Non-Glass Capacitive Sensors Market by Type (Plastic/Polymer -PMMA, PC, PET PETG and Others, ITO Film, Non-ITO Film and Sapphire), Application (Consumer and Commercial) and Geography - Global Trends and Forecast to 2014 - 2020
The research published on capacitive sensors for non-glass surfaces informs about the integration of non-glass surfaces (covers) on to the capacitive sensors, various methods used in fabrication, various technologies, and various advantages and disadvantages. The chapter majorly informs about the non-glass surfaces such as plastic, polymer, and sapphire.
Technological improvements have increased the robustness of touch screen covers but manufacturing as well as cost related challenges have restrained their mass manufacturing. As a result, the market price of these types of non-glass surfaces is five to seven times the market price of the regularly used glass screen covers in capacitive touch screens. There are several important trends which have been driving the technological innovations in the industry since its early days, which, directly or indirectly, drive the capacitive sensors market currently. The major trend is the size reduction of capacitive sensors which enable their integration into smartphones, tablets, PCs, and many other small devices without sacrificing other functionalities.
The study elucidates the situation of capacitive sensors in non-glass surface types and shows the application market of capacitive sensors in consumer electronic applications, commercial electronic applications, and other applications with accurate market metrics. The study clarifies that currently, capacitive sensors for non-glass surface applications’ market size is highest for smartphone and tablet and both the applications are expected to grow at a high CAGR during 2014 to 2020.
The “capacitive sensors for non-glass surface” market research study is segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Rest of the World (RoW). Among these, the U.S., Japan, China, the U.K., Taiwan, and South Korea are the highest market sharing countries in the capacitive sensors market.
The leading companies in the capacitive sensors for non-glass surface market covered in the report are Apple Inc. (U.S.), GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Rubicon Technologies (U.S.), Graphenea SA (Spain), TPK Holdings Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Cambrios technologies (California), Iljin Display (South Korea), General Electric (U.S.), Canatu Ltd. (Finland), and Cima Nanotech (U.S.), among others.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.2 MARKETS COVERED
1.3 STAKEHOLDERS
1.4 MARKET SCOPE
2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.1 FACTOR ANALYSIS
2.1.1 NON-GLASS FILM TYPES
2.1.1.1 Plastics
2.1.1.2 Polymers
2.1.1.3 Sapphires
2.1.2 TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS
2.1.2.1 ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)
2.1.2.2 Graphene
2.1.2.3 Silver Nano-wires (SNWs)
2.1.2.4 Carbon Nano-tubes (CNTs)
2.1.2.5 PEDOT:PSS
2.2 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION
2.3 MARKET CRACK DOWN & DATA TRIANGULATION
2.3.1 KEY DATA FROM SECONDARY SOURCES
2.3.2 KEY DATA FROM PRIMARY RESOURCES
2.3.2.1 Key Industry Insights
2.3.3 ASSUMPTIONS
3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4 PREMIUM INSIGHTS
4.1 ATTRACTIVE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NON-GLASS BASED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET
4.2 NON-GLASS CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR THE TOP THREE MATERIALS
4.3 NON-GLASS BASED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR THE APAC REGION
4.4 THE U.S. COMMANDS THE HIGHEST SHARE IN THE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET
4.5 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR PMMA AND PET
4.6 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET: DEVELOPED VS DEVELOPING NATIONS
4.7 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET: GLASS VS NON-GLASS SURFACES
