OCTOBER 4, 2007--Reported sales of motors, electronic drives, controllers, actuators and other motion-control components are up by 3.7% from first-quarter 2007, according to a recent report on the motion-control industry, more than a billion dollar global market, by the Motion Control Association (MCA; Ann Arbor, MI, USA;www.motioncontrolonline.org). The findings also show reported shipments for the quarter grew steadily to $503 million.

The report includes sales volume, sales growth, geographic sales distribution, and sales by product category figures for the global motion-control market. It breaks the market down into 10 categories: motion controllers; PLCs; electronic drives (amplifiers); ac drives; motors; ac motors; actuators & mechanical systems; sensors & feedback devices; other ancillary components; and support & services. Motors, comprised of dc brushed motors, ac and dc brushless motors, servomotors with gearing mounted, direct drive, linear motors and steppers, accounted for the largest percentage of sales at 36.5%, followed by electronic drives (dc drives, ac & dc brushless drives, multiaxis drives, and stepper drives) at 25.6%, and ac drives (inverter drives, vector drives, and ac adjustable speed drives) at 14.3%.

While motors represent the largest segment of orders reported, they were down slightly from first quarter 2007. Electronic drive and ac drive orders on the other hand were up 18.8% and 18.1%, respectively, over first quarter. "The findings show that the motion-control market as a whole is expanding at a healthy rate and therefore represents an important area of vitality within the greater economy," said Paul Kellett, MCA director of market analysis.

Thu Oct 04 12:59:00 CDT 2007