Flowmeters in demand

Flow Measurement & Control

November 2009 Flow Measurement & Control

Increased investment within process industries will boost the South African flow sensors market, finds Frost & Sullivan.

The long-term demand for flowmeters in South Africa is expected to remain robust. This is due to continued investment within key industrial areas, increasing automation levels within processes industries, technological advancements and end-user migration to electronic flow measurement.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (<a href="http://www.sensors.frost.com" "_blank">http://www.sensors.frost.com</a>) finds that the South African flow sensors market earned revenues of $17,8 million in 2007 and estimates this to nearly double by 2014 to reach $32,6 million.

“The South African flow sensors market is forecast to surge due to the demand for the technology in many process control applications,” remarks Frost & Sullivan industrial automation analyst James Fungai Maposa. “Companies within the chemicals and petrochemicals and metals, minerals and mining segments have embarked on expansion projects to boost their production levels.”

The new projects within these industries have caused an increase in the demand for measurement and instrumentation (M&I) products, including flow sensing devices. To expand production, existing plants within these sectors are being refurbished and revamped, further pushing the demand levels for flow sensing technology.

However, the South African flow sensors market is experiencing intense competition due to the emergence of a sizeable number of market entrants. Sensors imported from Asia are further escalating the competition.

“This situation has increased price pressures and threatened the profitability of key suppliers within the market,” comments Maposa. “Market participants with an inflexible pricing strategy are most affected by this competition and are expected to experience a decline in market share.”

Market participants supplying products to price-sensitive end users should offer a flexible pricing strategy that caters to their pricing needs. A flexible pricing strategy will also ensure that suppliers maintain a wide client base that will sustain long-term revenue growth.

“To maintain market momentum, suppliers should aggressively market the benefits of employing flow sensing technologies,” advises Maposa. “By carrying out and participating in marketing activities such as road shows, suppliers are able to establish forums that disseminate the benefits of employing flow sensing technologies within each process industry.”

The following technologies are covered in this analysis: magnetic sensors, coriolis sensors, vortex sensors, rotameters and others (swirl, ultrasonic, thermal mass).

For more information contact Patrick Cairns, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)18 468 2315, [email protected], www.frost.com

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Flow Measurement & Control

Flowmeters in demand

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