Growth Opportunities for SMT Equipment Manufacturers in the North American Medical Device Industry

Business Wire,  July 2, 2008  

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DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d588f5/growth_opportuniti) has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Growth Opportunities for SMT Equipment Manufacturers in the North American Medical Device Industry" to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Growth Opportunities for SMT Equipment Providers in the North American Medical Device Industry provides an overview of the industry challenges, market drivers and restraints, revenues, technology trends, and end-user analysis on the SMT equipment market in the North American region. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following segments: SMT placement equipment, SMT screen printer equipment, SMT inspection equipment, SMT soldering equipment, and SMT cleaning equipment.

Market Overview

Technological Advancements Add a Shot of Adrenalin to the North American SMT Equipment Market for Medical Devices

Vigorous demand from electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is driving the burgeoning North American surface mount technology (SMT) equipment markets. Ongoing uptake of highly reliable, cost-effective, technologically advanced machines from the medical device market is the prime motivating factor for the increasing number of SMT equipment manufacturers supplying equipment to this sector. "The machines are expected to be manufactured based on technological aspects such as parts recognition, parts handling, and speed requirements," notes the analyst of this research service. "These components play a key role from a competitive standpoint and are expected to elevate demand from important end users."

New trends such as patient monitoring and the integration of wireless technology in hospitals will allow EMS providers sizeable opportunities to implement the knowledge and experience gleaned from conventional markets to offer appropriate solutions for OEMs. Manufacturers are offering customized equipment and stepping up efforts to achieve greater levels of efficiency in the SMT placement process. Traceability is a critical factor in the medical device market, as pertinent information would be required in the event of device failure. Heavy emphasis on traceability enables proper recognition and verification of products, proving to be advantageous to both manufacturers and end users. These factors are expected to continue driving the demand for SMT equipment.

High Demand from the Medical Device Sector and Increasing Use of PCBs in Medical Applications Ensure Positive Growth of the Market

Technological innovations in therapeutic and cardiac applications along with the increasing average age of the baby boomer population are driving the uptake of medical devices. Escalating product usage means a proliferation of opportunities for SMT equipment companies from outsourcing by medical device manufacturers. The medical end-user segment for the SMT equipment market in North America was already growing at a phenomenal rate in 2007 with the incursion of electronics into areas such as medical diagnostics, therapeutic equipment, and cardiac rhythm management.

The electronics industry nosedive in 2001 shifted the focus of the EMS industry to newer sectors such as medical devices. Outsourcing from medical OEMs to EMS companies is increasing, accelerating the production of PCBs for medical applications. Considering the intricacies of PCBs and the decreasing size of components, manufacturers have to be extremely proactive to design and develop new enhancements. "The complex nature of new package types and fine-pitch components has encouraged SMT placement manufacturers to integrate highly advanced vision systems into equipment," notes the analyst. "As end-user requirements entail placement accuracy and high speed, additional features such as dual camera heads and enhanced illumination are being incorporated into products, guaranteeing high-speed performance and minimizing errors."

The following technologies are covered in this service:

- SMT Placement Equipment
- SMT Screen Printer Equipment
- SMT Inspection Equipment
- SMT Soldering Equipment
- SMT Cleaning Equipment

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/d588f5/growth_opportuniti

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