Ion Milling System Market Report 2026

The ion milling system market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.75 billion in 2025 to $3.01 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to semiconductor R&D expansion, reliance on manual sample prep, growth of microscopy labs, academic research demand, materials science advancements.

The ion milling system market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $4.4 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advanced node semiconductor growth, nanotechnology research expansion, automation of labs, demand for defect analysis, high-precision manufacturing. Major trends in the forecast period include growth of semiconductor failure analysis, adoption of precision surface etching, expansion of advanced material research, demand for high-resolution sample preparation, automation of milling systems.

The rising consumer awareness of environmental issues is expected to propel the growth of the ion milling system market going forward. Environmental awareness entails understanding environmental challenges and recognizing the links between human activities, sustainability, and responsibility. Ion milling systems contribute to addressing these challenges by preparing and analyzing samples such as air filters, water filters, and soil to reveal pollutant types and distribution. For instance, in July 2023, the UK Office for National Statistics reported that over 86% of adults in Great Britain made at least some lifestyle changes to address environmental concerns between May and June 2023. Therefore, increasing environmental awareness is driving the adoption and growth of ion milling systems.

Major companies in the ion milling system market are advancing the development of TEM autoprep pro technology to automate and enhance the precision of sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. This innovation aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in material characterization. The TEM autoprep pro technology automates the preparation of high-quality TEM samples, ensuring precise control of milling parameters, which minimizes damage and enhances uniformity. This streamlining of the process boosts efficiency and facilitates more accurate nanoscale analysis. For example, in August 2024, TESCAN, a Czech-based manufacturer of electron microscopes, introduced the TESCAN AMBER X 2, a plasma FIB-SEM system that combines Ga FIB precision with plasma FIB efficiency for high-resolution sample preparation in materials science. Key features include the MISTRAL Plasma FIB Column, TEM autoprep pro, and a field-free UHR-SEM Column, which set a new high-throughput standard in the ion milling system market and pose a challenge to traditional Ga FIB-SEMs.

In October 2025, Axcelis Technologies, a U.S.-based provider of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, acquired Veeco Instruments, Inc. for an enterprise value of approximately US$ 4.4 billion. This acquisition aims to combine complementary technologies to offer a more comprehensive suite of ion beam and thin-film processing systems, expanding capabilities in advanced packaging, compound-semiconductor, and thin-film deposition or etch applications. Veeco Instruments is a U.S.-based manufacturer of semiconductor process equipment, including ion beam deposition and etch systems, metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and other thin-film processing tools.

Major companies operating in the ion milling system market are Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, JEOL Ltd., Leica Microsystems GmbH, Veeco Instruments Inc., Oxford Instruments plc, Plasma-Therm LLC, Gatan Inc., Denton Vacuum, AJA International Inc., Nordiko Technical Services Ltd., Technoorg Linda Co. Ltd., scia Systems GmbH, Intlvac Thin Film Corporation, 4Wave Inc, Quorum Technologies Ltd., Agar Scientific, Nano-Master Inc., Scientific Vacuum Systems Ltd, EDEN Instruments, Y.A.C. Beam Co. Ltd, Canon Anelva Corp, Fischione Instruments Inc., Ted Pella Inc., ULVAC-RIKO Inc., Unicam Systems.

North America was the largest region in the ion milling system market in 2025. The regions covered in the ion milling system market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the ion milling system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The ion milling system market consists of sales of flat milling and cross-section milling. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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