5 MARKET OVERVIEW
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 MARKET DEFINITION
5.3 EVOLUTION
5.4 MARKET SEGMENTATION
5.4.1 MARKET BY NON-GLASS SURFACE
5.4.2 MARKET BY APPLICATION
5.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY
5.5 MARKET DYNAMICS
5.5.1 DRIVERS
5.5.1.1 Increased demand for consumer goods
5.5.1.2 Low cost and low power consumption
5.5.1.3 Scratch resistant
5.5.1.4 Flexibility
5.5.1.5 Minimal reflection and high conductivity
5.5.1.6 Large investments by MNCs in R&D activities
5.5.2 RESTRAINTS
5.5.2.1 High-level adoption of the ITO technology
5.5.2.2 Biodegradability of plastics
5.5.3 OPPORTUNITIES
5.5.3.1 Adoption of sapphire glass surfaces in mobile display covers
5.5.3.2 High adoption of carbon nanotubes and silver nano-wires as a replacement of ITO
5.5.3.3 Adoption of plastic and polymer cover lenses for flexible displays
5.5.4 CHALLENGES
5.5.4.1 High initial investment
5.5.5 BURNING ISSUES
5.5.5.1 Integration of the non-glass technology with smartphones
5.5.6 WINNING IMPERATIVES
5.5.6.1 Improved quality and consistency of products
6 INDUSTRY TRENDS
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS
6.3 SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS
6.4 KEY INFLUENCERS
6.5 INDUSTRY TRENDS
6.6 PORTER’S FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS
6.6.1 THREATS OF NEW ENTRANTS
6.6.2 THREATS OF SUBSTITUTES
6.6.3 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS
6.6.4 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS
6.6.5 INTENSITY OF COMPETITIVE RIVALRY
6.7 STRATEGIC BENCHMARKING
7 MARKET BY NON-GLASS TECHNOLOGY
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 CAPACITIVE SENSORS: LEADER IN TOUCH SENSING
7.3 CAPACITIVE SENSING BY TECHNOLOGY
7.3.1 SURFACE CAPACITANCE
7.3.2 PROJECTED CAPACITANCE
7.3.2.1 In-cell
7.3.2.2 On-cell
7.3.2.2.1 On-cell touch panel structure for TFT-LCD
7.3.2.2.2 On-cell touch panel structure for AMOLED
7.3.2.3 Structure of the Touch Technology
7.3.2.3.1 Comparative analysis of the capacitive touch sensor structure
7.3.2.3.2 Glass-to-Glass (G/G)
7.3.2.3.3 Glass to Film to Film (G/F/F): Cover glass and two layers of film
7.3.2.3.4 G1F (Glass One Film)
7.3.2.3.5 TOC(Touch on Cover)
7.4 NON-GLASS FILMS: THE NEXT BIG THING
7.5 GLASS SURFACE VS NON-GLASS (FILM) SURFACE
7.6 TYPES OF NON-GLASS FILMS
7.6.1 GLASS SURFACES CURRENTLY WINNING THE RACE
7.6.2 PLASTIC/POLYMER
7.6.2.1 PMMA
7.6.2.2 Polycarbonates
7.6.2.3 PET and PETG
7.6.2.4 Other Plastic/Polymer Materials
7.6.3 SAPPHIRE
7.6.3.1 Why Sapphire?
7.6.3.2 When is sapphire going to be commercialized?
7.6.3.3 Sapphire Cost Analysis
7.7 ITO REPLACEMENT IS A STEP CLOSER
7.7.1 IMPACT OF ITO REPLACEMENT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN
7.7.2 ITO PATTERNING
7.8 TYPES OF ITO REPLACEMENTS
7.8.1 SILVER NANOWIRES
7.8.2 PEDOT:PSS
7.8.3 CARBON NANO TUBES
7.8.4 GRAPHENE
7.8.5 METAL MESH
8 MARKET BY APPLICATION
8.1 INTRODUCTION
8.2 CONSUMER APPLICATIONS
8.2.1 NOTEBOOK PCS
8.2.2 NAVIGATION DEVICES
8.2.3 MEDIA PLAYERS
8.2.4 EPD E-READERS
8.2.5 STILL CAMERAS
8.2.6 PORTable GAMES
8.2.7 ALL-IN-ONE PCS
8.2.8 VIDEO CAMERAS
8.2.9 DESKTOP MONITORS
8.2.10 SMARTWATCHES
8.2.11 PDAS
8.2.12 OTHERS
8.2.12.1 Smartphones
8.2.12.2 Tablets
8.2.13 ITO GLASS VS TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE FILM BY APPLICATION
8.3 COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
8.3.1 EDUCATION/TRAINING
8.3.2 POINT OF INTEREST (POI)
8.3.3 TICKETING
8.3.4 CASINO GAMES
8.3.5 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
8.3.6 ATM MACHINES
8.3.7 OFFICE EQUIPMENT
8.3.8 RETAIL AND POS (POINT OF SALE)/ECR (ELECTRONIC CASH REGISTER)
8.3.9 FACTORY EQUIPMENT
8.3.10 AUTOMOBILE MONITORS
9 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY
9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.2 NORTH AMERICA
9.2.1 U.S.
9.2.2 CANADA
9.2.3 MEXICO
9.3 EUROPE
9.3.1 GERMANY
9.3.2 FRANCE
9.3.3 U.K.
9.4 ASIA-PACIFIC
9.4.1 CHINA
9.4.2 JAPAN
9.4.3 SOUTH KOREA
9.4.4 TAIWAN
9.5 REST OF THE WORLD (ROW)
10 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
10.1 OVERVIEW
10.2 COMPETITIVE SITUATION AND TRENDS
10.2.1 NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES
10.2.2 AGREEMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATIONS, & JOINT VENTURES
10.2.3 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
10.2.4 EXPANSIONS
10.2.5 OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
11 COMPANY PROFILES (OVERVIEW, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, FINANCIALS, STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT)
11.1 INTRODUCTION
11.2 APPLE INC.
11.3 BASF SE
11.4 CAMBRIOS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
11.5 CANATU LTD.
11.6 CIMA NANOTECH, INC.
11.7 EVONIK INDUSTRIES AG.
11.8 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
11.9 GRAPHENEA SA
11.10 GT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.
11.11 ILJIN DISPLAY CO. LTD.
11.12 RUBICON TECHNOLOGY INC.
11.13 TPK HOLDINGS CO. LTD. (Details on Overview, Products and Services, Financials, Strategy & Development might not be Captured in case of Unlisted Companies.)
12 APPENDIX
12.1 INSIGHTS OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS
12.2 DISCUSSION GUIDE
12.3 INTRODUCING RT: REAL TIME MARKET INTELLIGENCE
12.4 AVAILABLE CUSTOMIZATIONS
12.5 RELATED REPORTS
Table 1 PROPERTIES OF NON-GLASS SUBSTRATES
