Conveyor Market Overview, 2024-29

The global conveyor system market has grown significantly over the years, driven by rising need for efficient material handling in industries such as automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Conveyor systems are critical for moving items and materials throughout industrial facilities, increasing productivity, minimising manual labour, and improving safety. From simple manual systems to highly sophisticated automated solutions, the conveyor system industry has developed to satisfy the expanding demands of enterprises looking for efficient, dependable, and scalable transportation ways.

Conveyor technology expanded during the mid-twentieth century, with inventions such as roller conveyors, pallet conveyors, and overhead conveyors appearing to address the specialised needs of various sectors. The COVID-19 epidemic had a significant impact on the global conveyor systems business. Many industries, particularly automotive and construction, experienced shutdowns and delays, affecting the installation and maintenance of conveyor systems. However, the epidemic underlined the necessity of automation and efficiency in industrial processes. As corporations confronted labour shortages and social distancing requirements, demand for automated material handling devices, such as conveyors, increased.

Demand for sectors such as e-commerce and food and beverage increased dramatically as people migrated to online shopping and necessities. This resulted in increasing investment in conveyor systems to handle the huge amount of orders efficiently. Conveyor systems are mostly exported from Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, while they are heavily imported from the Middle East, Africa, and South America, owing to industrial expansion and infrastructure development. Germany, Japan, and the United States are among the top exporters of modern conveyor systems, owing to their large manufacturing bases and technological knowledge.

According to the research report "Global Conveyor System Market Overview, 2029,", the global conveyor system market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.73% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. Innovation has played an important part in the growth of conveyor systems, allowing businesses to handle commodities more effectively and adaptably. Robotics is rapidly being used in conveyor systems to improve automation and adaptability. For example, robotic arms can be used in tandem with conveyors to accomplish operations like sorting, packing, and palletising, minimising the need for manual involvement.

Honeywell Intelligrated offers highly automated material handling solutions, including conveyor systems, to industries such as retail, logistics, and distribution. To boost efficiency and flexibility, the company integrates smart technology into its conveyor systems. Mecalux, a leading leader in the warehousing and logistics industries, offers highly flexible and customisable conveyor systems that are designed to maximise warehouse productivity. In 2021, Siemens collaborated with Amazon to supply upgraded conveyor systems for Amazon's distribution centres, allowing the e-commerce giant to manage rising order quantities more efficiently.

Similarly, Honeywell Intelligrated worked with Walmart to develop automated conveyor systems in their fulfilment centres, which increased order accuracy and reduced delivery times. SSI Schaefer, a German corporation, provides integrated logistics solutions, including innovative conveyor systems, to industries such as warehousing, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce. Interroll, a Swiss company, specialises in rollers, motors, and conveyor modules, with solutions for industries such as logistics, airports, and food and beverage.

Market Drivers

• Increased Automation in Industrial Processes: Automation is one of the primary drivers of the global conveyor system industry. Automation improves productivity while also ensuring uniformity, reducing human error, and lowering labour expenses. Automotive, e-commerce, and pharmaceutical industries are combining automated conveyor systems to improve operations and satisfy high-volume production demands.
• Mining Industries: Conveyor systems are critical in mining operations because they convey bulk materials including coal, ores, and aggregates. The global growth in mining activities, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, has increased demand for long-lasting and efficient conveyor systems capable of handling big loads in harsh settings.

Market Challenges

• High Initial Investment and Maintenance Costs: One of the conveyor system market's major hurdles is the high initial installation cost. The expense of purchasing and installing advanced automated conveyor systems might be prohibitively expensive for small and medium-sized organisations. These high initial costs hinder uptake, especially in emerging nations.
• Regulatory and Safety Concerns: Conveyor systems, particularly in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries, must conform to strict safety and hygiene standards. Complying with these requirements can raise the cost and complexity of system design and installation. Conveyor systems in industries like mining must adhere to severe environmental standards, such as dust control and noise reduction, which complicates system implementation.

Market Trends

• Energy-Efficient Conveyor Systems: As many sectors prioritise sustainability, energy-efficient conveyor systems have emerged. Manufacturers are adopting energy-efficient motors, low-friction materials, and regenerative drives to reduce power usage.
• Automation in Warehouse: The post-COVID spike in e-commerce has resulted in greater investment in automated warehouses and distribution centres. Conveyor systems, together with robotic arms and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), are becoming increasingly important in automated solutions, allowing for faster sorting, packing, and delivery.
• Growing Use of Conveyor Systems: As emerging market industries expand, particularly in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa, demand for conveyor systems rises. Rapid industrialisation in these regions, combined with government measures to increase industry and mining activity.

The automotive and transportation industry is leading the global conveyor system market due to several compelling reasons that make these sectors significant drivers of demand and innovation in conveyor technologies.

One of the key reasons for the automotive and transportation industries' dominance is the large volume and complexity of the production processes used. Automotive production lines require efficient and dependable conveyor systems to transfer parts, components, and finished vehicles through the many stages of assembly, painting, and inspection. Precision timing, high throughput, and low downtime make modern conveyor systems critical for sustaining production efficiency and quality. Furthermore, the automotive and transportation industries are distinguished by strict safety and quality requirements.

Conveyor systems in these industries must meet stringent performance and reliability standards to assure the safety and integrity of the finished goods. This mandates the deployment of modern conveyor technology that can handle big loads, operate under extreme conditions, and provide consistent performance. Another important driver is the increased use of automation and robotics in the automotive and transportation industries. Conveyor systems are essential to automated production lines, allowing for smooth integration with robotic systems, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and other automation technologies.

