Global Cold Plasma Market - 2022-2029

Market Overview

The global cold plasma market size was worth US$ XX million in 2021 and is estimated to reach US$ XX million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 15.7% within the forecast period (2022-2029).

Cold plasma, also known as non-thermal plasma, is a partially ionized gas in a state of non-equilibrium. It comprises a mix of ions, ultraviolet photons, electrons and neutrals, such as radicals. The reactive mix can inactivate microorganisms, including fungi, viruses, bacteria and spores and thus is widely used for ensuring the safety and quality of food products and packaging applications. The technology evolved as the most promising food processing technology for sanitization or decontamination of fruits, vegetables and other processed foods.

The composition and concentration of these plasma components vary significantly based on the plasma source and thus can be designed for specific applications. Cold plasma is finding extensive use cases in various industries ranging from medical to food processing, automotive, aerospace, electronics and plastics.

Market Dynamics

Rising demand for food safety drives the cold plasma market.

Rising demand for food safety drives the cold plasma market

The growing interest in food safety among processors and consumers alike is the primary factor driving the overall growth of the cold plasma market globally. The food processing and packaging industry evolved as one of the lucrative growth sectors for low-temperature plasma technology owing to its advantages in safety management.

The outbreak of several foodborne diseases has increased awareness of the safety of food products, particularly processed and packaged foods; this has increased the demand for effective technologies capable of providing microbial decontamination in fresh and processed foods against a wide range of microbes.

Cold plasma has been deployed in the industry for various applications, including food decontamination, sanitization of food contact surfaces, toxin degradation and enzyme inactivation. It has evolved as the most suitable non-thermal technology in food processing due to its microbial prevention benefits.

Food processors are integrating the technology to increase shelf-life, enhance quality, safe packaging and several other factors. The environment-friendly nature is another parameter driving the growth of cold plasma technology in the food processing industry.

High capital investment & Design Complexities hamper the growth of the cold plasma market

The initial cost associated with integrating cold plasma technology in production and processing facilities is the primary factor hindering market growth. Cold plasma is involved with the integration of various equipment that costs high and is complex for maintenance. It has increased the overall cost of cold plasma in food, medical and other industries.

However, the technology offers considerable economic benefits over conventional chilling and decontamination processes in the long run, thus offsetting the initial cost. Moreover, the potential benefits offered by this technology will likely promote its adoption during the forecast period, despite the high cost.

Also, the penetration of cold plasma technology is significantly less owing to low awareness of its benefits over conventional technologies. The limited commercialization in the current market scenario led to lower growth rates in the market. Cold plasma technology also has disadvantages in the food processing industry. For instance, as cold plasma is a surface operating technology, it cannot be deployed to inactivate endogenous enzymes that are intact in the whole fruit.

Also, designing the proper cold plasma system, primarily based on the selection of gas for customized applications, is another complex process, limiting the market adoption in critical applications.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The global cold plasma market has witnessed a mixed impact due to COVID-19 owing to its application in sterilizing and disinfection surfaces. Despite the disruption in the manufacturing sector in 2020, the overwhelming demand for sterilization and disinfection of healthcare facilities and buildings has created a massive demand for disinfectants, increasing the cold plasma market's revenue to some extent.

Before COVID -19, plasma was already used to destroy microorganisms such as viruses. And this use was further enhanced in 2020 by introducing cold plasma-related devices, particularly for surface disinfection during the COVID -19 pandemic. Based on the current developments in cold plasma, industry insiders anticipate that cold plasma will be one of the effective and environmentally friendly tools for inactivating different viruses during the forecast period, not only for COVID-19 but also for other viruses.

The main inclination towards cold plasma use of disinfection in the future will be its features of not producing excessive waste and can effectively inactivate viruses in different media and surfaces. Despite the requirement for more ways to prevent Coronavirus, the challenges of using Non-Thermal Plasma in the present pandemic prove to be hard because speedy approval for using Non-Thermal Plasma technology, designing, developing and manufacturing devices for treatment is the primary short-term barriers. New technology, such as Cold plasma air filters to neutralize Coronavirus in the air, is being suggested to combat COVID -19, mainly in European countries.

Segment Analysis

The global cold plasma market is segmented by application, end-user and region.

Cold plasma is used in semiconductor manufacturing for ultrafine cleaning of various semiconductor components and plasma activation, which increases surface energy and enhanced performance

Based on end-user, the global cold plasma market is segmented into automotive, aerospace, polymers & plastics, medical, food processing & packaging, electronic & semiconductor and others. Electronic & semiconductor holds a major share of the cold plasma market. Cold plasma is used in semiconductor manufacturing for ultrafine cleaning of various semiconductor components and plasma activation, increasing surface energy and enhancing performance. Growing dependence on semiconductors globally is also driving the cold plasma market.

