New applications are emerging for piezoelectric operated actuators and motors in applications including aircraft, automobile hydraulics and drug delivery. Among piezoelectric devices, piezoelectric actuators produce a small displacement with a high force capability when voltage is applied. They are used mainly in ultra-precise positioning and in the generation and handling of high forces or pressures, whereas piezoelectric motors use a piezoelectric ceramic element to produce ultrasonic vibrations in a stator structure. The elliptical movements of the stator are converted into the movement of a slider that is pressed into frictional contact with the stator. Depending on the stator's design, the resulting movement can be either rotational or linear.
The virtually unlimited resolution and extremely fast response of piezo devices have made them a cornerstone of ultraprecision applications from nanometrology to nanomanipulation. Today a large variety of piezo-based positioning systems is available, from simple open-loop actuators, to complex flexure-guided nanopositioning systems and piezo linear motors. All piezoelectric drives are ceramic-based, and can operate in a vacuum; they do not produce magnetic fields nor are they influenced by them.
It is actually difficult to differentiate the market between piezoelectric operated motors and piezoelectric operated actuators as these variants are used for same application in common products. For example in a digital camera, the auto-focus mechanism uses a piezoelectric operated motor but in camera phones, the same mechanism is operated by piezoelectric operated actuators.
Commercialization of piezoelectric operated actuators and motors is likely to proceed in those markets where the specific advantages of high torque, high precision and lack of magnetic interference are particularly useful. When the costs can be lowered to competitive levels and remaining technical problems such as frictional wear can be solved, piezoelectric motors may also become candidates in areas such as automotive accessories, where very high volume markets are possible.
Report Highlights
This study provides the most complete accounting of the current market and future growth in piezoelectric operated actuators and motors in North America, Europe, Japan, China and the rest of the world (ROW). The market data contained in this report quantify opportunities for piezoelectric operated actuators and motors. In addition to product types, this report also covers the many issues concerning the merits and future prospects of the piezoelectric operated actuator and motor business, including corporate strategies, information technologies, and the means for providing these highly advanced product and service offerings.
This report also covers in detail the economic and technological issues regarded by many as critical to the industry’s current state of change. It provides a review of the piezoelectric operated actuator and motor industry and its structure, and of the many companies involved in providing these products. The competitive positions of the main players in the piezoelectric operated actuator and motor market and the strategic options they face are also discussed, along with such competitive factors as marketing, distribution and operations.
The report provides extensive quantification of the many important facets of market developments in emerging markets for piezoelectric operated actuators and motors, such as China’s. This quantification, in turn, contributes to the determination of what kind of strategic response suppliers may adopt in order to compete in these dynamic markets. Audiences for this study include marketing executives, business unit managers and other decision makers in the piezoelectric operated actuators and motors companies, as well as in companies peripheral to this business.
Report Conclusions
Major findings of this report are:
The global market for piezoelectric operated actuators and motors now equals US$5.27 billion and is expected to reach $10.66 billion by 2011.
Among the five markets, ceramic servo motor is the largest and most mature market. It is likely to grow at an annual rate of 11%.
The piezoelectric multilayer actuators and motors will see the highest growth rate, estimated to be 19.2 % annually.
The manufacturers of optics, photonics and nanometrology have been the major consumers of piezoelectric operated motors and actuators.
Life science and medical technology also constitute a high-growth segment of the piezoelectric operated actuators and motors. This market is expected to grow at 18.7% annually and could record an even higher growth rate if there is wider acceptance by end users. It is still going through a gestation period.
During the period 2006-2011, by type, there will be AAGR growth of 19.2% in mutilayer actuators/motors followed by traveling wave type ultrasonic motors (19.0%), motors for camera phones (16.6%), ceramic servo motors (11.6%) and bimorph piezoactuators (5.2%).
Over the projected period of five years, market share of piezoelectric operated actuators and motors will increase at the cost of electromagnetic motors.
NORTH AMERICAN AND GLOBAL MARKET OF PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVEN MOTORS ACTUATORS 2006 AND 2011 ($ BILLION)
2006($ Millions)
2011($ Millions)
AAGR (%)2006-11
North America
2.13
4.33
15.2
Global
5.27
10.66
15.1
Source: iRAP, Inc
ILLUSTRATION OF NORTH AMERICAN AND GLOBAL MARKET FOR PIEZOELECTRIC OPERATED ACTUATORS AND MOTORS, 2006 AND 2011
