AFP/ATL Machines Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, & Competitive Analysis: 2021-2026

Market Insights

The disruptive journey of composites in various industries has not been hidden from the world, especially in the aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and marine industries. Among all, aerospace is one industry that has witnessed excellent penetration of advanced composites in the crucial sections including fuselage and wings in the next-generation aircraft: B787 and A350XWB. Today, all the major airframers are not developing their next-generation aircraft without considering the use of composites.

However, the road to success for composites in the aircraft industry was not that easy as it seemed; prepregs are the most suitable material for fabricating composite parts that are laid layers on layers manually, generally at a rate of 2.5 lbs. per hour. It was impossible to fabricate a large number of composite parts with such a low layup rate. In order to meet this challenge, a close collaboration between aircraft OEMs and tier players with composite industry stakeholders was required to develop advanced processes that are fully automated and have an extremely higher layup rate with increased part performance. This factor has led to the successful development of AFP/ATL machines for fabricating aircraft structural parts including fuselage and wings.

These AFP/ATL machines is highly concentrated around the aerospace industry with the development of several crucial composite parts of the latest aircraft such as B787 and A350XWB. Although, AFP/ATL machines do find applications in other industries the dominance of the aerospace industry is expected to continue over the next five years as well. The expected introduction of fuel-efficient variants of B777 aircraft (B777X) and other key aircraft programs, such as C919 and Irkut MC-21, is likely to generate a healthy demand for AFP/ATL machines in the aerospace industry.

The year 2018 was the iconic year for the AFP/ATL machine suppliers with the highest number of AFP/ATL machines sold worldwide, a landmark figure that the industry has never touched before. However, the market players recorded a massive plunge in 2019. The key factor behind this massive decline was the grounding of B737Max, which forced Boeing and related tier players to seize their investment plans for AFP/ATL machines for the program as well as for other programs.

Thereafter, the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has entirely flipped the dynamics of the market in 2020. The pandemic exacerbated the existing industry challenges. Some of the key challenges are deferment in aircraft deliveries by airlines, halts in production activities in the several production facilities of key OEMs, production cut by major OEMs (Airbus slashed production rates of their key aircraft programs by 1/3rd and very similar announcements by Boeing), fall in operating margin and stock prices of the industry stakeholders, huge COVID-related cost, and remote work affecting the efficiency.

Based on the study of market recoveries in previous downturns (The Great Recession) coupled with primary interviews across the supply chain, the publisher estimates suggest that the AFP/ATL machines market is likely to commence rebounding from 2021 onwards, followed by maintaining sequential growth till 2026, ultimately reaching to the value of US$ 0.44 billion by 2026. The market fundamentals are rendering the rays of hope for the market stakeholders. For instance; Boeing and Airbus still having a huge pile of order backlogs, asserting them to produce aircraft for more than seven years at the current production rate; market entry of new and variants of the existing aircraft programs, B777X, A321XLR, C919, and MC-21; and resumption of production of B737MAX and A220. Furthermore, expected recovery in production rates of the best-selling aircraft programs (A320 including neo, B737 including Max, B787, and A350XWB), the introduction of fuel-efficient variants of aircraft programs (B777x, E-2 jets, etc.), and exceptional benefits of AFP/ATL machines, such as excellent layup rate and reduced wastage, are likely to substantiate the demand for AFP/ATL machines in the coming years, expecting to heal up the market losses quickly as well as registering speedy recovery.

Segment Analysis

AFP/ATL Machines Market Share by Machine Type

The AFP/ATL machines market is segmented based on the machine type as AFP machine, ATL machine, and hybrid AFP/ATL machine. Despite the enduring massive decline in 2020, AFP machine is expected to remain dominant till 2026, owing to the increasing development of low-cost AFP machines and increasing acceptance of these machines in a wide array of industries including automotive and space.

AFP/ATL Machines Market Share by End-User Type

Based on the end-user type, the market is segmented as Tier Players, OEMs, and Others. Tier players and OEMs are likely to remain the major procurers of these machines in the coming years. Others mainly include universities and research centers, which generally procure AFP/ATL machines for the research and development purpose to find an innovative solution for various industries.

Regional Insights

Even though North America and Europe have registered massive declines in 2020, both regions are expected to remain the key demand generators of the market till 2026. The USA is the growth engine of North America’s market with the presence of all major aircraft OEMs, tier players, and major AFP/ATL machine suppliers. As per the recent estimate of IATA, the global air passenger market has suffered huge losses with a -65.9% decline in word RPKs in 2020, with Europe, Middle East, and North America enduring massive losses. Asia-Pacific is likely to witness the fastest recovery during the forecast period, driven by a host of factors including increasing demand for commercial aircraft to support the expected rise in passenger traffic and upcoming indigenous aircraft (COMAC C919 and CR929).

The AFP/ATL machines market is segmented into the following categories:

AFP/ATL Machines Market Size, Share & Forecast, by Machine Type

• AFP Machine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• ATL Machine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Hybrid AFP/ATL Machine (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

AFP/ATL Machines Market Size, Share & Forecast, by End-User Type

• Tier Players (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• OEMs (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

AFP/ATL Machines Market Size, Share & Forecast, By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA and Rest of North America)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: The Middle East, Latin America, and Others)

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises component suppliers, AFP/ATL machine suppliers, AFP/ATL composite part fabricators, tier players, distributors, OEMs, airlines, aircraft leasing companies, and MRO companies.

The key AFP/ATL machine manufacturers are:

• M.Torres Diseños Industriales S.A.U
• Electroimpact Inc.
• Coriolis Composites technologies SAS
• Ingersoll Machine Tools Inc.
• Fives
• Accudyne System, Inc.
• Airborne
• Automated Dynamics
• Mikrosam AD.

The development of low-cost robotic AFP machines, close engagement with OEMs for the development of custom machines addressing specific requirements of clients, expansion in untapped and growing markets, and execution of mergers & acquisitions are the key strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s AFP/ATL machines market realities and future possibilities for the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most comprehensive manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The strategic report also studies and analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the market and provides a detailed overview of the possible market recoveries in the long run. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available as well as formulate growth strategies.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with the publisher’s internal database and statistical tools. More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data. The publisher has conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all five regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
• Market trend and forecast analysis.
• Market segment trend and forecast.
• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.