Digital factory market to grow at 33%
August 2019
News
The digital factory market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 33% to reach $673 billion in 2026. According to a new report published by ABI Research, these sales include the actual hardware revenues for entire industrial robots, collaborative robots, connected PLCs, intelligent industrial battery management systems, electric motors, pumps, tank management systems and smart glasses.
“Currently, most manufacturing equipment still communicates in proprietary protocols and connecting it in a cost-efficient way without too much custom code often requires the expertise of IIoT integration specialists,” says principal analyst Pierce Owen. “For new factories, we have started to see how telcos and network infrastructure vendors can deploy private LTE, but so far it only works if the plant owner has the negotiating power to demand cellular connected equipment from all its suppliers.”
The automotive industry leads the way in the adoption of most digital factory technology technologies and represents the largest opportunity globally with $139 billion in digital factory revenues forecast for 2030.
“The automotive industry has demonstrated a willingness to scale transformative technologies ranging from generative design and additive manufacturing to IIoT connectivity and robotics of all kinds more than any other industry, but other industries will start to catch up over the next decade. The companies that first follow the automotive OEMs’ lead and scale technologies with proven value will gain
a competitive advantage,” Owen concludes.
For more information contact Deborah Petrara, ABI Research, +1 516 624 2558, [email protected], www.abiresearch.com
Further reading:
Women belong at the heart of mining engineering
News
Dr Adwoa Boaduo, group head of safety at Rosond, sees an opportunity to challenge outdated perceptions about women in mining and engineering.
Read more...
ACTOM invests in South Africa’s industrial future
News
ACTOM has transformed its Pretoria West facility into an integrated manufacturing hub for large power transformers, high-voltage equipment and lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, quadrupling transformer capacity and establishing a complete local energy storage ecosystem.
Read more...
WEG’s technologies at Electra Mining Africa 2026
News
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, WEG Africa will showcase its top solutions services, and expertise built for the mining sector.
Read more...
SA’s future engineers in action
News
AvenirHoldings sponsors the 2026 SAICE Aqualibrium Schools Competition, supporting young engineering talent across South Africa and Eswatini.
Read more...
Rooibos heads to space in groundbreaking South African STEM initiative
News
Rooibos seeds will be sent to the International Space Station as part of a first-of-its-kind South African initiative combining space-based plant science with hands-on STEM education for learners in the Cederberg region and Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Turning the tide
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Our last few Sustainable Manufacturing guides have tracked the changes in the energy industry in South Africa. This year, I found that the story has moved on still further.
South Africa’s manufacturing
...
Read more...
Engineering a more inclusive future
News
Women engineers at Zutari are helping shape resilient communities across Africa and the Middle East, while inspiring the next generation to enter the profession in areas ranging from water security to large-scale urban developments.
Read more...
Schneider Electric inspires future women engineers
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric welcomed female engineering students from its education partner Sedibeng TVET College, Sebokeng to its Midrand headquarters for its Mandela Day Mentorship Café initiative, transforming a day of service into a day of inspiration, learning and opportunity.
Read more...
Supporting an inclusive circular economy transition in South Africa
News
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation has released its Circular Economy Science, Technology and Innovation strategy. The document sets out how research, development and innovation can support South Africa’s shift away from a linear economic model.
Read more...
Why sustainability and resilience matter more than ever to navigate the ESG backlash
News
ESG, once heralded as a pragmatic framework for embedding long-term resilience into business, is facing growing resistance. The backlash we are seeing may appear reactionary, but it should not distract us from the facts. In this climate, I often find myself returning to the core purpose behind sustainability - creating long-term value in a world of escalating uncertainty.
Read more...
printer friendly version