A flexible heater can provide heating action and conform to the surface as per requirement. Factors which are augmenting the flexible heaters market  growth include raising applications of the flexible heater in various domains such automotive, electronics, and laboratory. It can provide a heating application for a wide range of temperature hence useful from cryogenics to high temperature. Flexible heaters have numerous advantages over conventional heaters due to which they are widely accepted in industries. They are lightweight hence consumes less space. Flexible heater provide homogenous energy distribution, and constant surface temperature, precise heating distribution, short preheating time and so on which create its demand in global industry. The emerging applications of flexible heaters include medical devices and printed electronics which create enormous opportunities in near future. A major restraint to the market is its high cost compared to the conventional heater and high operational cost.

Segmental Outlook 

The market is segmented on the basis of material and industry. By material, the market has been segmented into silicon-based, polyimide- based, polyester-based, mica-based, and other flexible heaters. The silicon-based flexible heater is expected to have a major market share with a significant growth rate during the forecast period. Silicon rubber has low thermal mass with good insulation properties. It allows a fast response to temperature control and allows high power densities. It can withstand the harsh condition of ozone, ultraviolet, and other aging factors. The polyamide-based flexible heater provides significant resistance to chemicals, oils, solvents, acids, and bases and can work smoothly in high vacuum environments. They have the capability to provide twice the watt density of wire wound heaters.

By industries, the market is segmented into electronics, defense & aerospace, medical, automotive, laboratory, industrial and other. In the electronics segment, flexible heater is used in semiconductor test modules, remote-controlled surveillance, LCD screen pre-heating, outdoor antenna, and so on. It has a significant share in the electronics segment. In defense and aerospace, it is used for aircraft comfort heaters, cockpit instrumentation, guidance systems, and satellites. They are widely used in medical equipment and expected to have a significant growth rate during the forecast period. In medical, they are used for incubators, x-ray processing, medical diagnostics, imagers, DNA thermal cycling, and Respirator equipment. In automotive, they are used in the flexible heating system in the vehicles and defogging. In industries, they are widely used in conveyor, storage tank, power system, large motors, vacuum chambers, Apart from that they are used in various other sectors and machines such as apparels, packaging machinery, laminators, ATM machines, and laser printing.

Global Flexible Heaters Market Share by Industry, 2018 (%)

Regional Outlook

On the basis of geography, the global flexible heaters market  is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. North America is expected to have a major market during the forecast period. It is due to well-developed industries of high-end technologies. High end-domains such as aerospace and defense, space exploration need precise and light-weight equipment. Thus, a flexible heater will find a significant market in the region. In Europe, countries such as UK, Germany, and France have a well-developed infrastructure for most of its application hence expected to have a significant market during the forecasted period.

Global Flexible Heaters Market  Growth, By Region 2019-2025

Asia-Pacific Shows Considerable Growth In Market

Asia-Pacific is expected to show the considerable growth rate during the forecastperiod in flexible heaters market . It is due to high consumption of its application products in the region. Countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia are one of the major manufacturers of electronics and automotive globally. China and India are the fastest growing economies globally which is expected to provide significant growth to the industrial sector. Aerospace and defense sector is also significantly growing in the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (Comac) is a Chinese state-aerospace manufacturer which is manufacturing commercial planes in China and competing with European and American manufacturers. The company is significantly growing in commercial plane industry. It had delivered its first ARJ21 70-105 passenger capacity aircraft in November 2015. It is further expected to deliver its C919 150-190 passenger capacity aircraft in 2021 and C929 250-290 passenger capacity aircraft in 2026. By August 2018, the company had order of more than 1,000 planes, mostly of Chinese companies. Hence, defense and aerospace will also have a significant market share during forecasted period.

Market Players Outlook

The major players that contributing to the growth of the global flexible heaters market include Honeywell International Inc., Hotset GmbH, Chromalox, Inc., Minco Products, Inc, Nibe Industrier AB (Briskheat Corp.), Omega Engineering Inc., Rogers Corp., Smiths Group PLC, Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies and so on. These players are significantly contributing to the market growth and adopting various strategies such as new product launch, acquisition, collaborations, and technological advancements to stay competitive in the market.

Major Activities 

• In June 2019, Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC acquired Thermocoax SAS. The aim of the acquisition is to strengthen the market position of the company’s electrical process heating business Chromalox in the US and of Thermocoax brand globally.
• In April 2019, NIBE Industrier AB (Briskheat Corp.) showcased ATEX-Certified Heaters for Drums, IBC Tanks and Gas Bottles. The container includes 200-220 liter drums, 1,000-liter IBC tank and 10, 59, 79 liters gas bottles. It has a temperature controlling range up to 450 ^o
• In March 2018, Rogers Corp. launched their new solution ARLON raPld polyimide substrates for streamlining manufacturing and improving performance of flexible heater applications. It had replaced polyimide film with a unique silicone adhesive which can process in less time and at lower temperature and pressure.
• In January 2018, NIBE Industrier AB acquired 60% stacks of Briskheat Corp. and also got into an agreement to acquire remaining 40% of share later. The company will become a part of NIBE Element North America.

The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2018 and forecast to 2025.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global flexible heater market. Based on the availability of data, information related to pipeline products, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.