Aerospace Metal Bellows Market | Covid-19 Impact Analysis

This 262-pages strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s A&D metal bellows market realities and future possibilities for the forecast period of 2020 to 2025. The report estimates the short- as well as long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for metal bellows at the global, regional, as well as country level. Also, the report provides the possible loss that the industry may register by comparing pre-COVID and post-COVID scenario. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in formulating short-term as well as long-term growth strategies.

Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Metal Bellows Market: Overview 

Metal bellows are thin-walled cylindrical components used to mitigate vibration in the piping system when a media needs to be transported under pressure, where sealing high vacuum is critical. The surface structure of metal bellows is in a corrugated form that offers flexibility during axial, lateral, and angular deformation. The bellows help in mitigating movement caused by thermal fluctuation, equipment movement, and vibration or pressure pulsation by converting movement into linear or rotational motion in any piping system. These bellows are used in a wide range of temperature and pressure.

Metal bellows are one of the most critical components used in the aerospace & defense industry. Aerospace parts operate under immense pressure and temperature, especially those located inside or near the engine. Metal bellows are used to control the pressure, equipment movement or vibration, and to minimize leakage. They are used in a wide range of applications in an aircraft including in engine, airframe, landing gears, etc.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Metal Bellows Market

The year 2019 was challenging for the aerospace industry owing to the grounding of B737 Max, P&W 1100G engine series failure (A320neo), delays in market entries of aircraft programs such as B777X, and revised production rates of key aircraft programs (A350 XWB).  These factors negatively impacted the entire supply chain including the demand for metal bellows. The outbreak of COVID-19 further aggravated the industry concerns to an unprecedented level. A sudden drop in revenue passenger kilometers, cancellation of aircraft orders by airlines, temporary production shut-downs by airframers and tier players, and supply-chain disruptions have imprinted huge impact on the demand for metal bellows, leaving no options except to lay off their employees, revised production rates of key programs, and higher cash burns across the value chain.

As of now, it is difficult to state when the impact of the pandemic starts to fade away. However, it is predicted that the demand for metal bellows in the aerospace & defense industry would start to plateau in 2021 followed by gearing into the accelerated-recovery mode from 2022 onwards. An expected recovery in the passenger traffic, FAA and other regulators’ approval for B737 max, and resumption of aircraft production by airframers at the fullest production capacity would bring back the market’s lucrativeness in years to come. The market for metal bellows in the aerospace & defense industry is estimated to rebound at a healthy CAGR of 6.8% over the next five years to reach US$ 281.1 million in 2025. 

Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Metal Bellows Market Share Analysis

Titanium Alloys are the Most Dominant Material Type

Based on the material type, the market is segmented as titanium alloys, stainless steel alloys, nickel alloys, and others. Titanium alloys are likely to remain the most dominant material type over the next five years. Growing composites content in the next-generation aircraft, such as B787 and A350XWB, is the prime factor behind the increased demand for titanium alloys in the industry. Titanium alloys offer excellent coefficient of thermal expansion with composite materials including carbon composites along with other benefits including corrosion resistance.

Edge-Welded Bellow is the Dominant Product Type

Based on the product type, the market is segmented as edge-welded bellows, mechanically formed bellows, electroformed bellows, and others. Edge-welded bellow is likely to remain the most dominant product type during the forecast period. Edge-welded metal bellows provide superior stroke capabilities and have more precise spring rates as compared to the other metal bellows. They also offer greater flexibility and control in the smallest possible place and are majorly used for fuel drains, reservoirs for A/C systems, accumulators for turbopumps & hydraulic systems, environmental control system, reservoirs for electronics coolant systems, reservoirs & accumulators for prop pitch & flight controls, etc.

Gimbal Joint is the Major Joint Type

Based on the joint type, the market is segmented into gimbal joints, angular joints, universal joints, and others. Gimbal is likely to remain the most dominant joint type during the forecast period, owing to its superior properties such as flexibility without compromising weight or pressure drop. They smoothly absorb pressure thrust and provide angular flexibility all-round. They are extensively used in the bleed-air ducts and environmental control systems (ECS).

Commercial Aircraft is the Dominant Platform Type

Based on the platform type, the A&D metal bellows market is segmented as commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, general aviation, military aircraft, helicopter, and UAV. Despite a downfall in aircraft deliveries in 2019, and a severe decline in 2020 (due to COVID-19 outbreak), commercial aircraft is likely to maintain its dominance in the coming five years. B737 including Max, A320 family including neo, B787, and A350XWB are the biggest contributors to the demand for metal bellows in the commercial aircraft segment. Upcoming aircraft programs/variants, such as C919 and MC-21, and B777x, are further likely to substantiate the demand for metal bellows in the segment in the long run.

Engine is the Dominant Application Type

Based on the application type, the market is segmented as engine, airframe, and others. Engine is likely to remain the most dominant application type during the forecast period, owing to extensive usage of metal bellows in aircraft engine hydromechanical fuel controls, aneroid for environmental control systems, nacelle, fuel drain seals, engine gearbox seals, etc.

North America will Maintain its Leading Position

Despite being worse hit by the pandemic, among regions, North America is expected to remain the largest market during the forecast period. Post pandemic, the USA is expected to rebound quickly and will act as the growth engine of the region’s market. The country is marked by the presence of a large number of aircraft OEMs, tier players, metal bellow suppliers, and raw material suppliers.

Asia-Pacific, a relatively small market, is likely to heal up with the fastest pace in the post-pandemic market scenario. The region's market will be driven by a host of factors including an expected increase in the demand for commercial aircraft to support rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants of Boeing and Airbus in China for B737, A320, A330, and A350 aircraft programs; upcoming indigenous commercial and regional aircraft (COMAC C919 and Mitsubishi SpaceJet); rising aircraft fleet size; and increasing military expenditure by key countries such as China and India.

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, metal bellow manufacturers, distributors, tier players, OEMs, and MRO companies. The key A&D metal bellow manufacturing companies are Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding, Eaton Corporation Inc, EnPro Industries, Inc., KSM Co., Ltd., Meggitt Plc, MW Industries, Inc., Senior Plc, The Freudenberg Group, United Flexible Inc., U.S. Bellows, Inc. among others.

Some of the Key Strategic Alliances in the market:

• In 2018, Satair A/S (a company of Airbus Group) and Senior Metal Bellows extended the existing agreement (the first one was signed in 2017) to distribute all commercial aerospace aftermarket products including accumulators, bellows, thermal valves, compressors, etc. in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The agreement is extended with an aim to strengthen the distribution network outside North America.
• MW Industries, Inc. acquired Ameriflex Inc. in 2018 to further strengthen its metal bellows product portfolio along with existing companies: BellowsTech and Servometer.
• In 2015, MW Industries, Inc. acquired BellowsTech, LLC, and Servometer, LLC to enter the metal bellows business and to better serve 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 1,000 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 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 most comprehensively. 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 global A&D metal bellows market is segmented into the following categories. 

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Material Type

• Titanium Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Stainless Steel Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Nickel Alloys (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Other Materials (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Product Type

• Edge-Welded Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Electroformed Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Mechanically Formed Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Other Metal Bellows (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Joint Type

• Gimbal Joints (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Angular Joints (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Universal Joints (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Platform Type

• Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Helicopter (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• UAV (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Application Type

• Engine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Airframe (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

A&D Metal Bellows Market, By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: France, Germany, the UK, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, Australia, 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

• The current market size of A&D metal bellows in any one of the product types 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 [email protected]