Process infrared system growth fueled by innovative instruments

Dedham, MA— New innovative spectroscopic instruments such as miniaturized spectrometers and encoded photometric infrared analyzers will breathe new life into the process infrared systems market, according to ARC Advisory Group . The worldwide market for Process Infrared Systems (PIRS) is expected to grow at a 4.1% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years from $255.7 million in 2004 to more than $313.3 million in 2009, according to a new ARC study, “Worldwide Process Infrared Systems Outlook.”

ARC reports that more manufacturers are implementing on-line measurement systems to improve operating efficiency. “In moving from the laboratory to the plant floor, it is critical that accuracy, repeatability, and reliability of infrared systems be transferable to the manufacturing environment. Process infrared systems must be user friendly in terms of installation, operation, validation, and maintenance,” says Paula Hollywood, ARC’s field systems analyst and the study’s principal author.

Huge PAT impact expected
Unlike other industries where process automation measurement tools are constantly monitoring the production process to reduce and ultimately eliminate process variation, ARC adds the pharmaceutical industry has been more focused on regulatory compliance. PAT on-line testing for quality will replace the protracted and expensive practice of manually drawing a sample to be tested in a specialized off-line laboratory. At-line, in-line, and on-line PIRS will be an integral component of the PAT platform for continuous quality control, assurance, verification, and validation. NIR is expected to be the greatest beneficiary of PAT due in large part to its applicability to solids measurements.

New Sensor/Sampling Initiative (NeSSI)
While process control systems, sensors, and analyzers have all evolved to become sophisticated pieces of equipment with a fair degree of intelligence, ARC reports that the sampling system has not changed in any meaningful way in 30 years. The study adds that the number of dedicated spectroscopists in manufacturing is shrinking and the number of analyzers is growing, indicating that more efficient analyzer and sampling systems are essential. Estimates are that the NeSSI platform will reduce the cost to build an analyzer system by as much as 40%, realized largely as the result of a reduction in analyzer system infrastructure. With the sampling system closely coupled to the process, long sample transport and return lines and the problems associated with them will be eliminated, including analyzer shelters.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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