The global industrial computed radiography market size was valued at USD 390.43 million in 2023. It is expected to reach USD 747.23 million in 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.48% over the forecast period (2024-32). Computed radiography offers several advantages over traditional film radiography, including faster image acquisition, enhanced image quality, and the ability to manipulate and digitally archive images. These advantages drive the adoption of CR systems in industrial applications, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, and manufacturing.
Computed radiography is one sort of radiography that is often used by a lot of big manufacturing companies. There are many benefits to using computed radiography for inspections, including a shorter turnaround time and less need for consumables. Aerospace, oil and gas, industrial gas turbines, medical implants, and prosthetics are just a few industries that use them. The aerospace industry frequently uses computed radiography, a nondestructive testing (NDT), to ensure the integrity and safety of manufactured parts and assemblies.
Additionally, unlike photographic film, computed radiography (CR) scanners are used in normal lighting conditions, and stations can be easily set up next to the X-ray equipment. This enables the operator to take numerous exposures with little effort. Imaging plates can be utilized directly from the hard cassette. Up to two-meter imaging plates can be fed through a feed tray to make panoramic exposures.
In order to promote radiation protection and user safety, the market wants to reduce the radiation exposure rate. It is anticipated that the information systems and analysis tools being developed to track radiation safety indicators will be significant. Technological advancements offer considerable comfort by enhancing imaging effectiveness while lowering exposure. Detectors based on photo-stimulated luminescence screen cassettes have been used to access computer radiology (CR) images for more than 20 years.
In industrial CR radiography, the object being evaluated is exposed to an x-ray or gamma-ray beam. A detector is lined up with a beam on the opposite side of the object. The detector captures X-rays or gamma rays that pass through the substance. Furthermore, a thicker substance might allow fewer gamma or x-rays. There is a greater transmission of light through a fractured or faulted material because of the localized reduction in thickness. The detector generates an image of cracks or flaws using the photons passing through. These cameras record images that are radiographed.
Inspection, testing, or evaluation of parts, supplies, or assemblies is a non-destructive testing (NDT) component. In non-destructive testing, radiographic examinations are a technician's primary responsibility. Various types of inspection and application equipment are available to satisfy various needs. Computed radiography (CR) is the best choice for aluminum and steel castings, electrical parts, and various manufactured components. In addition, gamma radiography and CR can be combined to inspect steel castings with extremely thick walls. As digital data storage and retrieval spreads, it is becoming more widespread.
Furthermore, the factors driving CR forward are worries about the silver recovery, chemicals used in film development, and rising film and material prices. New technologies, stricter environmental regulations, and increased health safety measures have fundamentally altered how all industries view compliance with standards and regulations. NDT equipment's primary purpose is to ensure that the products, services, and infrastructure adhere to safety and quality standards and regulations. Despite industry seasonality, the market for NDT equipment is anticipated to grow in a few industries, including oil and gas, due to the high demand for routine inspection and testing.
The more expensive hardware used in CR systems is necessary for its effectiveness and durability. Since designing, manufacturing, and installing an automated system can cost millions of dollars, automation equipment requires higher capital investments. One of the most crucial factors is how much it will cost to add or upgrade to digital x-ray imaging. Digital radiography (DR) solutions cost about 30,000 USD, whereas most computed radiography (CR) systems cost less than 20,000 USD. But several things affect the price. The two most crucial components are X-ray sourcing and additional parts. Additionally, these products require routine maintenance, and the end-user is responsible for paying for that maintenance throughout the equipment's lifespan, putting further strain on them. These elements should make the market under investigation more difficult.
Industry 4.0 adoption accelerates manufacturing digitization, fueling demand for sophisticated and improved inspection techniques and conclusive results. Due to the ongoing focus on introducing self-driving and electric cars, the automotive manufacturing industry is predicted to expand significantly. Additionally, iterations of the current NDT CR equipment are anticipated to become more portable and sophisticated, making it possible for features like machine learning and integration into industrial IoT solutions.
