Orders for motion control products in the final quarter of 2011 rose 4% year-over-year, pushing full-year 2011 to almost 18% higher than 2010 figures, according to the latest numbers from the Motion Control Assn. (MCA).
"2011 results were the best we've seen since MCA began tracking industry statistics back in 2006 (beginning with 2005 data)," said Dana Whalls, MCA’s vice president. "We show double-digit growth across all product categories that MCA tracks, including motion controllers, electronic and ac drives, motors, actuators and mechanical systems, sensors, and other ancillary components."
The strong 2011 growth for motion control follows on an already-strong 2010 increase—up 30% over 2009. "2011 is the second year in a row of double-digit growth and a stark contrast to 2009, when the motion control market contracted by nearly one-third because of the Great Recession," said Paul Kellett, MCA's director of market analysis. "The continuing recovery in the broader economy helped drive continued strength in the motion control market."
MCA's quarterly tracking reports and trend analysis reports detail orders and shipments by major product category. The trade group also provides an economic indicator report, which enables report users to interpret quarterly statistics from the standpoint of macro-economic indicators by individual manufacturing industry.
