Industrial Power Transmission Components

US demand to increase 6.1% per year through 2008

US demand for industrial power transmission components (sprockets and chains, clutches and brakes, couplings and universal joints, pulleys and sheaves, etc.) is forecast to advance 6.1 percent to $3.7 billion in 2008.

Every type of industrial power transmission component will experience a solid rebound in demand following declines during the early 2000s recession. Gains will be spurred by an improving economy which will stimulate capital expansion in a number of key end-use industries. In addition, demand for products which can deliver enhanced power transmission in limited space situations or in harsh environments, along with products that improve efficiencies -- such as single unit clutch/brakes and self actuated, hydraulically and pneumatically controlled clutches and brakes -- will spur demand. Shipments of industrial power transmission components are projected to increase 5.2 percent annually to $3.1 billion in 2008. Imports will continue to advance although at a slower pace than was seen over the past decade. Still, imports are expected to account for nearly 30 percent of US demand in 2008.

Clutches & brakes, pulleys & sheaves to see best growth

The clutches and brakes, and pulleys and sheaves categories will experience the strongest demand gains through 2008. Clutches and brakes will benefit from their role in improving manufacturing efficiencies, while technological innovations in the belt drive market will support increases in pulleys and sheaves demand. Belt drives are generally quieter than chain drive systems and advances in belting materials have enabled belts to handle loads previously requiring stronger chains.

Among all industrial power transmission products, selfactuating clutches, which operate without an external power source, are expected to show the fastest growth through 2008. The engagement or disengagement of the torque-transmitting elements of selfactuating clutches and brakes ocurs in response to changes in speed, direction of rotation or some other characterist germane to the elements themselves. These products improve the efficiency of machinery by requiring less labor and/or power inputs, thus cutting costs and increasing the desirability of self-actuating clutches and brakes for cost conscious businesses.

Metalworking machinery market growing fastest

Although improvements in demand will be evident in all industries that utilize industrial power transmission components, demand growth is expected to be fastest in the metalworking machinery industry. Following the 1998-2003 period, which saw near doubledigit declines in metalworking machinery shipments, a rebounding economy is expected to stimulate demand across all industry sectors requiring increased fabricated metal goods, leading to capital expansion in this industry.

Study coverage

Details on these and other key findings are available in a new Freedonia study, Industrial Power Transmission Components. The study provides historical data through 2003 plus forecasts to 2008 and 2013 by product and end use. It also presents market share data and profiles 33 US industry competitors.