Coordinate Measuring Machine Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Automation and Industry 4.0 Integration: The digital transformation of CMMs with automation and Industry 4.0 technologies is driving market growth. In 2021 the number of acquisitions related to Industry 4.0 reached its point surpassing 130. This represents an increase of 115%, over the past decade. Advanced CMM systems now feature automation capabilities, including robotic loading and unloading, automated data collection, and real-time monitoring. This integration enhances productivity, reduces manual intervention, and enables seamless integration into smart manufacturing environments.
• A Rapid Expansion of The Number Of 'Shop-Friendly' CMMs - There has been an increase in the number of CMMs designed to be user-friendly and placed directly on the production floor to keep up with production rates. For instance, the Zeiss Duramax maximizes the use of its footprint as a large portion of the floor space is dedicated to measuring volume. Its open-frame design makes it suitable for automation. Further, a robotic part loading system for CMMs has also been launched by Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division designed to allow manufacturers to maintain inspection throughput without requiring operator intervention.
• Advancements in CMM Technology: Technological advancements in CMMs, such as improved accuracy, faster scanning speeds, enhanced software capabilities, and the integration of non-contact measurement techniques (such as optical and laser scanning), are driving market growth. These advancements enable more efficient and comprehensive measurement capabilities, reducing inspection time and increasing overall productivity.

Challenges

• Increasing Complexity of Technology: A CMM is a complex machine that requires skilled operators with metrology and measurement expertise. As technology advances and evolves, it can be difficult to train and retain qualified personnel to operate and maintain CMMs. Additionally, since CMMs are highly complex machines, they require regular maintenance and calibration in order to ensure the accuracy of the measurements.
• CMM integration into existing manufacturing workflows poses challenges.
• CMMs are expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).