U.S. MARKET FOR STERILIZATION EQUIPMENT

The terms disinfection and sterilization are often used interchangeably. Disinfection, which can be considered a subset of sterilization depending upon the dosage, destroys a range of items including certain viruses and all microorganisms (except high levels of bacterial spores). However, true sterilization destroys living microorganisms completely or renders them incapable of reproduction. With sufficient exposure times, true sterilization is believed to work even on prions, the infectious proteins thought to be responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases. Various market forces shape demand for sterilization, an unrecognized element in a vast number of industries and manufacturing processes.

The U.S. market for sterilization equipment is expected to grow from a current estimate of $905.2 million to $1.1 billion in 2010, rising at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4.4%. Safety and speed determine which technologies within the U.S. sterilization industry garner market share and remain successful.

The trends of value-added manufacturing and shorter hospital stays combined are holding capital equipment costs down and are leading to the use of more disposable than reusable items. This trend toward disposables spells success for filtration sterilization, which is noted for its performance, reliability, and low cost. Sales of sterilizing filters for liquids and gases should reach $452.2 million in 2005 and $603.5 million in 2010. The application specificity of the filters and their well-established history are driving the anticipated 5.9% AAGR. The market value excludes filters (analytical, hemodialysis, gas sensors, etc.) with sterilizing capability.

Heat sterilization technologies are the tried-and-true methods of the U.S. sterilization industry. The technologies account for capital equipment purchases of $441.4 million in 2005 and $505.3 million in 2010. The projected AAGR of 2.7% is tied closely to new hospital construction and the renovation of existing ones, as well as the speed and economies of the technologies.

Capital equipment sales within the U.S. chemical and radiation sterilization market are estimated at $11.6 million in 2005 and are projected to reach $13.4 million in 2010. Within the chemical sterilization market, the ease of use and the flexibility of ethylene oxide (EtO) and other chemical sterilizers make them a fixture in the U.S. sterilization industry. Contract sterilization service providers are very active in ethylene oxide and radiation sterilization. Capacity expansions by them are a major contributor to the sale of EtO sterilizers and gamma irradiators.

The delivery of sterile products has created the need for effective, rapid, and economical technologies that ensure safety throughout the production process and expand market opportunities.

U.S. Market for Sterilization Equipment by Type, Through 2010
($ Millions)

(Ref : A soon-to-be-released updated report RGA-056U Sterilization Technologies Advancing in the 21st Century from Business Communications Company, Inc. (www.bccresearch.com) Contact : Malika Rajan at (203) 853-4266; ext 309; publisher@bccresearch.com )

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