The category of general analytical techniques includes a number of technologies, such as laboratory balances, centrifuges and radioactivity-measuring instruments. These techniques do not easily aggregate into a single category, yet are found in most laboratories.

Combined, these techniques accounted for about $2.7 billion in sales in 2009, and sales are forecast to grow at a rate of 0.5% in 2010. Even though this growth is slow, it is still better than 2009, when sales declined 4.2%. The 2010 forecast takes into account the continued global slowdown, in addition to other regional and industrial factors.

Electrochemistry is the largest segment of the general analytical technology market, accounting for 28% of the market. Led by Metrohm and Thermo Fisher Scientific, this segment is expected to experience a slight decline of 0.5% in 2010. The electrochemistry market includes a broad range of wet chemistry and electrochemistry tools, with the largest components being standard pH meters and electrodes, as well as a variety of ion-selective electrode instruments. Automated titration is the next largest portion of this market, while other techniques, such as Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and conductivity instruments, account for the remainder.

Laboratory balances is the second largest segment of the market for general analytical techniques, accounting for about a quarter of the market. Sales for this segment are projected to decline 1.7% in 2010. Lab balances have a long replacement cycle, so the market dynamics are dependent on service, replacements and new labs. Analytical balances accounts for the largest subsegment of the lab balance market, followed by precision and special-purpose balances. Precision and special-purpose balances offer the greatest growth potential among lab balances. Life science applications are continuing to drive sales of laboratory balances.

The market for centrifuges accounted for 23.2% of the market for general analytical techniques in 2009 and is expected to grow modestly at 1.1% in 2010. Benchtop centrifuges, which include both refrigerated and nonrefrigerated models, account for nearly 90% of laboratory installations. Benchtop systems are significantly less expensive than floor-standing and high-speed models. The aftermarket (i.e., rotors) accounts for 30% of the centrifuge market and is projected to be the driving force for growth. Thermo Fisher Scientific and Beckman Coulter lead the centrifuge market.

Extraction techniques include Solid Phase Extraction (SPE), Liquid Liquid Extraction (LLE) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), as well as acid digestion. SPE accounts for the largest segment of the extraction techniques market, followed by SFE, LLE, and digestion. Sales of extraction techniques are expected to grow 1.8% in 2010.

Closely related to extraction techniques is Microwave (MW)-assisted chemistry, a category that consists of microwave digestion and synthesis and extraction systems. Collectively, MW-assisted chemistry accounted for 4.2% of the general analytical techniques market last year and is expected to grow 2.6% for 2010.

Although radioactivity instrumentation is more frequently used for field applications, lab-based systems still represents a sizable market, accounting for 8.5% of the market for general analytical techniques. The subcategories in this segment consist of liquid scintillation, proportional counters and multichannel analyzers. The radioactivity market is expected to increase 1.8% for 2010.

The top five providers of general analytical techniques account for only 42% of the market. The top players are involved in the larger markets, including electrochemistry, balances and centrifuges. PerkinElmer and Canberra (Areva) are the leaders in the radioactivity market. Varian and Waters are important players in the extraction market, while CEM and Biotage dominate the MW-assisted chemistry market.

Chart: 2008–2011 Total General Analytical Instrumentation Market

2008 2009 2010 2011

Other $2,860 $2,740 $2,743 $2,825

Chart: 2009 General Analytical Market by Product Type

2009

Initial Systems 1658

Aftermarket 830

Service 252

Chart: 2009 General Analytical Suppliers Market Shares

Mettler Toledo 14%

Thermo Fisher 10%

Sartorious 7%

Beckman Coulter 6%

Metrohm 5%

Other 57%

General Analytical Instrumentation 2009–2010

Market Share Growth Rate

Electrochemistry 27.2% -0.5%

Lab Balances 25.1% -1.7%

Lab Centrifuges 23.2% 1.1%

Extraction Techniques 11.9% 1.8%

Radioactivity 8.5% 1.3%

MW-Assisted Chemistry 4.2% 2.6%

Total 100.0% 0.1%

General Analytical Instrumentation Market Leaders

Electrochemistry Metrohm, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Lab Balances Mettler-Toledo, Sartorius

Lab Centrifuges Thermo Fisher Sci., Beckman Coulter

Radioactivity PerkinElmer, Canberra (Areva)

Extraction Techniques Varian, Waters

MW-Assisted Chemistry CEM, Biotage