of regulatory authorities in different countries including the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. Identification of growth trends in end-user industries, product line expansion, as well as strategic acquisitions and collaborations are enabling manufacturers to counter increasing competition due to the entry of regional companies in the fast moving, low-priced segment.

The analyst concludes, "Security concerns and airline passenger safety are accelerating the market acceptance of sophisticated technologies such as photothermal array, ion mobility spectroscopy, and nuclear quadrupole resonance. Integrated applications such as narcotics detection, aroma sensing, genomics, and DNA sequencing are likely to propel future growth."

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