Medicine to boost microscopy market

FEBRUARY 18--Automated medical imaging and semiconductor inspection will help drive the worldwide microscopy market to nearly US$ 1 billion in 2005, according to a new market report. The study by TriMark Publications (New York, NY; (www.trimarkpublications.com) reveals that microscope sales totaled US$ 811 million in 2000. Light-based microscopy accounted for US$ 520 million, or 60% of this total, with electron microscopy taking a 26% share (US$ 222 million) and confocal microscopy just 6% (US$ 55 million).

TriMark's report suggests that by 2005 the total market will be worth US$ 986 million. The technology split will shift slightly, with the light microscopy market share decreasing. Electron and scanning probe microscopy will increase their market share.

In terms of units sold, light microscopy is currently, by far, the dominant technology, accounting for 99% of sales. But because confocal, electron and scanning-probe systems are so much more expensive, they make up a disproportionate chunk of the overall revenue.

The market is dominated by Japanese and German companies: Nikon leads the pack, while Zeiss is second, followed by Olympus and Leica.

TriMark's study predicts that automated imaging systems for medicine will start to have a big impact on the microscopy market. In particular, a technique for automated Pap smear screening is expected to become a major source of revenue.

Semiconductor-inspection microscopy is now making up a large segment of the market, thanks to tremendous growth in the recent years. TriMark predicts that sales for wafer inspection and other applications will reach US$ 747 million in 2005.