Table 2 HEAVY INVESTMENTS BY MNCS IN R&D ACTIVITIES PROPELS THE GROWTH OF THE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES
Table 3 STRONG COMPETITION FROM THE ITO TECHNOLOGY RESTRAINS THE MARKET GROWTH
Table 4 ADOPTION OF SAPPHIRE GLASS SURFACES IN MOBILE DISPLAY COVERS WILL INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR CAPACITIVE SENSORS FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES
Table 5 HIGH INITIAL INVESTMENT CONSTRAINTS THE GROWTH OF CAPACITIVE SENSORS FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES
Table 6 EMPHASIS ON R&D ACTIVITIES IS THE LEADING TREND AMONG THE KEY MARKET PLAYERS
Table 7 GLOBAL CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE, 2013-2020
Table 8 GLOBAL CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE BY SENSING APPLICATION, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 9 GLOBAL CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE BY SENSING APPLICATION, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 10 SURFACE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE, 2013-2020
Table 11 SURFACE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 12 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE, 2013-2020
Table 13 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 14 P-CAP SENSOR ATTRIBUTES
Table 15 IMPORTANCE OF THE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY AND ITS STRUCTURE
Table 16 TOUCH-ON-COVER SOLUTIONS
Table 17 COMPARISON OF GLASS AND NON-GLASS DIELECTRIC CONSTANTS
Table 18 PET VS GLASS BASED SUBSTRATE
Table 19 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR GLASS AND NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 20 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR GLASS AND NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 21 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 22 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY NON-GLASS TYPE, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 23 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY NON-GLASS TYPE, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 24 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR PLASTIC/POLYMER SURFACES, BY TYPE, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 25 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR PLASTIC/POLYMER SURFACES, BY TYPE, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 26 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR PMMA SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 27 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR POLYCARBONATE SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 28 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR PET AND PETG SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 29 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR OTHER PLASTIC/POLYMER MATERIAL SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 30 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR SAPPHIRE SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 31 COMPARISON OF ITO REPLACMENT MATERIALS
Table 32 COMPARISON OF ITO AND MAJOR ITO REPLACEMENT MATERIALS
Table 33 TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE FILM MARKET SIZE, 2013-2020
Table 34 TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE FILM MARKET SIZE, BY TYPE (10000SQM)
Table 35 NON ITO FILM MARKET SIZE, BY TYPE (10000SQM)
Table 36 METAL MESH FILM MARKET SIZE, BY TYPE, 2013-2020 (10000SQM)
Table 37 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 38 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SHIPMENT, BY APPLICATION, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 39 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY APPLICATION, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 40 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SHIPMENT FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY APPLICATION, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 41 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY CONSUMER APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 42 SURFACE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY CONSUMER APPLICATIONS, 2013-2020
Table 43 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY CONSUMER APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 44 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES BY NOTEBOOK PCS APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 45 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY NAVIGATION DEVICES, 2013-2020
Table 46 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY MEDIA PLAYERS, 2013-2020
Table 47 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY EPD E-READER, 2013-2020
Table 48 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY STILL CAMERAS, 2013-2020
Table 49 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY PORTable GAMES, 2013-2020
Table 50 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY ALL IN-ONE PCS, 2013-2020
Table 51 TOUCH SCREEN STRUCTURE MARKET SHARE FOR ALL-IN-ONE PCS, 2014 (%)
Table 52 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY VIDEO CAMERAS, 2013-2020
Table 53 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY DESKTOP MONITORS, 2013-2020
Table 54 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY SMARTWATCHES, 2013-2020
Table 55 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY PDAS, 2013-2020
