Press Release – April 4, 2014

Global Industrial Laser Systems Market Grows 5% to US$ 10.7 Billion in 2013

European Market Turns Around in 2013 with Double-Digit Growth

Taegerwilen, Switzerland, April4, 2014 – – The global industrial laser systems market reached the record volume of US$10.7 billion in 2013, up 5% versus the previous year. According to the annual market survey from Optech Consulting the market for laser systems for macro-processing, including mainly cutting, welding, and marking, was up 7% and reached a volume of US$ 8.2 billion. The laser macro-processing systems market trended better than the global machine tool market which decreased by 9% in 2013. The market for laser systems for micro-processing, accounting for a volume of US$ 2.5 billion, suffered a 1% decline in 2013, in line with globally weak demand for semiconductor capital equipment. Laser micro-processing systems are mainly used for the manufacturing of semiconductors, solar cells, printed circuit boards, and flat panel displays. The 5% growth rate of the total industrial laser systems market for 2013 falls short of the long-term compound annual growth rate of nearly 10% for the last ten years. The comparably weak growth in 2013 was mainly caused by decreasing demand in the Asia Pacific Rim region in the second half of the year. Including the market heavyweights of China, Japan, and Korea the region consumes just over 50% of the laser materials processing systems. Demand in Europe, accounting for a global share of about 30%, increased by more than 10% on a US$ basis (the Euro/US$ exchange rate increased by 3.3%), spurred by increased demand in the large markets of Germany, France, and Italy. The figures signal a remarkable turn-around from the previous year when Europe was the least performing laser systems market with a decrease of 8% on a US$ basis. Laser systems demand in 2013 also increased in the Americas, which account for about 15% of the global volume. While the United States market cooled in 2013 after three years of strong growth, Latin America contributed a double-digit increase.

Founded in 1992 Switzerland based Optech Consulting specializes in laser and photonics market research and consulting.

For further information please visit www.optech-consulting.com.