This integration boosts productivity, lowers labour costs, and improves overall manufacturing efficiency, establishing conveyor systems as an essential component of modern automotive and transportation operations. The global expansion of the automotive and transportation industries is also helping to drive the conveyor system market. Emerging countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are seeing considerable investments in car manufacture, resulting in increased demand for conveyor systems. Rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, and the demand for effective transportation options in these regions all contribute to growth.

Belt conveyors dominate the global conveyor system market, outperforming other types such as roller, pallet, and overhead conveyors.

Belt conveyors are widely utilised in a variety of industries due to their versatility, efficiency, and ability to handle a diverse range of products. Their supremacy stems from their ability to transport both bulk and unit loads, making them indispensable in industries including food and beverage, automotive, e-commerce, and mining. Belt conveyors' key advantage is their simplicity and capacity to efficiently transport massive volumes of material across long distances. Belt conveyors are reliable and flexible, whether they're moving delicate packaged goods in a warehouse or large bulk materials in mines. Their design also allows for continuous movement, making them useful in industries where constant production is critical.

Other conveyor types, such as roller conveyors, are better suited for specialised duties, such as accumulating or sorting products in a warehouse, whereas pallet and overhead conveyors serve to more specialised uses, such as moving large goods or optimising vertical space. However, they lack the universal adaptability and cost-effectiveness of belt conveyors. Interroll is well-known for its high-performance belt conveyor solutions, which are used in a variety of industries such as food and beverage and logistics. Dorner, which specialises in hygienic belt conveyors, is particularly strong in the food and beverage industry, delivering solutions that exceed high hygiene standards.

Automatic conveyor systems dominate the worldwide conveyor system market, owing to advances in automation technology and increased demand.

These systems greatly eliminate the need for human interaction, allowing for faster, more consistent, and error-free processes, which is crucial in industries with high production and supply chain needs. The rising emphasis on Industry 4.0, smart factories, and the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology into manufacturing lines has also accelerated the use of automated systems. This automation movement is especially popular in industries such as automotive, food and beverage, and e-commerce, where there is a strong need to reduce operational costs while increasing throughput.

Semi-automatic conveyor systems also have a large market share, particularly in industries where complete automation is not yet practical or cost-effective. These systems blend human supervision and machine efficiency, providing flexibility to enterprises that demand some amount of manual control or adaptation in their operations. Manual systems, while still in use, are gradually losing market share as businesses seek ways to increase productivity and lower labour costs. These systems are commonly used in smaller or less technologically advanced sectors where automation may not justify the expenditure. Siemens AG, Daifuku Co., Ltd., Swisslog Holding AG, Dematic Group, and TGW Logistics Group are among the key players driving the worldwide conveyor system market.

Unit load conveyor systems dominate the worldwide conveyor system market, owing to their widespread applicability in a variety of sectors.

Unit load systems are designed to handle individual products or packages, making them appropriate for sectors that manage specific goods such as boxes, pallets, or containers. The fast expansion of the e-commerce sector, fuelled by rising demand for efficient order fulfilment, has greatly increased the use of unit load conveyors. These technologies are critical for increasing speed, precision, and productivity in distribution centres and warehouses that need accurate handling of small, individual objects. Bulk conveyor systems, which are crucial in industries such as mining, agriculture, and chemicals for moving vast quantities of loose materials such as coal, grain, or aggregates, are not increasing as quickly as unit load systems.

However, the global trend towards automation in manufacturing and logistics has turned the attention to unit load systems, as businesses in a variety of industries prioritise speed, efficiency, and the flexibility to handle a wide range of product kinds. Leading conveyor system manufacturers, including Siemens AG, Daifuku Co., Ltd., Dematic Group, and Fives Group, are driving the adoption of unit load conveyors. These companies offer advanced automation systems designed specifically for businesses that prioritise the management of smaller, more manageable loads.

Europe currently dominates the worldwide conveyor system market, owing to its strong industrial base, advanced manufacturing sector, and growing adoption of automation technology.

The region is home to some of the world's largest and most technologically advanced businesses, including automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, all of which rely significantly on conveyor systems to handle materials efficiently. Countries such as Germany, France, and Italy play an important role due to their well-established manufacturing industries and emphasis on process innovation. Germany, in particular, stands out for its leadership in car production and industrial automation, both of which rely heavily on conveyor systems for assembly lines and warehouse operations. The rising emphasis on Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing in Europe has hastened the deployment of automated conveyor systems.

European businesses are rapidly implementing machine learning technologies into conveyor systems to improve efficiency, save operational costs, and boost production. Also, the region's strict rules on worker safety and environmental sustainability have increased demand for conveyor systems that are more efficient, automated, and eco-friendly. Leading European firms such as Siemens AG, Swisslog Holding AG, and TGW Logistics Group are pioneering the development of cutting-edge conveyor systems to meet the changing needs of industries. Their experience in automation and material handling, combined with Europe's strong emphasis on technical innovation and industrial efficiency, establishes the area as the global conveyor system market leader.

• In 2021, Swisslog Holding AG introduced autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), that interface with conveyor systems to improve warehouse flexibility and automation.
• In 2023, FlexLink launches a new line of energy-efficient conveyor systems, with the goal of reducing power usage and environmental effect.
• In 2022, Dematic introduces its new line of smart conveyor systems, integrating powerful AI and machine learning algorithms to optimise material handling processes and boost system efficiency.

Considered in this report

• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029

Aspects covered in this report

• Conveyor market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Industry

• Automotive & Transportation
• Food & Beverage
• Chemical & Pharmaceutical
• Construction & Mining
• Consumer Electronics
• Other

By Type

• Belt
• Roller
• Pallet
• Overhead
• Others

By Operation

• Manual
• Semi-automatic
• Automatic

By Load

• Bulk
• Unit

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Conveyor industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.