The economic growth that had started in 2010 continued in 2011. During the first half of 2011, demand for automation remained strong for PLCs and PLC-based PACs, as well as for other automation equipment, such as AC drives and motion control. The automation solutions business remained very robust, with strong demand for energy efficiency solutions in industries such as mining, oil & gas, and cement. This growth was experienced across all sectors, although the pace of growth slowed as the year progressed.
Despite the slowdown in Europe and other industrialized countries, India is emerging economically and is growing at strong GDP rates compared to rest of the world. Manufacturers in India want to expand their footprints and become dominant players in the global marketplace. And the automation market typically grows faster than GDP because globalization arouses fierce market competitiveness, which pushes industrial operations to drive productivity, efficiency, and flexibility to satisfy the increasing global demand fueled by a rising middle class in emerging economies. This globalization environment also drives manufacturers to address initiatives for energy cost savings and reducing energy consumption, as well as for safety and sustainability needs. This environment created growth opportunities for PLCs and PLC-based PACs markets in 2011 according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.
ARC expects the top five growth industries in India to be machinery, food & beverage, automotive, mining & metals, water & wastewater in that order, with associated increases in PLC revenues. The growth of these industries is expected to be above average. Demand for oil and natural gas will continue to increase in the long-term despite short-term demand shortfalls. The power generation industry is also expected to grow at a high rate throughout the forecast period. India will continue to invest in new power capacity and world-class power generation facilities.
ARC Foresees the Robust Growth of PLC-based PAC in India
G. Ganapathiraman, Country Manager ARC Advisory Group India, and co-author of ARC’s “Programmable Logic Controllers and PLC-based PACs for India Market Research Study” says, “The challenge in the market is how PLC and PLC-based suppliers can differentiate themselves and continue to offer increasing value propositions to end users and OEMs. The market is expected to grow during the forecast period and beyond as users in many industries have recognized that increased automation is vital for increasing productivity, efficiency, and energy conservation.”
The study provides an in-depth analysis of the PLC business in India. In addition to market analysis and forecasts, the study also covers the current market nuances, strategic issues, and the future outlook. The report also highlights the factors that influence the PLC market in India and its dynamics.
