Spectroscopy is a method for using a signal, generally based on a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, to identify samples. In the case of atomic spectroscopy, the information from the instrument typically provides the elemental composition of the sample. Depending on the particular technique, atomic spectroscopy instruments can measure elemental abundance in the percent range down to trace quantities in the parts per trillion or even parts per quadrillion range. Total market demand for atomic spectroscopy reached $3.3 billion in 2011 and is forecast to grow 6.3% in 2012 to $3.5 billion. The two largest product segments within the atomic spectroscopy market are both based on electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray portion of the spectrum. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) combine to form nearly half of the total market for atomic spectroscopy. These techniques continue to post stronger growth than the rest of the techniques covered in this segment.

XRF, the larger of the two segments, is forecast to achieve sales growth of 8.6% this year, propelled by its continued expansion from its historical application areas in metal analysis into the broader testing of consumer products for regulated hazardous substances, such as lead in children’s toys and clothing. Technological advances, such as producing XRF instruments in an easy-to-use handheld format, have also helped to expand the market demand out of the laboratory and into field applications. These trends are continuing to support sales growth in the XRF market.

XRD is forecast to achieve the greatest sales growth over the coming year at nearly 10%. Rather than investigating the elemental composition of samples, the primary application of XRD is to use the diffraction of X-rays from the crystal structure in a sample to identify molecular compounds. The technique is highly research oriented and has strong life science and drug development applications in examining proteins and other structures. These application areas contribute to the stronger sales growth for XRD compared with other atomic spectroscopy techniques.

More traditional areas of atomic spectroscopy, such as atomic absorbance (AA), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and ICP–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are more associated with environmental testing applications. After X-ray technologies, these three techniques are the three largest technology segments. Sales growth is typically more moderate, with AA (the longest established market) forecast to grow the slowest. ICP-MS, the only technique dependent on MS rather than some form of light spectroscopy, should have better prospects. Of the remaining techniques, arc-spark optical emission spectroscopy (used primarily for metals analysis) sales will grow the slowest in 2012, gaining 3.6%.

The other techniques in the atomic spectroscopy market include elemental analyzers, which provide determinations of specific elements rather than a complete elemental analysis of the sample. Sales growth for these techniques is forecast to be 4%–7%.

The top vendors for atomic spectroscopy remain relatively stable in ranking. Thermo Fisher Scientific tops the list with its broad product portfolio and dominance in the handheld XRF market. PerkinElmer’s historical strength in AA, ICP and ICP-MS continues to capture the second position. The next three largest vendors are focused on X-ray technologies, although Bruker has broadened its portfolio through a number of acquisitions in recent years.

 Pie Chart: 2011 Atomic Spectroscopy Market by Product Type

 Initial Systems     68%

 Aftermarket         18%

 Service             14%

 Atomic Spectroscopy Market Leaders

 XRF              Thermo Fisher Scientific, Spectris

 AA               PerkinElmer, Agilent

 ICP              PerkinElmer, Thermo Fisher Scientific

 Elemental Analyzers    

  Organic         LECO, PerkinElmer

  Inorganic       LECO, HORIBA

 TOC              Shimadzu, GE

 XRD              Rigaku, Bruker

 ICP-MS           Agilent, PerkinElmer

 Arc-Spark        Thermo Fisher Scientific, AMETEK

 Bar Graph: 2010–2013 Total Atomic Spectroscopy Market

               2010     2011     2012     2013

 $ Millions   3,055    3,296    3,505    3,721

 Pie Chart: 2011 Atomic Spectroscopy Suppliers’ Market Shares

 Thermo          15%

 PerkinElmer     11%

 Spectris         9%

 Rigaku           7%

 Bruker           7%

 Other           51%

 Atomic Spectroscopy 2011–2012

                           2011 Market Share             2012 Growth Rate

 XRF                              28.5%                         8.6%

 XRD                              17.1%                         9.8%

 ICP                              12.1%                         3.8%

 AA                               12.6%                         1.5%

 ICP-MS                           10.6%                         6.0%

 Arc-Spark                         6.8%                         3.6%

 Elemental Analyzers (Inorganic)   6.4%                         4.7%

 Sum Parameters                    3.8%                         6.4%

 Elemental Analyzers (Organic)     2.0%                         6.2%

 Total                           100.0%                         6.3%