Machine learning algorithms can correlate the frequency and nature of defects to various manufacturing practices as enterprise solutions become more automated, enabling manufacturers to improve their production methods based on these inputs. Real-time, automated inspection methods will likely be quickly adopted in NDT to produce high-quality products for less money. Furthermore, the demand for CR NDT is anticipated to increase across various end-user verticals due to the use of NDT techniques for inline monitoring and automated quality assessment systems.
| Study Period | 2020-2032 | CAGR | 7.48% |
| Historical Period | 2020-2022 | Forecast Period | 2024-2032 |
| Base Year | 2023 | Base Year Market Size | USD 390.43 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2032 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 747.23 Million |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific | Fastest Growing Market | North America |
Asia-Pacific is the most significant contributor to the global industrial computed radiography market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.32% during the forecast period. Equipment for industrial radiography is very popular in the current market, especially in developing nations. This popularity accelerates the global miniaturization of electronic components and boosts the semiconductor industry. These factors are anticipated to favor the market for industrial radiography equipment worldwide. In addition, the Asia-Pacific region is home to most semiconductor foundries worldwide and well-known corporations like TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and others. Major nations in the area with a sizable market share include Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China. Additionally, China has big plans for the semiconductor industry. With funding of USD 150 billion, the nation is growing its domestic IC industry and intends to produce more of its chips. Due to the US-China trade war, many Chinese businesses are forced to invest in their semiconductor foundries, escalating tensions in the region home to all the leading process technology. In March 2021, China unveiled its five-year plan for 2021–25, which makes expanding basic research a top priority.
North America is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.91% during the forecast period. Radiography is useful since the substance being evaluated is not harmed or altered. It can also be used if getting to the object to be examined is challenging. Producers use industrial radiography to ensure that their goods are not harmed before being sold. Therefore, in addition to investments and expansions in the United States and Canada, the significant presence of manufacturing sectors like aerospace and defense, foundries, petrochemicals, automotive, and so forth is examined to contribute to the market growth rate.
Europe is expected to grow significantly over the forecast period. The industrial computing radiography market will likely benefit from the strong manufacturing bases in nations like Germany, France, Italy, and others in the European region. European semiconductor sales in May 2021 totaled USD 3.77 billion, up 31.2% from May 2020 sales, according to the European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA). Sales of application-specific semiconductors increased steadily across all end-use industries in global sales, with the automotive, wired communication and consumer markets leading the charge. Additionally, the rising investments in the nation are expected to affect the market's expansion rate. The development of a cutting-edge semiconductor fab mega-site in Germany, the establishment of a new research and development (R&D) and design hub in France, and increased R&D, manufacturing, foundry services, and back-end production capacities in Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain are a few of the projects Intel declared it would invest more than 33 billion euros in by March 2022. The plans Intel has in place as part of its IDM 2.0 strategy will help increase production in order to meet the growing demand for advanced semiconductors, powering a new generation of cutting-edge Intel products and satisfying the needs of foundry customers.
Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and others are included in the rest of the world. As the microelectronics industry continues to globalize and localize manufacturing capabilities inside emerging electronic markets, the South American market offers new potential for both electronics manufacturing and supply chain organizations. This is expected to present new opportunities for the CR market due to its application in foundries. In order to start assembly and testing operations in Costa Rica in December 2020, Intel has announced a USD 350 million investment over the next three years. The investment is anticipated to generate more than 200 new jobs in the upcoming months. Further, Intel picked Costa Rica to expand its testing and assembly capabilities because of the workforce, free-zone regulations, pre-existing infrastructure, and compatibility with its current operations.
Brazil's Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers also anticipated considerable export growth in 2021. Latin America's digitization and carbon reduction initiatives will be strengthened in addition to additional regional vehicle projects. A biofuel research facility is also part of this as a market-bridging technology to aid Volkswagen's global electrification drive.
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The global industrial computed radiography market is bifurcated into oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical, foundries, and aerospace and defense. The foundries segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.38% during the forecast period. A foundry is a production facility for metal castings. Metals are shaped by being melted into a liquid, poured into a mold, and then having the mold material removed once the metal has solidified and cooled. The two most frequently processed metals are cast iron and aluminum. However, foundries produce castings using other metals like bronze, brass, steel, magnesium, and zinc. In addition, parts of the desired shapes and sizes may be created during this process. Millions of tons of scrap metal are melted and recast each year in foundries as part of the manufacturing recycling movement to produce new durable goods.
Computed radiography is used extensively in the aerospace and defense sectors of the economy. Regular maintenance and inspection of the parts and machinery used in the aerospace and defense industries are crucial to ensuring flawless operations due to the high concerns surrounding security requirements. In addition, computed radiography is a useful nondestructive testing (NDT) technique in the aerospace industry. It is regularly applied to guarantee the integrity and safety of manufactured parts and assemblies. As a result, this industry uses radiography testing more and more.
