Aircraft Heating Elements Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2023-2028

Market Insights

A heating element is a device that converts electrical energy into thermal energy through the process of Joule heating, a phenomenon where a conductor generates heat due to the flow of electric current. They are an essential component of an aircraft that is critical for ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers and crew, as well as the efficient operation of the aircraft. The heating elements provide consistent and reliable heating and are more energy-efficient than traditional heating methods, making them a preferred choice for industry stakeholders.

In 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic shook the aerospace industry due to a decline in aircraft production, order cancellations, and supply chain disruptions. As a result, the industry recorded a massive decline in the year 2020 across regions. The impact of this has been recorded across the supply chain including the demand for heating elements. Aircraft heating elements, a sizeable market, could not escape from such trends and witnessed a colossal decline (-27.7% in 2020). In 2021, the market started recovering from the disruption brought on by Covid-19 with the mass vaccination drive, the opening of air travel, and ease in lockdown.

The aircraft heating elements market is estimated to grow at a healthy CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period to reach a value of US$ 772 million in 2028. Major factors including but not limited to increasing penetration of heating elements in various applications, and expected rise in the production rate of the key aircraft programs, are expected to fuel the demand for heating elements during the forecast period.

Recent Market JVs and Acquisition: Heating elements is one of the markets that has been witnessing a fair number of mergers & acquisitions in the past decade. Some of the M&As that also affected the competitive landscape especially the market consolidation are the following:

• In 2022, Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc acquired Durex Industries, a leading provider of custom electric thermal solutions for ultra-high criticality industrial equipment
• In 2021, NIBE Industrier AB acquired BriskHeat Corporation to strengthen its NIBE element business division. BriskHeat Corporation is a leading manufacturer of flexible surface heating elements, controls, and accessories for a variety of end markets

Platform Type

The market is segmented into commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, general aviation, helicopter, military aircraft, and UAVs. Commercial aircraft is expected to be the dominant segment during the forecast period. An expected increase in the production rates of the best-selling aircraft programs to meet the huge order backlogs of aerospace giants (Airbus and Boeing) is estimated to drive the demand for heating elements in the commercial aircraft segment. Supply chain disruptions are affecting the market dynamics, especially compelling airframers to revise their production plans. Both, Boeing and Airbus, keep revising their production plans for their best-selling aircraft programs. The long-term market outlook seems rosy with healthy growth opportunities in the years to come. Boeing, in its latest commercial aircraft outlook, anticipated that approximately 41,170 commercial and regional aircraft are likely to be delivered in the next twenty years, suggesting a sustainable demand for all types of heating elements in the long term.

Application Type

The market is segmented into wing de-icing, engine de-icing, floor heating, ECS, water heating, instruments & sensors, and others. Wing de-icing is expected to remain the market's largest and fastest-growing application type during the forecast period. Wing de-icing uses flexible heating elements, one of the dominant technology types used in the aerospace industry. In addition to that, electric heating elements are preferred for wing de-icing as they provide protection regardless of engine operation.

End-User Type

The market is segmented into OE and aftermarket. Aftermarket sales are likely to hold the leading position during the forecast period. Aging aircraft fleet size, frequent maintenance and inspection, increasing demand for MRO services, and regulatory requirements are the factors propelling the growth of aftermarket sales during the forecast period.

Technology Type

The market is segmented into flexible heating elements and others. Flexible heating elements are expected to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period. Flexible heating elements are preferred as they can be easily bent and shaped to fit into complex shapes. In addition to that, flexible heating elements are light in weight and are used in major applications such as wing de-icing, floor heating, ECS, and instrument & sensor heating.

Regional Analysis

North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft heating elements during the forecast period. This region has a presence of a large number of major OEMs and aerospace giants, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Bombardier, which make the region a growth engine for the heating elements market. Also, the region has the presence of key heating element suppliers, such as Minco Products, Inc., and Thermon Group plc, along with key heater manufacturers such as GE and AMETEK, Inc. (FMH Aerospace Corp.).

Asia-Pacific is estimated to remain the fastest-growing market for aircraft heating elements in the foreseeable future. Growth is mainly driven by China and India, due to increasing demand for commercial aircraft to support rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants of Boeing and Airbus in China, the expected launch of COMAC C919, and rising aircraft fleet size.

Key Players

The market is highly concentrated. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the aircraft heating elements market.

• Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc (Thermocoax and Durex Industries)
• Zoppas Industries
• NIBE Industrier AB (Heatron, Inc. and BriskHeat Corporation)
• Thermon Group Holdings, Inc
• Minco Products Inc
• Birk Manufacturing, Inc
• Thermal Circuits Inc
• Tayco Engineering, Inc

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft heating elements market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.

The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

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 conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four 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, New Product Launches, etc
• COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities
• Emerging trends
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players
• Key success factors

The aircraft heating elements market is segmented into the following categories:

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by Platform Type

• Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Helicopter (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• UAVs (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by Application

• Wing De-icing (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Engine De-icing (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Floor Heating (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Environmental Control Systems (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Water Heating (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Instruments & Sensors (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by End User Type

• OE (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aftermarket (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by Sales Channel Type

• Direct Sales (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Distributor Sales (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by Technology Type

• Flexible Heating Elements (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Other Heating Elements (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)

Aircraft Heating Elements Market, by Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and Rest of Europe)
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan, China, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)