1Q Industrial Laser Orders Down 21 Percent

Compared to first quarter 2009, orders of industrial laser equipment and systems in the first quarter of 2010 are reported at $51.3 million, a decrease of 21.2 percent, according to AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, VA). Although the value of orders declined, total unit sales increased by 13.6 percent. This unit growth was all in Nd:YAG, though, as CO2 lasers declined slightly.

The report compiled from 19 manufacturers and distributors also shows declines from fourth quarter 2009. Unit sales of CO2 lasers fell 23.2 percent, while Nd:YAG orders declined 18.6 percent. Of the 209 total units of all types ordered, 49.3 percent of industrial laser orders were configured as a laser system (laser source and workstation). This represented the first time in several years that less than half of orders were configured as systems, although systems continue to make up a much larger share of orders when measured by dollar value, accounting for 83.6 percent of total order values in first quarter 2010.

Year-end figures for 2009 are based on actual data reported by companies voluntarily participating in the Laser Market Data Survey. Growth is based on revised 2008 data reflecting any changes that survey participants made during the course of 2009. The web-based benchmarking survey tracks and reports actual order data from North American manufacturers and suppliers of industrial lasers including:
? Complete industrial laser machines (workstations and laser source)
? Beam delivery only (workstations), and
? Source only

Data is collected at a transaction level, which enables multi-dimensional reporting across destination, application, configuration, and end-user industry, which enables participants to analyze the market by different criteria. Participation is free, but detailed data is available only to companies that actively contribute data. Any North American company building or supplying industrial laser equipment may participate in AMT?s Laser Market Data Survey.

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