Databeans, a semiconductor market intelligence supplier, has just released its annual market report on industrial analog ICs which predicts that analog revenue within the industrial sector will reach $3.9 billion in 2009 and grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent over the forecasted period until it reaches $5.7 billion by 2014.

The report, entitled '2009: industrial analog ICs', divides this market into four categories: medical, test and measurement, industrial controls, and mil/aero categories. In all sectors, Databeans highlights that analog content is steadily growing thanks to wider trend in industrial manufacturing in recent years that include increased connectivity, reduced costs, better power efficiency, including the push towards 'green energy'.

Although the mil/aero and process control sectors are viewed as the most profitable for analog suppliers during 2009, and process control is predicted to remain the largest application market by sales this year, it is the medical market that is likely to see the strongest uptake of analog components between now and 2014. Predicting growth of 12 percent over the next five years, the report's author, Susie Inouye, considers this will be due to: " the proliferation of portable medical devices such as ultrasound, glucose meters, stethoscopes, and fertility monitoring devices, most of which use numerous ASSPs."

Currently the medical segment is the second largest market for analog ICs in the industrial market, according to Databeans. However, thanks to ageing populations and an increased requirement for home care, the home medical electronics segment will be a strong contributor to the medical market's general success. Inouye already sees more products being approved for home use. Tighter ic integration is proving a key technological driver for portable medical devices, as well as handheld test equipment. Sales of highly integrated Analog Front End ICs are expected to grow share dramatically over the forecast period, Inouye believes.

This study provides an in-depth look at industrial analog IC market trends. The report provides regional analysis for the Americas, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific, and provides a comprehensive insight into the four application markets outlined, plus supplier market share data.

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