EMC Testing Market

Market Overview

Electromagnetic compatibility testing refers to the observation and analysis of the interactions between all electrical and electronic equipment operating simultaneously. Electronic devices are susceptible to electromagnetic fields that cause them to interfere with each other. EMC needs to be considered to install electrical equipment, such as television sets, computers, washing machines, vehicles, aircraft, ships, or large industrial machines. The proliferation of electrical and electronic devices at a large scale is forcing governments to invest heavily in EMC testing. Benefits of EMC Testing include increased product reliability, reduced servicing costs, and improved brand loyalty.

EMC testing identifies risks and uncovers potential issues that can be fixed to ensure the long term success of the product. Augmented reality has the ability to test 'Conducted and Radiated Immunity and Emissions' and develop emissions and immunity testing systems. It is also helpful in automotive RF immunity testing, amplifier fundamental specifications, and other trade EMC testing.

EMC test systems are designed to comply with EMC regulations and directives in the military, aviation, automotive, and consumer product testing. The supply chain has been disrupted since the COVID-19 outbreak, causing manufacturers to halt or postpone activities. However, the market is anticipated to return with a significant global CAGR due to growing demands during the forecast period.

Requirement for Pre-Compliance EMC Testing of Products

EMC pre-compliance testing includes a Spectrum analyzer with the quasi-peak detector, preamplifier, and antenna with non-metallic stand for radiated emissions, line impedance stabilization network (LISN), and power limiter for the conducted test. EMC pre-compliance testing is desirable as it saves time, money, and effort.

Full EMC compliance testing can be expensive, with costs ranging from USD 1,000 to USD 20,000 per submission, depending on the device and product penetration. In addition to this, a failure in EMC compliance at this late stage of product development can result in expensive re-designing. Therefore, it is highly highly recommended to perform pre-compliance testing of products.

Market Dynamics

Effective Interoperability of Connected Devices and Networks

There is a growing demand to check the interconnectivity of smart objects with the internet infrastructure to create a global network called the Internet of Things (IoT). Interoperability issues can lead to vendor lock-in, impossibility to develop IoT applications exposing cross-platform, difficulty in plugging non-interoperable IoT devices into different platforms, and prevention of emergence of technology at a large-scale. Therefore, EMC testing is required to enable seamless resources shared between different IoT vendors, allowing them to work together.

Outsourcing EMC Testing By Global Manufacturers

Several vendors are either innovating or outsourcing EMC testing due to the lack of infrastructure or funds. The situation for them has been worsened by the global pandemic. Therefore, they are turning to other manufacturers and testing services companies that conduct EMC tests to verify and validate a product's compliance towards EMI, further boosting the market growth.  

Increasing Number of Mobile Subscribers and Growing Mobile Data Requirements

The proliferation of smartphones backed by the advent of 4G/5G internet connectivity is driving the demand for EMC testing of devices. The development of smart devices also introduces newly wired as well as wireless connection terminologies through which devices can communicate with each other. There are wide ranges of electromagnetic interference that can affect their performance, further surging the requirement of EMC testing services

Domestic and International EMC Standards and Regulations

EMC standards define the frequency range and limit of unnecessary electromagnetic radiation emitted by electrical and electronic devices to prevent telecommunication and broadcasting devices from being interrupted, causing interference or other problems. The electromagnetic emissions are measured for the radiated field strength, along with cables and wiring. Therefore, adhering to domestic and international EMC standards and regulations is bolstering the market growth.

High Costs of EMC Testing

EMI/EMC compliance tests can be expensive as various factors need to be considered, which include the type of product, the number of countries it will be certified in, design and debug time, the number of boards to be tested, and certification test cost. Not all manufacturers are able to afford the expenses, which is severely hampering the market growth.

Rising Adoption of IoT-Enabled Devices

Industry experts predict that there will be more than 50 billion devices connected to the internet in the next five years. The figure currently stands at about 7 billion internet-connected devices, according to data from IoT Analytics. The IoT adoption has been relatively slow as most companies have yet to identify market needs that are addressable with hardware-as-a-service.

Changing consumer preferences and business and technical factors are responsible for the timely growth of IoT. However, with the advent of more smart devices that are integrated with cutting edge technology, such as 5G, the market is projected to witness new heights. IoT will offer an intelligent ecosystem of communication and action. APAC will witness a massive demand in this market due to its rising IT infrastructure and burgeoning electronics manufacturing industry.

Segmental Analysis

Services Segment to Witness Significant Growth during the Forecast Period 

The services segment will witness significant growth during the forecast period, followed by hardware and software segments. There is a rising demand for EMC testing services to ensure that the products adhere to quality, technical safety, and performance regulatory standards. These services are required by the manufacturers to carry out testing activities in laboratories, and other facilitates in order to improve the marketability of their products. EMC testing services help to reduce the manufacturing costs in the pre-production phase. There is a demand for inspection services for examining traded goods from manufacturers to end-users. A growing trend in such requests from manufacturers is anticipated to bolster segment growth.

High Proliferation of Consumer Electronics to Drive the Consumer Appliances and Electronics Segment 

The high proliferation of consumer electronics and a rise in wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, cellular, near-field communications (NFC), and Wi-Fi, is boosting the growth of EMC testing applications in the consumer appliance and electronics segment. An electronic device is an interconnection of different systems and components. With the advent of IoT, these devices are dependent on these components for better performance.  

Regional Analysis

Stringent Government Regulations to Maintain Product Quality and Brand Trust in Europe Drives the EMC Market 

The European EMC market is driven by stringent government regulations to maintain product quality and brand trust. The government is enforcing several regulations to improve environmental health and product lifecycle and infrastructure. The electrical or electronic equipment should achieve the 'Conformité Européenne' and carry the CE mark of certification, as advised in the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC for free trade across the European Union. Only equipment bearing the CE mark can be bought and sold inside the continent.

The demand for EMC testing is also witnessing a rise in the European automotive sector. There were around 26,236 electric vehicles in Europe in 2018. The German government has invested significantly to put six million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and one million by 2020. The EMC testing service saw an increase in demand from manufacturers that are innovating and outsourcing their projects due to a lack of funds amidst COVID-19. In the energy sector, regular inspection of nuclear power plants is a prime source for the adoption of EMC test services. The U.K. has more than 14 nuclear power plants with reactors of an average age of 33.33 years, which is expected to increase demand in the upcoming years.

EMC Testing Market Segmentation

By Testing Method

• EMC Emissions and Immunity Testing
• Electrostatic Discharge Testing
• Conducted Emissions and Immunity Testing
• Radio Frequency Compatibility Testing

By Offering

• Hardware
• Software
• Services

By Type

• EMI Shielding Tapes
• Conductive Coatings and Paints
• Metal Shielding and Test Equipment

By Application

• Consumer Appliances and Electronics
• Automotive
• Military and Aerospace
• IT and Telecommunications
• Medical
• Industrial

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• SAMEA