For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Jesse Yoder, Flow Research: 781-224-7550 (jesse@flowresearch.com)
Nick Limb, Ducker Worldwide: 800-929-0086 (nickl@ducker.com)

New Temperature Study Predicts Fast Growth for Infrared Thermometers and Thin-Wire RTDs

Wakefield, Massachusetts, January 10, 2000 - Growth in infrared thermometers and thin-wire RTDs will outpace all other temperature sensors with average annual increases of 11.8% and 11.5% respectively in the United States through 2004, according to a new market research study from Flow Research and Ducker Worldwide. The study, which was released on January 4, 2000, is entitled The Market for Temperature Sensors and Transmitters in the Americas. It is the result of a year of cooperative work by Flow Research (Wakefield, Massachusetts) and Ducker Worldwide (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan), and analyzes the market for both temperature sensors and temperature transmitters in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Within sensors, thermocouples, RTDs (resistance temperature detectors), thermistors, infrared thermometers and thermowells are included in the study. Total market size for temperature sensors in the Americas in 1999, including thermowells, is $540 million. Thermocouples, which are still the most widely used type of temperature sensor, account for the largest percentage of this total. RTDs have been making inroads into thermocouple sales, however, and this trend is expected to continue. One important trend within RTDs is that growth in thin-film RTDs is outpacing growth of wirewound RTDs. Improvements in thin-film technology and lower selling prices have combined to make thin-film RTDs the second-fastest growing segment of the temperature sensor market.

While infrared technology has been around for many years, increased education among users is leading to wider use of infrared products. Infrared thermometers are used when the use of contact temperature sensors is not practical. Examples include measuring the temperature of objects in motion, and high temperature applications. Infrared thermometers are also used for ³spot checking² temperatures in remote locations. Just as wireless technology is becoming more popular in other areas such as telecommunications, the use of infrared thermometers for determining temperatures at a distance will become more widespread as users become more familiar with them.

In addition to temperature sensors, the study includes temperature transmitters. Types of temperature transmitters include high-tier, smart, programmable, analog and low cost. Of these five types, high-tier transmitters are expected to show the fastest growth over the next five years. Unit shipments of high-tier temperature transmitters are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 9.6 percent over the next five years. High-tier temperature transmitters are more accurate than smart transmitters, and many of them accept more than one type of sensor input. Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus
temperature transmitters are included in the group of high-tier products. Shipments of analog transmitters are projected to decline.

As part of the temperature study, Flow Research and Ducker Worldwide contacted over 450 temperature companies and conducted more than 250 interviews with temperature sensor and transmitter suppliers. A comprehensive end-user survey was also conducted, based on interviews with 132 end-users and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in the process and non-process industries. In addition to the results of the end user survey, the report includes analysis of temperature products and technologies, market size and forecasts, supplier market shares, and company profiles for 54 leading suppliers.

Flow Research is a market research company devoted to researching temperature and flowmeter markets. Ducker Worldwide has 35 years experience researching industrial and business markets, and has offices throughout the world. Flow Research and Ducker Worldwide have formed a business alliance to produce a series of market research studies focusing on temperature and flow. For more information on the study, access the Flow Research website at http://www.flowresearch.com. For more information on Flow Research, click on the following link: http://www.internetwire.com/technews/tn/tn982584.dsl