Even as demand surges, electric drives manufacturers should pursue effective strategies to maintain their market share in a price-competitive environment.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Electric Drives Market in the European Food & Beverage Industry, finds that the market earned revenues of $260.4 million in 2006 and estimates this to reach $413.8 million in 2013.
'The food and beverage industry is a major consumer of electrical energy,' notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Sivakumar Narayanaswamy.
'Rising energy costs in recent years have spurred the demand for energy-efficient systems and become the most important driver for the growth of the electric drives market in the food and beverages end-user sector.'
In their quest to remain competitive, food and beverage manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to lower their production costs.
Here, the application of electric drives supports reduced energy consumption. Electric drives also enhance manufacturing efficiency and productivity by offering improved motion control.
Accordingly, they help reduce production costs and allow end users in the food and beverage industry to sustain their market competitiveness.
However, intensifying competition among electric drive manufacturers is putting pressure on profit margins and company bottom lines, while restraining market growth. The presence of numerous competitors is also compelling electric drive manufacturers to focus on competitive product pricing.
'Food and beverage manufacturers are seeking competitively priced electric drives to maximise their own profit margins,' explains Narayanaswamy. 'This is resulting in declining prices of electric drives, with suppliers being forced to sell at low prices, causing erosions in profit margins.'
In this highly competitive market, the provision of value-added services could help suppliers encourage consumers to opt for higher priced products.
The availability of a strong, responsive and flexible after-sales service network would ensure that customer needs are suitably addressed. Therefore, it will strengthen customer loyalty.
Electric Drives Market in the European Food & Beverage Industry is part of the Power Transmission Growth Partnership Services Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: European Pulleys and Sprockets Markets in the Industrial Automation Sector, Western European Motion Controllers Markets, and Latin American Low-Voltage Drives Markets.
- For more information www.frost.com
