(PRWEB) February 1, 2006 -- Strong growth is expected for the North American flexible electric heating element market, according to a new study by Venture Development Corporation (VDC). Although all types of flexible heating elements offer growth opportunities for vendors in terms of market size and application variety, carbon fiber flexible elements are forecast to grow the fastest through 2007.

Dollar shipments of electric flexible heating elements to North American markets are expected to increase from $152 million in 2004 to $184 million in 2007, a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%. Silicon rubber-insulated elements currently account for more than half of these shipments, but this share is expected to decrease in coming years as other types of flexible elements experience more rapid growth.

Current Shipment Shares of Flexible Electric Heating Elements to North American Markets by Types
(Percent of Dollar Volume)

Silicone Rubber Insulated: 59.1%
Foil: 14.2%
Kapton/Polyimide Insulated: 13.9%
Cloth: 5.4%
Mica Insulated: 3.7%
Carbon Fiber: 1.4%
Mylar Insulated: 1.1%
Other: 1.2%

The carbon fiber flexible heating element is a new technology that accounted for only $2.2 million in shipments in 2004, but is expected to grow at an annual rate of 37% through 2007 to reach $5.7 million at the end of the forecast period.

The competitive landscape for the carbon fiber flexible heating element market is currently sparse. Technology hurdles such as termination issues and manufacturing processes have limited the competition to only a handful of firms. The two leading suppliers of this product type are Thermion Systems and Methode Development.

The relatively low cost of carbon fiber flexible elements has created demand in a variety applications previously not served by other types of flexible elements, primarily in the consumer products segment. Carbon fiber elements also serve many of the applications traditionally targeted by other flexible heater types, such as semiconductor manufacturing, commercial refrigeration and food preparation, military/aerospace and medical equipment.

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To view this entire press release (including exhibit), go to:
http://www.vdc-corp.com/industrial/press/05/pr05-56.html

Report Availability
http://www.vdc-corp.com/industrial/reports/05/br05-10.html


About VDC

Venture Development Corporation (VDC) is an independent technology market research and strategy consulting firm that specializes in a number of industrial, embedded, component, retail automation, RFID, AIDC, datacom/telecom, and defense markets. VDC has been operating since 1971, when the firm was founded by graduates of the Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, we employ a talented collection of analysts and consultants who offer a rare combination of expertise in the market research process; experience in technology product and program management; and formal training in engineering and marketing. VDC's clients include thousands of the largest and fastest-growing tech suppliers in the world and the most successful investors participating in the markets we cover.

For further information about "Electric Heating Elements: North American Market Demand Analysis" or any other VDC service, contact:

Jake Millette, Senior Analyst, 508-653-9000 ext. 135, e-mail protected from spam bots


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