The €313m market for mini pneumatic components is set to become the fastest-growing sector of the European pneumatics industry, says a new report. Emerging applications in sectors such as biomedicine, food processing and packaging will help to expand the market by an average of 4.4% a year between 2004 and 2009, predicts the market analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

A key reason for the popularity of the small devices is the simplicity of their design, operation and maintenance, says F&S. They offer savings over rivals such as electric drives, both in initial purchase costs and in subsequent maintenance, it adds.

"As long as mini-pneumatic component manufacturers maintain a consistent pricing structure, alternative technologies such as electric drives are not likely to encroach on these applications," says Frost & Sullivan research manager, Mik Sabiers. "The comparative advantage of lower installation prices, lower replacement costs, and exceptional displacement rates should continue to ward off the competition that electric drives pose to larger bore-size pneumatic systems."

As valve manufacturers find ways of increasing flow rates, more users are turning to smaller port sizes for their applications.

In 2002, at least 65 European companies were active in the mini-pneumatic components market. Intensifying competition has forced down prices, and Frost & Sullivan warns that there is a danger of this becoming a commodity-type market.

*Analysis of the European Miniature and Sub-miniature Pneumatic Components Market. Details at www.frost.com