Global numerical control software market grew 10% in 2011

The worldwide market for numerical control (NC) software grew by 10 per cent in 2011, according to a new report from CIMdata, Inc., a PLM consulting and research firm.

 The 2012 NC Market Analysis Report (MAR) is the twenty-first annual study of the global NC market. It estimates the growth based on end-user payments, which grew from $1.333 billion in 2010 to $1.469 billion in 2011.

The market growth rate in 2011 reflects a strong overall PLM spend, continuing the recovery from the downturn in the global economy that manifested itself in dramatically higher machine tool sales into the manufacturing industry. It has been estimated that worldwide shipments of machine tools increased by 35 per cent from 2010 to 2011, which the report says is directly related to the CAM software employed to drive these tools.

CIMdata also projects that in 2012 growth in manufacturing will continue and end-user payments for NC software will increase by 12.2 per cent to $1.649 billion.

Since 2002, the NC software market has shown modest but steady growth as global economies generally improved. There has been worldwide growth in the sale of machine tools and manufacturing output; greater emphasis has been placed on the efficient operation of machine tools as manufacturing firms have strengthened their competitive position, and the overall PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) market, of which CAM software is a component, has continued on a strong growth path during this period. CAM software purchases are related to all of these factors—particularly machine tools.

The 2012 NC Market Analysis Report is available for purchase at the CIMdata website.