In this 303-page thorough market report, Stratview Research furnishes a complete market analysis with a greater emphasis on market data/information and competitive landscapes of the release liners market for composite applications. This report segments the market in the most comprehensive manner and provides 11-year analysis with the trend period of 2013 to 2018 and the forecast period of 2019 to 2024. The report rigorously studies film and paper suppliers, release liner manufacturers, prepreggers, and tier players in order to estimate as well as forecast the market with high veracity. The report can be decisive for the market stakeholders in identifying low-hanging fruits based of their synergies and capabilities as well as building growth strategies for reaping long-term profits.

The Global Composite Release Liners Market: Highlights

Composites are versatile materials with the presence of several types of fibers, resins, core materials, and intermediates, which make the life of release liner providers challenging as the composites industry needs different types of release liners for different applications. Release liners are used at the time of prepreg manufacturing as well as manufacturing of composite parts through the close manufacturing process, such as resin transfer molding (RTM) and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). So, it is paramount importance for the release liner providers to design and develop release liners meeting applications’ requirements.

The global release liners market in the composites industry is projected to grow at a healthy rate during the forecast period to reach US$ 704.7 million in 2024. Increasing demand for prepreg in the aerospace & defense and automotive industries, recovering sports & leisure market, and sustainable growth in the wind energy market are some of the major growth drivers of the global composite release liners market.  

Currently, composite applications account for less than 2% of the total release liners market but is certainly one of the fastest-growing applications in coming eons. To tap the growing market potential, major players are taking sheer interest to strengthen their product portfolio as well as executive strategic alliances.

The global composite release liners market is segmented based on the application type as Prepreg Manufacturing, VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) Process, Prepreg Layup Process, and Others. Prepreg manufacturing is expected to remain the most dominant application of release liners in the global composites industry over the next five years, driven by an increasing penetration of prepreg in many end-use industries, such as aerospace & defense, wind energy, transportation, and sports & leisure. For instance, the next-generation aircraft, such as B787 and A350XWB, incorporate about 50% composites of total structural weight in which majority of composite components are made utilizing prepreg materials.  There is also a healthy growth expected from VARTM process-based applications.

Based on end-use industry type, the composite release liners market is segmented into Aerospace & Defense, Wind Energy, Sports & Leisure, Transportation, and Others. Aerospace & Defense is expected to remain the largest consumer of composite release liners during the forecast period. High use of prepreg to manufacture structural components is the prime driver of the material in the aerospace & defense industry. The transportation industry is expected to witness the highest growth in the same period, driven by an increasing penetration of composites in vehicles to enhance fuel efficiency for achieving stringent government regulations, such as CAFÉ standards.  

Based on the backing type, the market is segmented into Super-Calendared Paper, Clay-Coated Paper, Machine-Glazed Kraft Paper, Polyolefin film, and Others. Paper is likely to remain the most preferred backing material type for composite release liners over the next five years because of its excellent mechanical resistance and good caliper profile. The most widely used papers for composites are super-calendared kraft paper (also known as glassines) and clay-coated kraft paper. Also, there is a significant usage of polyolefin-based release liners in prepreg manufacturing due to its excellent compatibility with epoxy resins.    

Based on the regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market for composite release liners during the forecast period. The region is the world’s manufacturing capital of composites manufacturing with the presence of many large-to small-sized composites part molders. The region is also the hub of prepreg manufacturing with the presence of almost all the major prepreg manufacturers.

Europe is estimated to be the fastest-growing composite release liners market in the same period, primarily driven by an increasing penetration of advanced composites in the Aerospace & Defense and transportation industries. Major auto and aerospace OEMs are unraveling the challenges related to stringent government regulations regarding the fuel efficiency enhancements and the carbon emission reductions by incorporating advanced composites in the structural and semi-structural sections of their upcoming models. This is primarily driving the demand for composite materials in the region and so is release liners.

Asia-Pacific is also likely to offer sizeable growth opportunities over the next five years, propelled by a high growth of composites, upcoming indigenous commercial and regional aircraft, and a gradual shift of prepreg plants to Asia. China and India are expected to remain the growth engines of the Asia-Pacific’s market.      

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, film suppliers, release liner manufacturers, distributors, prepreg manufacturers, part molders, OEMs, and end-users. The key composite release liner manufacturers are Mondi Plc, Loparex LLC, Wausau Paper, Lintec Corporation, and Gascogne Laminates S.A. New product development, regional expansion, and long-term relation with prepreg manufacturers are some of the key strategies adopted by the major 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. We usually conduct more than 10 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and with industry experts 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 into 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 release liners market is segmented into the following categories. 

Global Composite Release Liners Market by Backing Type:

• Super-Calendared Kraft (SCK) Paper (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Clay-Coated Kraft (CCK) Paper (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Machine-Glazed Kraft (MGK) Paper (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Polyolefin Film (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Global Composite Release Liners Market by Silicone Technology:

• Solvent-based Liners (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Solvent-less Liners (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Emulsion Liners (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Global Composite Release Liners Market by Application:

• Prepreg Manufacturing (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• VARTM Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Prepreg Layup Process (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Global Composite Release Liners Market by End-Use Industry:

• Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Sports & Leisure (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Global Composite Release Liners Market by Region:

• North America (Country Analysis: the USA, Canada, and Mexico) 
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, the UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Sub-Region 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 backing 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 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.