This report, from Stratview Research, studies the vacuum consumables market for the global composites industry over the trend period 2012 to 2017 and forecast period of 2018 to 2023. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The Global Composite Vacuum Consumables Market: Highlights

The global composite vacuum consumables market is expected to experience a healthy growth rate over the next five years to reach US$ 634.4 million in 2023. Composites are one of the most versatile materials with the availability of various manufacturing processes. The overall performance of composite parts is highly correlated with the selection of manufacturing process. Vacuum consumables prove to be decisive in some of the manufacturing processes including VARTM and prepreg layup in fabricating composite parts with high mechanical performance including the excellent surface finish.  Vacuum consumables are the most widely used consumables in the composites industry and these materials also assist composite part fabricators to enhance the overall process efficiency. Over a period of time, vacuum consumables have witnessed a disruptive journey with significant changes happening on the improvements in materials and technologies. Major players have developed innovative vacuum consumables, such as reusable silicone bag membrane, targeting many existing un-filled industry requirements including the low-cost system and multiple usabilities of bags.

The next five years for the vacuum consumables market for the composites industry seem resilient, propelled a host of factors including an increasing penetration of prepreg materials in the aerospace & defense and automotive industries, recovering marine market, and a sustainable growth in the wind energy.

Vacuum consumables comprise many consumables, such as vacuum bagging film, release film, peel ply, breather & bleeder, pressure sensitive tape, sealing tape, vacuum hose, and vacuum pump. Vacuum bagging film and release film are expected to remain the key vacuum consumable types in the next five years. Both major manufacturing processes; VARTM and prepreg lay-up, are heavily relied on vacuum bagging film and release film during parts manufacturing.

There are many composite manufacturing processes where vacuum consumables play a crucial role in parts manufacturing, such as prepreg lay-up (autoclaves and ovens), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), wet lamination, and glass laminating. Prepreg layup process is expected to remain the most dominant application of composite vacuum consumables in the next five years, driven by Aerospace & Defense and transportation industry. Prepreg layup process offers several benefits including the ability to fabricate complex parts, high mechanical strength, high-temperature resistance, and excellent fatigue strength. VARTM is another process that also holds the considerable share of the market and is the process of choice for fabricating large-sized components with complex structure. The process is widely preferred in the wind energy for manufacturing longer wind turbine blades and in the marine industry for manufacturing boat’s hulls and decks. It is also preferred in the automotive industry for manufacturing structural parts.

Based on the end-use industry type, the market is segmented into Aerospace & Defense, Wind Energy, Marine, Transportation, and Others. Aerospace & defense is expected to remain the largest segment of the composite vacuum consumables market during the forecast period. High use of prepreg lay-up process for manufacturing structural composite components is the prime driver of the higher demand for vacuum consumable in the aerospace & defense industry. The next-generation aircraft, such as B787 and A350XWB, contain about 50% composites of the total structural weight of the aircraft in which majority is manufactured through prepreg material. The transportation segment is expected to experience the highest growth for the same period. The stringent government regulations are forcing auto OEMs to incorporate advanced lightweight materials in the structural areas of an automobile. This trend is driving composite penetration, especially in electric vehicles and premium vehicles, to enhance fuel efficiency and to achieve stringent government regulations, such as CAFÉ standards.

Based on the regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market for composite vacuum consumables during the forecast period. The region is the world’s capital of composite manufacturing with the presence of several small- to large-sized composite part molders. It is the largest composites market for aerospace & defense, transportation, and marine industries and is also one of the leading wind composite markets. These all four markets will continue to generate a healthy demand for vacuum consumables in the region in the coming years.

Asia-Pacific is likely to be the fastest-growing market for composite vacuum consumables for the same period. High growth of composites, a gradual shift of manufacturing base from the developed economies to the developing Asian economies, the formation of large number of strategic alliances with the Asian companies to set up their facilities in this region, and upcoming indigenous commercial and regional aircraft are some of the key whys and wherefores behind the massive growth in the Asia-Pacific region. China, Japan, and India are expected to remain the growth engines of the Asia-Pacific’s market.      

The supply chain of this market comprises raw materials suppliers, film suppliers, vacuum consumables manufacturers, distributors, part molders, OEMs, and end users. The global composite vacuum consumable is a highly consolidated market. The key Composite vacuum consumables manufacturers are Airtech International, Cytec Solvay Group (Umeco Plc), and Diatex S.A. New product development, regional expansion, and the formation of long-term relationships with prepreg manufacturers are the key strategies adopted by the key players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Research Methodology

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 500 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact book, press release, journals, investor presentation, white papers, patents, and articles have been leveraged to gather the data. More than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts have been executed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis
• Market trend and forecast analysis
• Market segment trend and forecast
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities
• Emerging trends
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players
• Key success factors

The composite vacuum consumables market is segmented into the following categories. 

Composite Vacuum Consumables Market by Material Type:

• Vacuum Bagging Film (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Release Film (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Peel Ply (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Breathers & Bleeders (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Composite Vacuum Consumables Market by Application Type:

• Prepreg Layup Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• VARTM Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Other Processes (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Composite Vacuum Consumables Market by End-Use Industry Type:

• Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)

Composite Vacuum Consumables Market by Region:

• North America (Country Analysis: the USA, Canada, and Mexico) 
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Latin America, the Middle East, and Others)

Report Customization Options

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to 3 players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to 3 players)

Market Segmentation

• Current market segmentation of any one of the material type by application type 

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

Custom Research: Stratview research offers custom research services across the sectors. In case of any custom research requirement related to market assessment, competitive benchmarking, sourcing and procurement, target screening, and others, please send your inquiry at sales@stratviewresearch.com.