Table 56 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY OTHER APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 57 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY SAMRTPHONE, 2013-2020
Table 58 TOUCH SCREEN STRUCTURE MARKET SHARE FOR SMARTPHONES, 2014 (%)
Table 59 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACE, BY TABLET APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 60 TOUCH SCREEN STRUCTURE MARKET SHARE FOR TABLETS, LAPTOPS AND NOTEBOOKS, 2014 (%)
Table 61 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY COMMERCIAL APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 62 SURFACE CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS, 2013-2020
Table 63 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY COMMERCIAL APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 64 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY EDUCATION/TRAINING APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 65 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY POI APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 66 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY TICKETING APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 67 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY CASINO GAMES APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 68 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT APPLICATION , 2013-2020
Table 69 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY ATM MACHINE APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 70 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY OFFICE EQUIPMENT APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 71 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY RETAIL AND POS/ECR APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 72 PROJECTED CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, BY FACTORY EQUIPMENT APPLICATION, 2013-2020
Table 73 AUTOMOBILE MONITORS: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET FOR NON-GLASS SURFACE, BY PROJECTED CAPACITANCE, 2013-2020
Table 74 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACE, BY GEOGRAPHY, 2013-2020 ($MILLION)
Table 75 CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACE, BY GEOGRAPHY, 2013-2020 (MILLION UNITS)
Table 76 NORTH AMERICA: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACE, 2013-2020
Table 77 U.S.: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 78 CANADA: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 79 MEXICO: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 80 EUROPE: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 81 GERMANY: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 82 FRANCE: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 83 U.K.: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 84 APAC: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 85 CHINA: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 86 JAPAN: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 87 SOUTH KOREA: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 88 TAIWAN: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
Table 89 ROW: CAPACITIVE SENSORS MARKET SIZE FOR NON-GLASS SURFACES, 2013-2020
The capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces has a huge market potential in consumer and commercial applications. It offers attractive new business opportunities to the traditional electronics manufacturing industries as well as to various specialized startups. Moreover, this technology can offer innovative products to end-users. It is an emerging technology, moving from laboratories and research organizations to industrial players at a fast pace.
The market for capacitive sensors for non-glass surfaces is expected to reach $XX million by 2020 from $XX million in 2013 at a CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. The growth of the market is primarily triggered by the consumer electronics industry. Additionally, the market is tending toward low cost, scratch resistant, flexible, and highly conductive electronics gadgets. All these factors influence the growth of the capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces.
In this report, the global capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces is broadly classified into plastic/polymer and sapphire. The plastic/polymer segment was valued at the largest market size of the global capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces at a value of $XX million in 2014; whereas, the sapphire market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. The growth of this market is mainly driven by a wide range of applications such as smartphones, tablets, notebook PCs, office equipment, and many others. Moreover, plastic, polymer, and sapphire are more scratch resistant and flexible as compare to glass surfaces. Hence, these non-glass surfaces are gaining a huge demand in the market over glass surfaces. Currently, the market size is very low as various applications are in the R&D phase. However, it will grow at a faster pace in the future due to technological advancements and commercialization of products. The key players in the plastic/polymer and sapphire market are SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Cima Nanotech (U.S.), Apple Inc. (U.S.), and GT Advanced Technology (U.S.).
