Temperature Sensor Market

Market Overview

Temperature sensors gather temperature data and convert it into an understandable form for a device or an observer. A temperature sensor uses a thermocouple or RTD for its operation. These sensors are used in food processing units, chemical handling, medical devices, and HVAC system environmental controls. Nowadays, sensors are digital for better efficiency and sensing performance.

Market Dynamics

Application in Portable Healthcare Devices

The global temperature sensor market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period, backed by the increasing demand for portable and advanced healthcare equipment. Temperature sensors are employed in portable health monitoring systems and advanced patient monitoring systems for patient monitoring. Wearable temperature sensors monitor pulse rate, heart rate, and body temperature. The expanding geriatric population and rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases primarily propel the demand for portable healthcare devices.

From the product perspective, accuracy, durability, and low power consumption drive the adoption of temperature sensors. Miniaturization trends, coupled with technological advancements, have reduced the price of healthcare and wearable products. Healthcare wearables have been growing alongside other wearables, gaining traction in the last few years. The trend is expected to further augment market value in years to come.

R&D

The widespread adoption of temperature sensors in chemical, automotive, and consumer electronics industries has paved the way for significant investments in R&D, emphasizing innovations and functionality, particularly in developed economies. For instance, UNL Engineers and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory have designed a next-generation temperature sensor set for the enhanced measurement of climate patterns, marine biology, and military operations. The device can monitor a slight temperature variance of approximately 30 times the speed of existing commercial counterparts.

Regional Analysis

North America - The Most Prominent Value Shareholder

North America holds the largest value share globally and is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period. Aerospace, defense, chemical processing, and automotive manufacturing are the key application sectors driving growth in the region. North America’s superior technological prowess and high adoption rate of advanced technologies also contribute to the region’s eminent market position. The current trend of smartwatches and wearables is also imparting to the region’s growth momentum.

North America has a large automotive industry with significant production. The region’s regulatory scenario bolsters market growth in the sector. The introduction of MEMSs (micro-electromechanical systems) in temperature sensing is pegged to be one of the future growth opportunities.

Asia-Pacific - The Fastest Growing Market

Asia-Pacific is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Increasing demand for consumer equipment such as portable healthcare electronics and white goods and rising industrial automation in the automotive and food and beverage sectors drive the demand for temperature sensors in the region.

Segmental Analysis

Consumer Electronics Sector - A Key Revenue Contributor

Temperature sensors are used in oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, metal and mining, food and beverage, automotive, consumer electronics, medical, power generation, aerospace, and military sectors. Among all, the consumer electronics segment is estimated to be a key revenue contributor for the market, which can be attributed to the rising popularity of wearables such as smartwatches, smart home gadgets, and advanced ultra-thin personal computers and tablets. These devices use temperature sensors to monitor heat to facilitate efficient functioning. Nowadays, businesses in the wearable segment are working to enhance the reliability of temperature readings with easy to wear devices such as patches, in-ear devices, t-shirts/workwear, and headgears.

The advent of digitalization has seen the incorporation of innovative technologies in systems and devices, which is broadening the application of sensor technology in electronic appliances. For instance, temperature sensors are used in car battery chargers to avoid the overcharging and undercharging of chargers. They are also employed to turn the battery off on sensing a temperature rise.

Healthcare Industry - A Key Growth Enabler

The healthcare sector is another key growth enabler for the temperature sensor market. An expanding geriatric population and rising prevalence of lifestyle health issues are prompting the development of innovative health equipment integrated with sensor technology. Temperature sensors are used in medical devices such as ventilators, medical incubators, and blood analyzers to monitor and control the temperature for accurate, reliable, and efficient diagnostic results in real-time.

Chemical Industry - A Significant End-Use Sector

The chemical industry is also a significant contributor to the global temperature sensor market. Accurate temperature detection and control are crucial in chemical processes. Insensitive and critical chemical processes, a slight temperature variation can damage processing equipment and lead to losses worth hundreds of thousands. In the chemical industry, heat tracing, refining, cracking, and incineration processes and piping and sanitary systems use temperature sensors for temperature detection and control.

Recent Developments

• TE Connectivity launched the NTC thermistor in 2017. The device is primarily applied in the automotive sector as it can track the temperature of batteries in electric vehicles and prevent overheating
• In 2018, Lufft launched WS10A, a weather sensor device that can monitor smart home appliances and smart city devices. The device can also determine UV index, humidity, intensity of precipitation and rainfall, temperature, radiation, air pressure, and many other factors
• TDK Corporation acquired InvenSense in 2016 to realize new sensor applications in the internet of things and the automotive sector