Global Safety Light Curtains Market Grows at a Steady CAGR of 4.0%

Introduction

Safety light curtains are optoelectronic devices engineered to safeguard personnel from injury by establishing an unseen, monitored barrier surrounding hazardous areas, such as automated machinery, conveyors, or robotic cells. Upon an object or individual's interruption of an infrared light beam, the system promptly transmits a stop signal to the machinery, ceasing operations to avert possible injury. These devices are essential to contemporary industrial safety systems, providing non-contact protective solutions that enhance worker safety and operational efficiency.

The global safety light curtains market is propelled by rigorous international workplace safety standards and the extensive adoption of automation technologies in manufacturing. The emergence of smart factories and Industry 4.0 has significantly increased the demand for advanced safety systems such as light curtains. Innovations like integrated muting functions, real-time diagnostics, and wireless communication capabilities have broadened their application across various sectors, including automotive, electronics, medicine, and food packaging. Furthermore, increasing awareness of employee welfare and accident mitigation measures is propelling the implementation of modern safety light curtain systems.

Market Dynamics

Increasing demand for industrial automation drives market growth

The proliferation of industrial automation in areas including automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food processing has markedly accelerated the deployment of safety light curtains. As industries shift from manual to automated operations, the demand for efficient, real-time machine safeguarding escalates. Safety light curtains offer a non-contact solution for protecting dangerous areas, facilitating uninterrupted material flow and minimal operational disruption. As robots and automated conveyors become increasingly ubiquitous, these devices are crucial for compliance with occupational safety regulations.

• For instance, ABB, in collaboration with FANUC, incorporated safety light curtain systems into their collaborative robotics (cobots) cells introduced in early 2025, emphasising their significance in ensuring safe human-robot coexistence.

This trend indicates that safety equipment has evolved from mere compliance instruments to facilitators of productivity.

Adoption in developing economies creates tremendous opportunities

Emerging economies are set to become significant growth regions for the safety light curtains market, driven by swift industrialisation, governmental incentives, and increasing awareness of worker safety. Countries such as India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are witnessing an increase in automated manufacturing facilities, particularly in the automotive, packaging, and textile sectors. Furthermore, multinational corporations establishing production facilities in the Asia-Pacific region are introducing worldwide safety requirements, elevating the demand for compliance equipment, including light curtains.

• In February 2025, Schneider Electric India collaborated with local automation integrators to advance its light curtain product line for small-scale enterprises as part of the “Make in India” campaign.

These achievements demonstrate the market's significant unexploited potential in areas experiencing a digital revolution and infrastructure enhancements.

Regional Analysis

Europe dominates the global safety light curtains market in terms of market share, primarily because of its established manufacturing environment, robust focus on industrial automation, and stringent quality requirements. Countries like Germany, the U.K., and France possess a strong foundation in automotive, aerospace, and high-tech manufacturing industries that necessitate advanced safety solutions. The region's emphasis on precise engineering and sustainable production techniques sustains the persistent need for safety light curtains in robotics and smart packaging applications.

Key Highlights

• The global safety light curtains market size was valued at USD 1.09 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 1.13 billion in 2025 to USD 1.55 billion in 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period (2025-2033).
• By Component, the market is segmented into Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), photoelectric cells, control units, display units, and other components. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) hold the largest market share.
• By Type, the market is segmented into Type 2 Safety Light Curtains and Type 4 Safety Light Curtains. Type 4 Safety Light Curtains dominate the market.
• By Application, the market is segmented into packaging, material handling, robotics, assembly, and other applications. Robotics leads the market.
• By End-Use Industry, the market is segmented into automotive, semiconductor & electronics, food & beverage, healthcare, and other industries. Automotive dominates the market growth.
• Based on region, the global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Europe dominates the global market.

Competitive Players

1. Omron Corporation
2. Keyence Corporation
3. SICK AG
4. Rockwell Automation
5. Panasonic Corporation
6. Schneider Electric
7. Banner Engineering
8. Datalogic S.p. A.
9. Leuze Electronic GmbH
10. ABB Ltd.
11. Pepperl+Fuchs SE
12. IDEC Corporation

Recent Developments

• In July 2024, Omron introduced an upgraded version of their F3SG-SR safety light curtain series, featuring a new high-speed response function that reduces detection time by 25%. The F3SG-SR series offers a range of models tailored for various protection applications, contributing to the standardisation of safety system design across complex production lines.
• In February 2024, SICK AG unveiled a new safety light curtain with an integrated diagnostic system. This system enables predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, reducing downtime by 18%. The integrated diagnostics allow continuous remote data analysis and visualisation, facilitating condition monitoring and predictive maintenance in line with Industry 4.0 approaches.

Segmentation

1. By Component
   1. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
   2. Photoelectric Cells
   3. Control Units
   4. Display Units
   5. Other Components
2. By Type
   1. Type 2 Safety Light Curtains
   2. Type 4 Safety Light Curtains
3. By Application
   1. Packaging
   2. Material Handling
   3. Robotics
   4. Assembly
   5. Other Applications
4. By End-Use Industry
   1. Automotive
   2. Semiconductor & Electronics
   3. Food & Beverage
   4. Healthcare
   5. Other Industries
5. By Region
   1. North America
   2. Europe
   3. Asia-Pacific
   4. Latin America
   5. The Middle East and Africa