Global Automated Fiber Placements and Automated Tape Laying Machines Market is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Due to Rising Demand from the Aerospace Industry and Increasing Adoption of Composites
Global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is estimated to be valued at US$ 356.1 Mn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.8% over the forecast period (2024-2031). The market is witnessing high growth owing to the rising demand for composites from the aerospace industry and growing adoption of AFP/ATL machines to cope with increasing production requirements. Furthermore, the market players are investing heavily in R&D to develop advanced technologies which can cater to customized composite component manufacturing requirements.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is driven by increasing demand from aerospace industry and growing adoption of composites. The aerospace industry is one of the major end-users of AFP/ATL machines accounting for largest share of global demand. This is owing to increasing use of composites to manufacture lightweight and fuel-efficient aircraft components.
Growing Demand for Cost-effective Manufacturing of Composite Parts Drives the Market Growth
The global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is driven by the growing demand for cost-effective manufacturing of composite parts across various industries such as aerospace & defense, wind energy, automotive & transportation, and others. Automated fiber placement machines offer significant cost advantages over traditional layup methods by reducing material waste and improving production throughput. They can place fibers where needed, eliminating costly over-plying and ply dropping that occur in hand layup processes. This results in composite parts that are lightweight yet strong. The use of automated tape laying machines also improves the production rate of large composite structures like wind turbine blades. The automation reduces labor costs and improves part quality and consistency compared to manual tape laying. Owing to such benefits, the adoption of automated fiber placement and tape laying machines is increasing among manufacturers looking to drive down the costs of producing advanced composite components.
Growing Demand for Lightweight and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Boosts the Market Growth
Another key driver for the global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is the growing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles. Composite materials are increasingly being used in vehicles to reduce weight and improve fuel economy. Automated fiber placement and tape laying machines help automotive OEMs and tier players efficiently produce complex, one-piece composite body panels, roofs, doors, and other under-body shields. They eliminate many manufacturing steps compared to hand-laminated parts, speeding up production. This allows automakers to deliver vehicles with an optimal strength-to-weight ratio to meet stringent fuel emission standards. The rapid rise in electric vehicles production worldwide is also fueling the demand as composites play a vital role in improving the driving range of EVs. All these factors are propelling automotive manufacturers to incorporate advanced automated composite manufacturing technologies in their production lines.
High Capital Investment Required Acts as a Restraint
One of the major restraints for the global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is the high capital investment required to purchase such systems. Automated fiber placement machines capable of producing large and complex composite parts can cost over a million dollars. Similarly, high-end automated tape laying machines for manufacturing critical aerospace components range from US$ 750,000 to US$ 2.5 million. Moreover, additional expenses are involved in system installation, tooling, and integration with other production equipment. This high upfront investment deters many small and medium manufacturers from adopting automated composite manufacturing technologies. It favors only large enterprises having substantial financial resources to make such capital-intensive purchases. However, with time, as the technologies mature further and equipment costs reduce, this restraint is expected to weaken.
Training Operators on Complex Systems Increases Cost Burden
Another challenge faced by participants of the global automated fiber placements and automated tape laying machines market is the initial training costs associated with operating complex automated systems. The fiber placement and tape laying machines involve intricate programming and process control to place fibers and tapes with high precision. This requires in-depth training of machine operators and programmers to fully harness the capabilities of these systems. The training periods range from several weeks to months depending on the complexities involved. This increases the cost burden on companies, especially small businesses with smaller training budgets. It is also difficult for some manufacturers to spare experienced workers for long training durations without impacting production. These factors restrict the scalability of automated composite manufacturing technologies to a certain extent.
Growing Aerospace Industry Presents Lucrative Opportunities
The global aerospace industry, which is one of the major end users of automated fiber placement and automated tape laying machines, is growing rapidly driven by factors such as increased aircraft deliveries, modernization of fleets, and space exploration activities. Automated composite manufacturing technologies allow aerospace OEMs and tier players to efficiently produce advanced aircraft components like wing spars, fuselages, fan cases, engine nacelles, and interior panels. This presents lucrative opportunities for suppliers of automated fiber placement and tape laying machines. Growth in commercial aircraft fleets and rising space tourism is expected to further fuel the demand. Technologies such as Large Capable Aerospace Manufacturing Systems (LCAMS) also incentivize adoption of these systems.
Growing Wind Energy Sector to Boost Demand
The global wind energy sector has been expanding significantly to cater to the rising demand for clean and renewable energy. Automated fiber placement and tape laying machines play a vital role in the manufacture of increasingly large wind turbine blades, which are composed mainly of fiber-reinforced composite materials.
Key Developments:
- In September 2023, Toray Industries, a global frontrunner in carbon fiber and advanced materials production, acquired a top composite materials technology company to bolster its market position. This strategic acquisition is part of Toray's ongoing initiative to enhance its capabilities in thermoplastic composites, which are gaining traction in sectors like aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
- In August 2023, KUKA, a leading global provider of automation solutions and robotics, introduced a new automated tape laying machine designed for high-speed operations. This cutting-edge machine aims to boost efficiency in composite manufacturing, especially in aerospace and automotive industries where speed and precision are crucial. The launch of this technology underscores KUKA's dedication to advancing automation and refining production processes in the fast-evolving manufacturing sector.
- In June 2023, Spirit AeroSystems, a prominent manufacturer of aerostructures for commercial and defense aircraft, revealed plans to expand its manufacturing facility with the addition of advanced Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) systems. This upgrade is intended to enhance production efficiency and address the growing demand for composite materials in the aerospace industry. By incorporating these advanced systems, Spirit aims to strengthen its competitive edge and improve its ability to deliver high-quality components for major aircraft programs.
- In April 2023, Boeing, a major player in aerospace manufacturing, teamed up with Northrop Grumman, a leading global aerospace and defense technology company, to advance automated tape laying technologies. This collaboration is focused on enhancing the efficiency and precision of composite manufacturing processes, particularly within the aerospace sector, where the need for advanced materials and automation is growing. By combining their expertise, the partnership aims to drive innovation and optimize the production of high-performance aircraft components.
Key Player:
Hexcel Corporation, Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Toray Industries, Inc., Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., KUKA AG, AEROTECH, INC., COMPOSITE AUTOMATION, VISTAGY, Inc., TWI Ltd., Siemens AG, Fives Group, 3M Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and ZOLTEK Corporation
