Surface science includes a number of different microscopic techniques that make use of different forms of illumination or probes to create images of samples. While some instruments provide only imaging data, most can also provide various forms of analytical information about the sample. The total market demand for surface science instrumentation is forecast to reach $5.78 billion in 2013, representing growth of 5.4% for the year.

The largest product segment is optical microscopy, one of the oldest and most widespread techniques in the laboratory. Microscopes’ ubiquity accounts for the significant size of this market at nearly $3 billion. While traditional techniques are often saddled with anemic growth, this is not the case for optical microscopy. Particularly for high-end research microscopes, advances in illumination, detection and automation continue to drive growth in the market. While there is less opportunity for growth in the more standard product segments within optical microscopy, there are particular niches that are thriving. One notable example is the use of optical microscopes for detection of food-borne pathogens, which is spurring growth worldwide. Growth in the optical microscopy segment is forecast to be 6.5% in 2013, making it one of the faster growing techniques within surface science.

Electron microscopy is the second-largest technique by market size, with a forecast demand of more than $2 billion in 2013, representing growth of 4.2%. While industrial demand has been somewhat weak as of late, the research markets have remained a good source of growth. Looking toward 2014, the industrial markets should also help to drive growth, propelling market demand to growth of nearly 10%. One continuing trend relates to the breadth of the product portfolios for electron microscopes. Development continues at both ends of the performance spectrum, with high-end research systems becoming more powerful and more expensive, while easy-to-use desktop electron microscopes are gaining more acceptance in formerly untapped markets.

For 2013, the fastest growth will come from confocal microscopy sales, which are forecast to grow 7.8%. Confocal microscopy is an advanced form of optical microscopy and, as was mentioned for that market, the high-end research market is currently undergoing a renaissance of techniques and methods that are driving growth. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) will also see better-than-average growth in 2013. SPM also continues to develop new methods and applications that are driving increased experimentation with the technology. While the technique originally arose from non–life science techniques, a current area of growth is in life science applications involving tissues and cells.

The remaining surface science segment, surface analyzers, is forecast to be flat for 2013. These specialized tools are typically used in academia, government, and semiconductors and electronics labs, and the high cost and dedicated nature of these instruments makes the market environment a challenging one.

Given the size and consolidation in the optical microscopy market, the four dominant vendors in that market also hold the top four positions in the overall surface science market. Carl Zeiss has a slight lead, due to its additional involvement with electron microscopy. The top optical microscopy vendors are also participants in the confocal microscopy market, where Leica (Danaher) and Carl Zeiss are the leaders. FEI and JEOL are the fifth- and sixth-largest market participants, respectively, with large contributions from their electron microscopy businesses. Hitachi High-Technologies is the remaining major electron microscopy vendor. Bruker and NT-MDT lead in the SPM market, while Ulvac-Phi and Cameca (AMETEK) dominate the surface analyzer market.

 Surface Science Instrumentation 2012–2013

                      2012 Market Share    2013 Growth Rate

 Optical Microscopy        48.1%                 6.5%

 Electron Microscopy       36.0%                 4.2%

 Surface Analyzers          6.1%                 0.4%

 Scanning Probe Microscopy  6.1%                 6.9%

 Confocal Microscopy        3.6%                 7.8%

 Total                    100.0%                 5.4%

 Surface Science Instrumentation Market Leaders

 Optical Microscopy             Nikon, Olympus

 Electron Microscopy            FEI, Hitachi High-Technologies

 Surface Analyzers              Ulvac-PHI, Cameca (AMETEK) 

 Scanning Probe Microscopy      Bruker, NT-MDT

 Confocal Microscopy            Leica (Danaher), Carl Zeiss

 Pie

 Chart: 2012 Surface Science Instrumentation Market by Product Type

 Initial Systems  63%

 Aftermarket      23%

 Service          14%

 Bar Graph: 2011–2014 Total Surface Science Instrumentation Market

              2011    2012    2013    2014

 $ Millions  5,252   5,481   5,775   6,212

 Pie Chart: 2012 Surface Science Instrumentation Suppliers’ Market Shares

 Carl Zeiss     11%

 Nikon          11%

 Olympus         9%

 Leica (Danaher) 9%

 FEI             9%

 JEOL            8%

 Other          43%