Growth in infrared thermometers and RTDs is expected to outpace all other temperature sensors.

"The Market for Temperature Sensors and Transmitters in the Americas" surveyed total shipments of temperature sensors in millions of dollars over six years.
Growth in infrared thermometers and thin-wire RTDs will outpace all other temperature sensors in the United States through 2004, according to a market research study. "The Market for Temperature Sensors and Transmitters in the Americas," which analyzed the market for both temperature sensors and temperature transmitters in the United States, Canada and Latin America, contacted more than 450 companies and conducted more than 250 interviews with temperature sensor and transmitter suppliers. The study was conducted by Flow Research, Wakefield, MA, and Ducker Worldwide, Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Total market size for temperature sensors in the Americas in 1999 was $540 million, according to the survey. This category included thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, infrared thermometers and thermowells. Thin-film RTD growth is outpacing wire-wound RTD growth, reflecting improvements in technology and lower selling prices. The study also credited increased education about infrared technology as a cause for wider use of infrared products. Used for spot checking temperatures in remote locations, infrared thermometers are employed when contact temperature sensors are not practical. Infrared thermometers can be used at a distance to determine temperature.

Growth in use of temperature transmitters was tracked by this survey as well, including high-tier, smart, programmable, analog and low cost. A more accurate transmitter than smart transmitters, high-tier transmitters are expected to show the fastest growth in the next five years. Analog transmitter shipments are projected to decline.