The global surface roughness measurement market is on an upward trajectory, with significant growth anticipated over the next decade. By 2024, the market is projected to reach approximately $920.55 million, with expectations to grow to around $1,449 million by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.70%. The contact surface roughness measurement technique segment is expected to continue dominating the global market due to its rising adoption.
Key Market Shaping Factors:
1. Improving Product Quality and Manufacturing Processes: The focus on improving product quality and manufacturing processes to ensure minute differences and changes are accounted for, like micro-variations in surface texture, is driving the surface roughness measurement industry.
2. Increased Research and Development Spending: Higher spending on research and development activities is positively impacting global surface roughness measurement sales, as smoother surfaces result in better-finished products and are less susceptible to wear and damage.
3. Popularity of Noncontact Surface Measurement Technique: The growing popularity of noncontact surface measurement techniques is creating new growth prospects for the market.
4. Industrialization and Manufacturing Sector Growth: Rapid industrialization coupled with robust growth in the manufacturing sector is providing lucrative opportunities for surface roughness measurement solution manufacturers.
5. Advancements in Nanotechnology and Miniaturization: The evolution of nanotechnology, the trend towards miniaturization, and high performance demands are increasing the need for measuring the surface roughness of components and industrial products.
Over the years, the importance of surface texture has become critical across various sectors, putting the surface roughness measurement market into the spotlight. Surface roughness has become an essential factor in determining the satisfactory performance of a workpiece in areas such as tribology, biocompatibility, surface coatings, and microfluidics.
Surface roughness measurement involves measuring small-scale variations in the height of a physical surface. This can be achieved using two primary methods: contact-based and noncontact-based techniques. The rising need to measure surface roughness to determine the tribological properties of various products is expected to boost the industry.
Market Drivers and Trends:
- Increasing Use of Measuring Instruments: The growing usage of surface roughness measuring instruments, such as roughness meters and testers, across various verticals is fueling market expansion.
- Need for Accurate Measurements: The need for accurately measuring surface roughness or texture of materials or products is essential for enhancing product quality and lifespan, ensuring proper functionality.
- Role of Surface Roughness: Surface roughness is a crucial indicator of how a real object will interact with its environment. Deviations or problems in a machined surface can significantly impact performance and quality.
- Industrialization and Manufacturing Facilities: Rapid industrialization and an increase in manufacturing facilities are creating high demand for surface roughness measurement systems or equipment.
- Impact on Material Properties: The geometric and material properties of surfaces significantly affect wear, friction, corrosion, and electrical conductivity. Keeping surface roughness within controllable limits is essential, creating demand for surface texture measuring technologies.
- Application in Various Sectors: Surface roughness measurement technologies are increasingly used to measure roughness during manufacturing processes and in test labs, ensuring product quality and performance.
Sector-Specific Insights:
- Automotive and Aerospace: The automotive and aerospace sectors continuously use surface roughness measurement instruments to meet high performance standards. Surface roughness is closely allied to function in several applications, such as affecting the sealing and wear properties of moving parts.
- Energy Sector: Surface roughness measurement is widely used in the energy sector to measure the surface finish of components used in generators, turbines, and other equipment, supporting market growth.
- Need for Accurate Measurements: The accurate measurement of surface roughness is crucial in fields such as manufacturing, material science, and engineering.
Competitive Landscape:
Key players operating in the global surface roughness measurement industry include Carl Zeiss, Taylor Hobson, Mahr, Hexagon AB, Faro Technologies, Nikon Corporation, Keyence Corporation, Mitutoyo Corporation, and The Sempre Group. These companies are investing heavily in research and development to introduce novel surface roughness measurement solutions and technologies.
Recent Developments:
- Hexagon AB partnered with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation to enhance reality capture solutions using advanced time-of-flight technologies.
- Zeiss Industrial Metrology unveiled SURFCOM 50, a new line of surface roughness inspection systems for high accuracy inspection of larger parts.
- FARO Technologies acquired SiteScape, a leader in LiDAR-based scanning software solutions.
- Taylor Hobson introduced Talysurf PGI NOVUS with Metrology 4.0 software for advanced surface contour, 3D, and diameter measurement.
- Nikon launched new industrial measuring microscopes with better functionality and usability.
- Mitutoyo America Corporation released the Surftest SJ-310, a high-accuracy, economical surface roughness tester.
Key Market Segments:
1. By Component:
- Probes
- Frame Grabbers
- Lighting Equipment
- Cameras
- Sensing Technology
- Interface Standards
- Imaging Technology
- Processors
- Software
- Others
2. By Surface Type:
3. By Technique:
4. By Vertical:
- Automobile
- Aerospace and Defense
- Optics and Metal Bearings
- Medical and Pharmaceuticals
- Semiconductor
- Energy & Power
- Others
5. By Region:
- North America
- Latin America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Middle East and Africa