Global Motion Control Shipments Grow 10.3% in 2016

Global shipments for motion control products increased by 10.3% to $3.3 billon in 2016, according to new statistics released by the Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA). According to Alex Shikany, MCMA director of market analysis, in 2016, the motion control market rebounded considerably over 2015, which was a down year. The manufacturing sector expanded for most of the year, and demand rose for each product category. The top three largest segments in this market, Motors (9.6% to $1.2b), Electronic Drives (10.5% to $603.1m), and Actuators and Mechanical Systems (19.5% to $572.1m) increased on a year-over-year basis, helping drive the overall growth. The smaller AC Motors segment grew the fastest at 24.3% to $34.3m. Individually, the fourth quarter of 2016 also increased on a year-over-year basis by 15.3% to $841.7 million. Growth rates were positive in each product category that MCMA tracks.