Where is the EMI Shielding Market Growing?
The market for EMC components has grown rapidly, according to one recent study, specifically the EMI shielding market. The study performed by BCC Research indicates that the EMI shielding market has grown from approximately $500 million in 2002 to $4.5 billion in 2011, and is forecasted to grow to $5.26 billion by 2016. Frankly, I have some doubts about these numbers ( what do you think?) But certainly there has been solid growth, and there are some substantial areas still, where growth continues. Here is why: 
· Shielding closely follows the demand for consumer electronics devices (cell phones, tablets, e-readers, net books, computers, etc.) and, as we all know, sales of these latest wireless, smart devices show little if any sign of slowing. · The addition of navigation systems, infotainment and various other systems in cars is making the automotive market a major contributor to the growth of electronic devices, and therefore is also increasing revenue possibilities for EMI/RFI protection. · Increasing demand for high-speed local area networks and the profusion of wireless services means more radiated energy in general. The increasing density of systems with multiple transmitters (consider the popular tablet computers for example) means that component-level shielding is more critical. How does this translate into demand for specific EMI solutions? According to BCC, about two-thirds of the market is for either conductive coatings, or for an array of traditional shielding methods, such as cans, mesh, foam, foils, gaskets, honeycomb etc. The largest growth area, they say, going forward will be in laminates / tapes (6.2%), growing by about $45 million over the next 4 years, but this is also the smallest product segment currently.
Either way, the shielding market still has a strong upside, in my book.
Do you have something to say about the future of the EMC market? Would you like to contribute something to a future edition of the EMC Business Bulletin? Email me…Resources:
EMI/RFI: Materials and Technologies. Mel Schlechter, BCC Research, April 2011. http://www.bccresearch.com/report/emi-rfi-materials-technologies-pls005j.html
