High growth forecast for smallest form factors

IMS Research expects global sales of embedded computer boards and modules to grow strongly between now and 2014.

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IMS Research expects global sales of embedded computer boards and modules to grow strongly from almost $2.5 billion in 2009 to $4.3 billion in 2014.  Although the smallest form-factors generally had lower market sizes than larger, more established boards in 2008 and 2009, the highest growth is forecast for these smaller boards over the next few years.   

New research of the embedded computer and module market shows there is a move to smaller and smaller components and boards.  Miniaturization has become a key focus of embedded board and module manufacturers; as end users want products that are compact but still offer good processing performance.

Small form factor boards, such as Qseven and Pico-ITX, have also opened up new application areas, where size, weight and power consumption are key concerns.  The adoption of small form-factor boards in mobile applications has increased rapidly in recent years and is forecast to continue.

Report Author, Mark Watson, comments “in particular, mobile applications in the transportation and military sectors are forecast high growth.  Smaller and more integrated components have enabled board manufacturers to develop new small form-factor boards, which are still rugged but can be integrated into even smaller systems.  These boards have opened up new applications, such as adoption in unmanned military vehicles, which are projected to grow quickly in the near future.”

End users continue to focus on the three P’s – price, power and performance.  Small form-factor board manufacturers also have these product attributes as key concerns so the miniaturization trend is likely to accelerate over the next few years. 

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IMS Research

- Edited by Amanda McLeman, Plant Engineering, www.plantengineering.com