GLOBAL MICROSCOPY MARKET TO SURPASS $4.1 BILLION IN 2016 Wellesley, Mass.

In a recent release, MICROSCOPY: THE GLOBAL MARKET (IAS017D) from BCC Research (www.bccresearch.com), the global market for microscopes and accessories was worth about $3.1 billion in 2010. Sales are projected to exceed $3.2 billion in 2011 and $4.1 billion in 2016, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%. The global microscopy market can be broken down into two segments microscopes, and accessories and supplies. The segment made up microscopes held a value of more than $2.7 billion in 2011, and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 4.9% to reach nearly $3.5 billion in 2016. The segment made up of accessories and supplies was worth $488 million in 2011 and should be worth $632 million in 2016, a CAGR of 5.3%. The field of microscopy has undergone an enormous evolution since the earliest optical microscopes were developed in the 1600s. The optical microscope has been refined continuously since its introduction, resulting in todays superb scientific instruments. The optical microscope, however, is ultimately limited in the minimum size and nature of the features it can resolve by manufacturability constraints and, ultimately, the physics of light itself. While microscopes today make up a billion-dollar industry, their true importance lies in the activities they make possible, such as life-sciences research, microelectronics, and advancedmaterials science. Microscopy is also particularly important to the expanding field of nanotechnology. BCC believes that the fundamentals are in place for long-term growth in the optical microscope market, including educational equipment spending, trends in infrared spectroscopy, life-sciences research and development, and spending for materials-science instruments. The report is intended especially for manufacturers and vendors of microscopes and related accessories. Other readers who should find it particularly useful include entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, and those with a need to know where the microscopy market is headed over the next five years. The report should also be of interest to end users such as nanotechnology companies whose technology roadmaps may make critical assumptions about the availability and performance of different materials characterization technologies, including microscopes. Other potential readers include members of technical and professional organizations such as ASM International and the American Society for Nondestructive Testing.

SUMMARY FIGURE MARKET FOR MICROSCOPES, ACCESSORIES, AND SUPPLIES, 2010-2016 ($ MILLIONS)

Source: BCC Research Microscopy: The Global Market (IAS017D) Data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC, 49 Walnut Park, Building 2, Wellesley, MA 02481, Telephone: 866-285-7215; Email: editor@bccresearch.com as the source and publisher, along with report number, which can be found in the first paragraph of this release.