Aircraft Polymer Seals Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2022-2027

Market Highlights

Polymer seals cover a long list of seals made of polymer materials, such as elastomers and thermoplastics. These seals are used in a range of aircraft components, such as airframe, nacelles & engines, interiors, landing gear, wheels and brakes, flight control actuation, and hydraulics. Over the years, there has been a paradigm shift from metal seals to polymer seals in the wake of the lightweighting of components. The aircraft polymer seals market experienced a decline of -27.7% in 2020 amid the pandemic. While the industry was expected to recover faster in 2021, the suspension in deliveries of the B787 program from early 2021 due to manufacturing quality problems, delays in the market entry of C919, and further waves of the pandemic dented the pace of recovery.

However, the long-term outlook still seems fruitful, well backed by the industry's buoyant nature and strong fundamentals. Various factors are supporting the demand for seals in the aircraft industry such as increasing production rates of the aircraft programs, such as B737 and A320; introduction of the fuel-efficient aircraft variants, such as B777x and A330neo; and rising global aircraft fleet size. Overall, the aircraft polymer seals market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period to reach a value of US$ 1.8 Billion in 2027.

Market Segments' Analysis

Based on the aircraft type, the aircraft polymer seals market is segmented as commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, helicopter, military aircraft, and general aviation. Despite taking a nosedive in 2020, commercial aircraft is expected to remain the largest and fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Gradual recovery in air passenger traffic coupled with the resumption of B737 Max deliveries as well as projected market entry of aircraft programs, such as B777x, Comac C919, Irkut MC-21, and Airbus A321XLR are likely to create a healthy demand for polymer seals in the commercial aircraft segment.

Based on the application type, the market is segmented as airframe; nacelles & engines; aircraft interiors; landing gear, wheels & brakes; flight control actuation and hydraulics; and others. Airframe is expected to remain the largest, whereas nacelles & engines are likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Airframes have a wide range of applications such as sealing doors, windows, wings, ailerons, spoilers, canopies, hatches, and various panels, creating a high demand for seals. Seals are used in a wide range of engine applications and are designed to withstand high temperatures. Fire seals are one of the widely used seal types in engines.

Based on the function type, the market is segmented as aerodynamic surface sealing, air & fluid management seals, fire seals, conductive and insulative seals, and others. Aerodynamic surface sealing is expected to remain the most dominant segment of the market during the forecast period. Aerodynamic surface sealing is used to fill gaps between flight control surfaces and wings of the aircraft where it improves aerodynamics by reducing air friction, resulting in high demand for polymer seals.

Based on the material type, the market is segmented into elastomeric seals and thermoplastic seals. Elastomers are expected to remain the larger and faster-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Elastomers are gaining traction in the aircraft industry as they are lighter in weight, have higher temperature resistance, and are more flexible. The high demand for lightweight aircraft is the major driving force behind the widespread use of elastomeric seals in the aircraft industry.

In terms of regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America is expected to remain the largest market for aircraft polymer seals during the forecast period. The presence of major aircraft OEMs, tier players, raw material suppliers, and part fabricators in the region is driving the market growth. Asia-Pacific is likely to be the fastest-growing region, owing to rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants by Airbus and Boeing for multiple aircraft programs, and the upcoming indigenous aircraft, C919.

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, seal manufacturers, distributors, aircraft manufacturers, airline companies, aircraft leasing companies, and MRO companies. The following are the key players in the aircraft polymer seals market.

Freudenberg Group

Hutchinson SA

Meggitt Plc

TransDigm Group Incorporated (Kirkhill)

Trelleborg AB

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's aircraft polymer seals market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2022 to 2027. 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 Stratview Research'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. We 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.
• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
• Emerging trends.
• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
• Key success factors.
• The aircraft polymer seals market is segmented into the following categories.
• Aircraft Polymer Seals Market, by Aircraft Type
• Commercial Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Regional Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Helicopters (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Military Aircraft (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• General Aviation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Polymer Seals Market, by Application Type
• Airframe (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Nacelles & Engines (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Interiors (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Landing gear, Wheels & Brakes (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Flight Control Actuation and Hydraulics (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Polymer Seals Market, by Function Type
• Aerodynamic Surface Sealing (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Air & Fluid Management Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Fire Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Conductive Seals and Insulative Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Polymer Seals Market, by Material Type
• Elastomeric Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Thermoplastic Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Polymer Seals Market, by Motion Type
• Static Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Dynamic Seals (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW)
• Aircraft Polymer Seals 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 Polymer Seals 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 Rest of Asia-Pacific)
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Others)