Thursday, February 3, 2011

Wire and Cable: Materials, Technologies and Global Markets


Wire and Cable: Materials, Technologies and Global Markets

An overview of the market size based on volume and value sales, with analysis of the following aspects: Materials: Plastics, metals, fiber, superconductors; Technologies: Power transmission and non-power transmission; and Application Sectors: Residential, commercial, and industrial premises, and utility providers
Analysis of global market trends, with data from 2009, estimates for 2010, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2015
An outline of the basic operating principles of cables and wires, with sections on the anatomy of a cable, fundamentals of power transmission, and fundamentals of telecom signaling and data transmission
Comprehensive company profiles
Patent analysis identifying the key areas of innovation and highlighting leading innovators and countries.
INTRODUCTION
This report uses the terms cables and wires interchangeably. They refer to the physical structure that is used to conduct electrical current and telecommunications signal/payload. The term cable should thus be distinguished from the same term used in context of the cable television industry.
Cables and wires are the most commonplace indicators of a wide range of technologies existing in various stages of sophistication. Cables primarily serve two purposes: transmission of power and transmission of telecommunications payloads and signals. These two broad usages span a wide array of applications and industries. Consequently cables and wires constitute a formidable market in their own right.
While cables serve as conduits to connect high-tech islands, their underlying operating principle has remained consistent over the years and is fairly uncomplicated. This simplicity in technology does not rub off on its market dynamics. The result of this simplicity is a large number of significant stakeholders. Additionally, these diverse stakeholders are very sensitive to macroeconomic trends.
Much of the volatility in the cable market is tied to the raw material costs on the supply side. As a result, the pricing trends of cables and wires are not entirely driven by market demand. The market is also far from being homogenous, with the end user profiles ranging from wholesale purchasers, telecom operators, retail users, utility managers, power supply companies as well as enterprises. The leverage enjoyed by the buyers is by and large proportional to their purchase volumes and inversely proportional to the importance of cables and wires to their operations.
This report is an attempt to identify and highlight the salient attributes of this diverse and large market
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
This study has the following goals and objectives:
  • Measuring and forecasting the market size for overall power and telecom cables in both value and volume
  • Forecasting the market size of power cables in value and volume terms respectively in dollars and kilograms
  • Forecasting the market size for telecom cables in value and volume, respectively, in dollars and pair-kilometers
  • Breaking down the overall power cable market along voltage and functional attributes: extremely low voltage (ELV), low voltage, high voltage and magnetic applications
  • Breaking down the overall telecom cable market along conductor materials: metal and fiber optic
  • Breaking down the individual power cable functional attributes along geographical regions (the Americas; Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA); Asia-Pacific (APAC); end-device applications (energy and utilities; industrial; telecom devices, wireless/wireline infrastructure; computing devices; domestic and commercial consumer electronics, lighting and home appliances) and conductor metals (copper, aluminum) in volume and value terms
  • Breaking down the individual telecom cable conductor materials along geographical regions (Americas, EMEA, APAC), end-device applications (energy and utilities; industrial; telecom devices; wireless/wireline infrastructure; computing devices; domestic and commercial consumer electronics, lighting and home appliances) and distance stretch (access, metro, backbone) in volume and value terms
  • Providing a detailed analysis of the average selling price (ASP) trends for individual power and telecom cable subcategories
  • Analyzing the stakeholder value chain in the power and telecom cable market
  • Analyzing the patent activity involving power and telecom cables.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
The cable industry can be summarized as one that deals with an uncomplicated technology interplaying with complex macro and microeconomic factors. The macroeconomic factors affect the pricing of the raw materials as well as the health of the end user domains while the microeconomic factors affect region specific market parameters.
If the raw materials supply is not adequately addressed, market forces will not be understood. Many of the issues concern the availability of copper, the principal material in both power and telecom cables. Aluminum and optical fiber are becoming credible alternatives in performance and pricing in the raw materials domain.
The principle purpose of this report is to identify the extent to which the alternatives will be accepted and to analyze the role played by pricing in such acceptance. The report also sheds light on the role played by end user markets on the pricing of cables. It is revealing to note that end users have significant leverage over prices.
The cable makers are thus in a bind. They have to walk a tightrope between demanding end users and fickle raw materials. This report analyzes the approaches adopted by various market leaders in tackling these challenges.
SCOPE OF THE REPORT
The report forecasts the size of the power and telecom cable market for components from 2010 through 2015.
The Executive Summary provides a snapshot of key findings of the report.
The chapter on the Taxonomy of Cable Classes introduces cabling operations, defines cable usage, explains terminologies and importantly breaks down the power and telecom cabling market into geographical regions, conductor metals, distance stretches and end-application devices as applicable.
The chapter on raw materials and pricing addresses the key area that singularly determines the path of the industry. The subject is broached qualitatively as well quantitatively.
The chapter on vendor analysis explains salient trends characterizing the cabling market, identifies major stakeholder types, analyzes profiles of major players and discusses other significant players.
The U.S. Patent Analysis chapter highlights the patent activity underway in the area of power and telecom cables. The chapter classifies the patents awarded according to the activities involved in the areas of cable guiding, alignment, stripping, storing and management; cable measurement, monitoring, protection and fault management; conductor synthesis, fabrication and alignment; connectors, couplers, joints and terminations; device and application specific cabling; flat and flexible cables; insulation, sheath and protective covers; optical fiber cables; submarine cables and superconductors.
The quantitative analysis of the report does not cover:
  • Automotive cables
  • Instrumentation and control cables
  • Building and construction wires
  • Superconductors
  • Any cables other than ones used in power and telecom applications.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This report will be relevant to the following:
  • Cable equipment manufacturers to identify dynamics determining the traction imparted to various cabling technologies and its market impact
  • Electrical component vendors and electronic device vendors to ascertain the pricing trends governing cables as they integrate cables with their products
  • Power and energy suppliers as well telecom operators to identify cables that provide the right mix on the technology and pricing front
  • Retail domestic and corporate users to make judicious buying decisions for their installations.
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
The report forecasts the market size for the following:
  • Power cables such as ELV, low voltage, high voltage and magnetic applications in dollar value and kilogram volume terms
  • Telecom cables such as metal and fiber optics in dollar value and kilometer pair volume terms
  • The power cable categories are further subdivided into end-device applications, geographical regions and conductor metals
  • The telecom cable categories are further sub-divided into end-device applications, geographical regions and distance stretches.
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in this study. Industry experts were interviewed; secondary sources included industry consortia, individual company financial statements, published opinions, and other published sources.
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