According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), the global sale of semiconductors was US$ 412.3 billion in 2019. Semiconductors are used in a different range of products, from smartphones and computers to cars and industrial equipment, while also one of the cores for emerging markets, such as AI, quantum computing, advanced wireless networks and 5G. The growing adoption of new technologies increases the dependency on semiconductors, strengthening the cold plasma market.

Other than semiconductors, cold plasma is also extensively used in the manufacturing process of various electronic instruments. For example, Atmospheric pressure plasma is applied in wire bonding as a selective fine cleaning step to eliminate contamination and dust residues from the contact surfaces. Generally, strong bonds between wire and substrate can only be attained on clean contact surfaces. So, plasma treatment has a substantial outcome on the quality and reliability of the component.

Other than that, various research is being conducted on plasma's electronic properties to innovate new applications of cold plasma. For instance, Prof. Karl-Michael Weitzel's group at the Philipps University of Marburg investigated using a commercial plasma source for conductivity studies.

Geographical Analysis

Asia-Pacific saw the fastest growth, owing to the ongoing shift of electronic manufacturing to Asian countries

Asia-Pacific saw the fastest growth, owing to the ongoing shift of electronic manufacturing to Asian countries, rising demand for decontaminated frozen food, expanding textile manufacturing facilities and rising polymer production. Due to increasing infrastructural and economic activities, China is estimated to lead the Asia-Pacific cold plasma market during the forecast period. Escalating R&D investments in China's healthcare sector is estimated to showcase a positive effect on the cold plasma market in this country.

China is the world's largest producer of electronics. Smartphones, televisions, wires, cables, portable computing devices, gaming consoles and other personal devices grew the fastest in the electronics sector. Not only does the country meet domestic demand for electronics, but it also exports its production to other nations.

Electronics production in China is expected to grow as the middle-class population's disposable income rises and demand for electronic products increases in countries that import electronic products from China. With the growing electronics industry, the demand for cold plasma is expected to increase.

However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the country's economic and industrial manufacturing activities have been affected significantly. On the bright side, as of April 2020, China has lifted the country's lockdown and started various industrial operations. China's cold plasma market is expected to grow with the highest CAGR of 24.5% during the forecast period and contribute 25% market share in 2019.

Competitive Landscape

The global cold plasma market is highly competitive with local and global key players. The key players contributing to the market's growth are Linde PLC, Nordson Corporation, ADTEC Plasma Technology Co., Ltd., Henniker Plasma, Plasmatreat GmbH, Neoplas Med GmbH, Europlasma NV, Apyx Medical Corporation, Tantec Group, Vetaphone A/S among others.

The major companies are adopting several growth strategies, such as product launches, acquisitions and collaborations, contributing to the global growth of the cold plasma market.

• In June 2020, Vetaphone opened its first test lab to refine productivity and develop new corona and plasma products.
• In February 2021, Tullis Russell will install Vetaphone corona treatment technology on a state-of-the-art production line in Bollington, Lancashire. The commissioning will expand the company portfolio of coatings on film and paper for complex specialist applications.

Nordson Corporation

Overview: Nordson Corporation is an American multinational firm built-in 1954. The products offered by Nordson Corporation are used for dispensing adhesives, sealants, biomaterials, coatings and other materials; for fluid management; for testing and inspection; and for UV curing and plasma surface treatment. The company also serves numerous consumer non-durable, durable and technology end markets, including packaging, nonwovens, appliances, energy, electronics, medical transportation, construction and general product assembly and finishing. Currently, the company is offering precision technology solutions to nearly 35 countries globally.

Product Portfolio: AP Batch Series: The AP series vacuum plasma treatment system comprises batch units with small, mid-size and large vacuum chamber options that aim to offer process correlation, controller continuity and reliable, reproducible vacuum gas plasma treatment among different end-users. The AP series plasma treatment machines are designed for various plasma cleaning, surface activation and adhesion improvement applications. The company has launched AP-300 and AP-600 Plasma Treatment Machines, AP-1000 Plasma Treatment Equipment and AP-1500 Plasma Treatment Equipment.

Key Development

• On January 14, 2020, Nordson Corporation launched a MARCH Plasma Treatment System- PROGENY with 2-Meter Depth for Improved Manufacturing of Extended Catheters and Larger Products.

Why Purchase the Report?

• Visualize the global cold plasma market segmentation by application, end-user and region, highlighting key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the cold plasma market by analyzing trends and co-development deals.
• Excel data sheet with thousands of global cold plasma market-level 4/5 segmentation points.
• PDF report with the most relevant analysis cogently put together after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping in excel for the key product of all major market players

The global cold plasma market report would provide approximately 53 market data tables,50 figures and 201 pages.

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