Sector growth drives pump uptake

The rapid expansion of the food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries in Europe is fuelling the demand for hygienic, high-quality positive displacement pumps, according to the ’Strategic Analysis of the European Positive Displacement Pumps Market’ report published today by Frost & Sullivan (F&S).

The analysis suggests that peristaltic pumps are of particular interest to the food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries because of their “production of products for consumption”.

Significant investment in various end-user industries is likely to bolster the need for positive displacement pumps

F&S analyst Guru Mahesh

Peristaltic pumps are designed to minimise contamination and resist corrosion by ensuring that the fluid flows through flexible tubes or hoses that are placed within the pump housing.

Within the positive displacement pumps market, the F&S analysis covers peristaltic, reciprocating and rotary pumps. It found that the market earned revenues of $1.8 billion (£1bn) in 2013 and estimates this to reach $2 billion (£1.1bn) in 2018.

“Significant investment in various end-user industries, especially in eastern European countries, is likely to bolster the need for positive displacement pumps,” said F&S industrial automation & process control research analyst Guru Mahesh.

“Market participants that offer customised solutions will be in the best position to take advantage of this expected rise in customer demand.”

However, the maturity of the European market restricts the scope for innovation and consequently reduces the possibility of using positive displacement pumps in new applications, the analysis suggests.

“Increased focus on R&D to develop advanced solutions that can cater to varying customer needs will be essential for market success,” Mahesh said.

“These solutions need not be completely new in terms of technology but should bring improvements in efficiency and optimise energy consumption, which will translate into improved return on investment for customers.”

The F&S analysis is complimented by figures released in May that found the food, drink and tobacco sector had made the second largest contribution to manufacturing growth in the UK over the past quarter, rising by 3.4% and contributed 0.5 percentage points to the manufacturing growth.

The Office of National Statistics’ (ONS) Index of Production (IoP) for March also found that between February 2013 and March 2014, pharmaceuticals was the strongest performing of the manufacturing sectors, with its output rising by 4.2% and contributing 0.3 percentage points to manufacturing production growth.

“The strong momentum in the manufacturing sector was confirmed by a 4th consecutive monthly rise in output in March, buoyed by solid gains in the pharmaceuticals, transport and food sectors,” said EEF deputy chief economist Neil Prothero.