The surface science technology category contains a broad range of instruments used for imaging and analyzing surfaces at the micro- and nano-scale. Depending on the particular technique and sample, the analysis may not be limited just to the surface but may also penetrate to subsurface layers or develop a full 3-D reconstruction of the sample. Generally speaking, this category contains techniques that represent the various forms of microscopy, from traditional optical microscopes to other methods of probing and imaging surfaces.

In total, the surface science technology market is forecast to achieve growth of 5.3% for 2016, with total market demand surpassing $6.5 billion. Roughly half of market demand is for optical microscopes, and this segment has the highest growth forecast. Although a large portion of the market is quite traditional and is experiencing slow growth, there is continued vitality in this market for more advanced microscopes that use various technological means to increase resolution, information content or both. This includes the burgeoning area of super-resolution microscopy, which continues to expand rapidly. Total demand for optical microscopy will reach $3.2 billion in 2016.

Electron microscopy is the next largest product segment within surface science, representing nearly one-third of the entire market. Electron microscopy enables researchers to resolve details much smaller than can be seen with optical microscopy. Samples vary widely, although there is still more of an emphasis on materials science samples, since the technique, which often involves vacuum conditions, can be very damaging to life science samples, unless special care is taken with sample preparation and the particular type of electron microscope being used. The electron microscopy market should achieve moderate growth of 5.5% this year, with total revenues well over $2 billion. Semiconductors & electronics is one important end-user segment for electron microscopes, and the early forecasts are that 2016 should provide some modest growth in this sector. Academic and government research centers are also important customers, and public funding for these well-established instruments should remain firm.

The other three surface science technology product segments combine to form the remaining 17.3% of the surface science market. Scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) use cantilevered sensors to approach and touch surfaces with extreme precision, allowing unique measurements of the surface. This technology continues to develop new modes, but growth is somewhat limited by the scarcity of commercial applications. SPM demand will grow 5.1% in 2016.

Confocal microscopy is an advanced form of optical microscopy, often involving fluorescence, which can provide excellent imaging of life science samples. The confocal market is healthy, but competing super-resolution microscopy techniques are moderating growth potential.

Finally, surface analyzers are a class of instruments typically used in high-end materials science applications, including semiconductors and electronics testing. This product segment will achieve slow but positive growth for the year.

In addition to being a leading optical microscopy manufacturer, Carl Zeiss also has a significant electron microscopy business, helping to propel the company into the top position in overall surface science technology market share. Leica Microsystems (Danaher), Nikon and Olympus are the three other major optical microscope vendors.

Because of the size of the optical microscopy market, these companies are also among the top five overall leaders in the total surface science technology market, though they all have an involvement in the confocal microscopy market as well. FEI and JEOL are the current leaders in the electron microscopy market. Other market leaders include Bruker in SPM and Ulvac-PHI in surface analyzers. Park Systems, a significant SPM vendor, went public in South Korea at the end of 2015 (see IBO 12/31/15).