Market Highlights
Seals are used across aircraft systems to prevent any leakage of fluids and to keep air and dirt out of the systems where they are used. They are critically required to be resistive against high temperature and pressure and corrosion effects. The selection of material is dependent on several parameters including temperature resistance, pressure resistance, lightweight, flexibility, durability, strength, etc. Elastomer, thermoplastic, and metal are the major materials used for seals constructions.
The aircraft industry had been flourishing for the past 16 years. The grounding of B737 max across regions in 2019 put a break in the industry’s growth acceleration, whose adverse impact was particularly felt in the North American market. Then, the outbreak of the pandemic deepened the industry challenges with several bankruptcies, huge COVID-related costs leading to negative cash flows, and supply-chain sabotage. All the leading industry stakeholders started focusing on liquidity management by leveraging their available short- as well as long-term cash avenues.
Seals represent a fraction of the total aircraft value but witnessed a massive decline of over 27% in their demand amid the pandemic, crashing the market to well below its 2014-market levels. It is anticipated that the seals market for the aircraft industry is expected to rebound at a healthy pace of over 8% over the next five years to reach an estimated value of US$ 1.7 Billion in 2026.
Boeing anticipated that there would be total deliveries of 43,110 commercial aircraft along with a service market of US$ 9.0 trillion value in the global marketplace during 2020-2039. Asia-Pacific and Europe would be the biggest demand generators with a combined share of 63.9% of the total commercial aircraft deliveries during 2020-2039. An expected recovery in air passenger traffic after the monstrous decline of 65.9% in RPKs globally in 2020 due to the pandemic. The long-term outlook of the aircraft industry still seems propitious with the global RPK is projected to reach 12.2 trillion by 2029 and 18.7 trillion by 2039. This factor will create a sustainable demand for aircraft seals globally in the foreseeable future.
In addition to that, Boeing and Airbus had a combined total order backlog of 11,091 commercial aircraft by the end of June 2021. This huge pile of order backlogs of commercial aircraft will allow both airframers to roll out their aircraft continuously for the next eight to ten years at current build rates. To cope with such huge order backlogs, they have strategically been raising the production rates of their key commercial aircraft programs to deliver aircraft to their widespread clients in a shorter period. Also, they have been introducing the fuel-efficient variants of their best-selling aircraft programs with the purpose to address the biggest requirement of the airline industry, which is the fuel-efficient aircraft. This factor will further assure a sustainable demand for aircraft seals in the foreseeable future.
Segments' Analysis
Aircraft Seals Market Share by Aircraft Type
Based on the aircraft type, the aircraft seals market is segmented as commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, helicopters, military aircraft, and general aviation. Despite taking a nosedive in 2020, commercial aircraft is expected to remain the largest and the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Increasing demand for lightweight yet durable components and parts, market entry of new players, such as COMAC and Irkut, rebounding aircraft deliveries, and restart of B737Max are some of the key factors propelling the demand for seals in the commercial aircraft segment.
Aircraft Seals Market Share by Application Type
Based on the application type, the market is segmented as airframe; nacelles & engines; aircraft interiors; landing gear, wheels & brakes; flight control actuation and hydraulics; and others. Airframe is expected to remain the largest segment of the market during the forecast period. Seals are used in a wide spectrum of airframe applications including aerodynamic sealing of doors, windows, ailerons, spoilers, canopies, hatches, and panels.
Aircraft Seals Market Share by Function Type
Based on the function type, the market is segmented as aerodynamic surface sealing, air & fluid management seals, fire seals, conductive & insulative seals, and others. Aerodynamic surface sealing is expected to remain the most dominant segment, whereas fire seals to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Aerodynamic surface sealing is used to fill gaps between flight control surfaces and wings of the aircraft where it improves aerodynamics by reducing air friction. Fire seals are used in aircraft nacelle where it contains the fire within an immediate area by denying oxygen entry. Prioritization of the safety and reduction of CO2 emission are some of the key factors, will continue boosting aerodynamics surface sealing and fire sealing markets over the forecast period.
Aircraft Seals Market Share by Material Type
Based on the material type, the market is segmented as elastomer seals, thermoplastic seals, and metal seals. Elastomer is expected to remain the most dominant as well as the fastest-growing material type during the forecast period. An Elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity i.e. both viscosity and elasticity. Elastomers are gaining traction in the aircraft industry due to their lightweight, high-temperature resistance, and greater flexibility. High demand for lightweight aircraft is the key factor for the major use of elastomer seals in the aircraft industry.
Regional Analysis
North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft seals during the forecast period in terms of regions. The USA is leading ahead in the market with the presence of major aircraft OEMs, tier players, raw material suppliers, and part fabricators in the region. The aerospace industry has most of the suppliers in this region to fulfill the growing demand of OEMs and also to be the partner of upcoming aircraft programs or upcoming fuel-efficient variants of existing aircraft programs.
Asia-Pacific is likely to recoup at the fastest rate, witnessing the highest growth during the same period. The highest growth of Asia-Pacific is mainly attributable to the increasing aircraft fleet to support rising passenger traffic; the opening of assembly plants of Boeing and Airbus for multiple aircraft programs; increasing procurement of military aircraft, owing to rising defense budget; and upcoming indigenous aircraft, C919.
Key Players
The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, aircraft seal manufacturers, distributors, aircraft OEMs, tier players, airline companies, aircraft leasing companies, and MRO companies. The following are the key players in the Aircraft seals market-
- Hutchinson SA
- Meggitt Plc
- Parker-Hannifin Corporation
- Saint Gobain S.A.
- SKF Group
- TransDigm Group Incorporated (Esterline Technologies Corporation)
- Trelleborg AB
- Freudenberg Group
- Greene, Tweed & Co., Inc
- Eaton Corporation Plc
The development of lightweight seals for critical applications, expansion in untapped and growing markets, and execution of mergers & acquisitions are the key strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.
Research Methodology
This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft seals market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. After a continuous interest in our overall seals market report from the industry stakeholders, we have tried to further accentuate our research scope to the aircraft seals market in order to provide the most crystal-clear picture of the market. The report segments and analyses the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a 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 1000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and 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, New 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 aircraft seals market is segmented into the following categories.
Aircraft Seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Aircraft Type
- Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Helicopters (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Aircraft Seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Application Type
- Airframe (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Nacelles & Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Interiors (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Landing Gear, Wheels & Brakes (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Flight Control Actuation and Hydraulics (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Aircraft Seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Function Type
- Aerodynamics Surface Sealing (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Air & Fluid Management Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Fire Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Conductive Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Insulative Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Aircraft Seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Material Type
- Elastomer Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Thermoplastic Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Metals Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Aircraft Seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Motion Type
- Static Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
- Dynamic Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
Aircraft seals Market Size, Share & Forecast, 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: Japan, China, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, 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 three players)
- SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)
Competitive Benchmarking
- Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances
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