UK Market for Laser Welding Equipment

Abstract

Research Overview

Raising Awareness Remains Vital to Increasing Uptake of Laser Welding Equipment

Given the constant improvements in laser features, the potential for laser welding applications in various production processes and industries continues to expand. However, lack of sufficient awareness in respect to its benefits has meant that manufacturing companies in the UK remain reluctant to invest in the technology. In overcoming this challenge and translating the market potential into faster growth, vendors need to raise awareness among production engineers and provide end users with resources that will allow them to make better informed decisions.

Automotive Sector is Key to Market Growth

In line with Pan European and global trends, UK's automakers are increasingly adopting laser technology for welding components. While this is allowing for quality and productivity improvements, the penetration of laser welding is yet to reach its potential, thus resistance welding remains the predominant welding technology even with those adopting laser welding. Considering the number of automakers yet to adopt the technology, there exists substantial application scope within this end-user industry. Also, given that benefits of laser welding are now well proven within the automotive sector's production process, demand is likely to be self-perpetuating to some extent.

An added growth factor is the completion of extensive testing requirements for laser welding processes and materials in aerospace construction. "Aerospace related manufacture remains a strong part of the UK manufacturing economy, particularly due to the number of European aeronautic defence and space company (EADS) sub-contractors based in the United Kingdom," says the analyst of this research service. "With the creation of a significant range of applications for laser welding in the aerospace end-user industry, growth in this sector should prove to be an important driver for future demand."

Short-term Growth Likely to Hinge on Achieving Further Penetration in Existing End-user Industries

The laser welding technology in the United Kingdom is at a relatively early stage in its commercial development. With the existent scope to replace conventional welding processes, short-term growth in the UK laser welding market is expected to rely on further penetration in existing end-user industries. However, as older laser welding technologies begin to show signs of saturation, upcoming technologies promise to open new applications, particularly in the light manufacturing and high-tech electronics as well as medical fields. These new precision technologies are likely to drive sales growth in the long term.

"Solid-state lasers have already surpassed CO2 lasers in welding applications in the United Kingdom, mainly as the result of demand for Nd:YAG lasers from the automotive industry at the high-output power end of the market, and electronics and medical industries at the low-output power end of the market," says the analyst. "The fastest growth rates are likely to be seen among emerging laser technologies such as fibre and disc lasers, since these lasers are likely to replace currently established lasers for welding applications due to their higher economic feasibility."