Market Profile: Fixed-Wavelength Molecular Spectroscopy

Laboratory fixed-wavelength spectroscopy includes those techniques in which a single or specific excitation wavelength is utilized. There is still significant demand for these instruments in certain applications. The total market for laboratory fixed-wavelength spectroscopy continues to represent a major molecular spectroscopy market, despite being largely overshadowed by scanning and Fourier Transform techniques.

Fixed-wavelength spectrometers consist of those instruments that use one or a combination of specific wavelength sources, or use fixed filters to pass through only one or multiple selected wavelengths. They are useful as dedicated analyzers when only a single, or a handful of specific compounds are of interest.

Fixed-filter UV–vis is by far the largest segment of the market, with a large installed base, particularly among educational institutions, due to their simplicity and low cost. However, there is still significant demand in the biotechnology industry for applications involving very specific analyses, such as enzyme kinetics. Colorimeters still see significant use in printing, paints, and textiles, in which the technique can compare colors at several preselected wavelengths.

The worldwide market for laboratory fixed-wavelength molecular spectroscopy was just under $200 million in 2005. Although overall demand is expected to experience annual drops in demand of 1% to 2% over the next several years, the near-infrared and UV–vis sectors are maintaining close to flat demand.

The foregoing data were extracted from SDi's market analysis and perspectives report entitled "8th Edition Global Assessment Report: The Laboratory Life Science and Analytical Instrument Industry," June 2004. For more information, contact Stuart Press, Senior Consultant, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851, www.strategic-directions.com.