On the basis of different types of plastic/polymer, the global capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces has been segmented into PMMA, PET, Polycarbonate (Lexan), PETG, and others. This was valued at $XX million in 2013 and is expected to reach $XX by 2020 at a CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. The PET market accounted for the largest share —XX%— of the capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces in 2013; whereas the market of PMMA accounted for XX% in 2013. The PMMA market is growing at the highest CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. The increasing number of applications with PMMA for new innovations of transparent displays and devices is driving the growth of the PMMA market. The availability of latest technologies and the cheaper manufacturing costs also play major roles for the market’s growth.
North America dominated the global capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces at a value of $XX million in 2013 and is expected to reach $XX million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. North America has a strong value chain of materials, advanced technologies, government funding, and presence of research institutes, which helps the country to hold a major market share. The major players in North America are Cima Nanotech (U.S.), Apple Inc. (U.S.), GT Advanced Technology (U.S.), Rubicon Technology Inc. (U.S.), and Cambrios Technology Corp. (U.S.).
APAC is growing at the highest CAGR of XX% from 2014 to 2020. Factors such as availability of low cost labor, raw materials, R&D units, and low cost manufacturing technologies drive the growth of the APAC capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces. Non-glass displays are manufactured mainly in the Asia- Pacific region. APAC comprises majority of plastic/polymer and sapphire material suppliers and key consumers of touch panel displays such as TPK Holdings Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Iljin Display Co. Ltd. (South Korea), and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (South Korea). These players will drive the growth of the APAC capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces in future.
The global capacitive sensors market for non-glass surfaces is segmented into five major technologies, namely ITO, Silver Nano-Wires (SNWs), metal mesh, Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs), and Graphene. Majority of the market share, that is XX%, was held by the ITO technology in 2013. The steady growth of transparent and flexible electronics is the major factor which propels the growth of the global ITO market. Asia is the leading producer and consumer of ITO due to huge electronics’ markets in China, Japan, and Korea. Companies such as Keeling & Walker Ltd. (U.S.) and Kurt J. Lesker Co. Ltd. are the major companies operating in the global ITO market.
The other alternatives of ITO, such as silver non-wires, metal mesh, carbon nanotubes, and Graphene, are gaining demand in the market. Metal mesh accounted for a share of XX% in 2013 and is expected to reach up to XX% by 2020. The silver nanowires accounted for a share of XX% in 2013 and are expected to reach up to XX% by 2020. CNTs held a share ofXX% in 2013 and are projected to grow up to XX% by 2020. The global market for CNTs has grown in the past few years, driven by superior properties and the adaptability of CNTs in major end-user industry applications. Graphene held a share of XX% in 2013 and it is expected to reach up to XX% share by 2020. The growing R&D activity in developing alternatives for ITO is a major driving factor for the growth of SNWs, metal mesh, CNTs, and Graphene. Companies operating in this market are Graphenea SA (Spain), Cambrios Technology Corp. (U.S.), Arkema S.A. (France), CNano Technology Ltd. (U.S.), 3M (U.S.), and ATMEL Corp. (U.S.).
Alternatives of ITO can be used to lay down conductive polymers to form touch panels and capacitive touch sensors. Different manufacturers in this research have used the technique to create thin layers of its conductive polymers with a resistance of less than 100 ohms per square meter. ITO for touchscreens is laid down using industrial sputtering techniques; these are more expensive than the inkjet printing, spin coating, and slit coating mechanisms. Moreover, Indium is also an expensive metal with a limited global supply and ITO is inflexible. Hence, substituting it will allow increased flexibility for plastic screens as well as cutting costs. Nanowires and nanoparticles have become nearly a decade head start in becoming the much-needed ITO replacement among these are silver nanowires, metal mesh, Graphene, carbon nanotubes, and PEDOT.
With the emergence of new, superior transparent conductive materials, the projected capacitive touch devices market is on the verge of a transformation. ITO will be replaced by lighter, bendable films that deliver enhanced optical quality at lower production cost.
Smartphones, tablets, ultra-books, and other existing devices will be thinner, lighter, and more responsive. Moreover, better, cheaper transparent conductive materials will drive technological experimentation and progress, opening the door for cutting-edge designs and enabling a bright future for touchscreens.
