Steam Autoclaves Market: Current Analysis and Forecast (2022-2028)

Steam autoclaves are pressure chambers which are helpful for sterilizing medical equipment and machinery. It is frequently utilized for sterilizing surgical equipment, instruments, surfaces, and others. During this, the objects are exposed to ultra-high temperatures and pressure to kill pathogens. The surge in the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections and the associated rise in the demand for efficient bio-hazard waste treatment methods are driving the market growth during the forecast period. Hospital-acquired infection due to a non-sterile environment affects 300-400 million patients each year according to the same report from WHO. Apart from this, the increase in healthcare expenditure and the continued development of innovative technologies is also driving the market growth.

The Steam Autoclaves Market is expected to grow at a steady rate of around 9% owing to technological advancements and an increase in investment by pharmaceutical giants. The key players are rapidly launching novel products, which are also having a positive impact on market growth. For instance, in April 2022, Priorclave launched two bench top autoclaves with the capacity of 40L and 60L capacity. This product range was launched to target client base within a variety of industries like pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and beverages, agriculture, and the research industry. Further in November 2021, Astell Scientific launched eight new models of steam autoclaves. Astell Scientific also launched a model, AstellBio Sink, with thermal effluent decontamination system that sterilizes materials that are washed into the sink before being released into sewers.

Based on product, the market is segmented into table top, vertical, horizontal, floor standing, and high pressure. The table top autoclave is anticipated to grow with high CAGR during the forecast period due to a surge in the demand by clinics, hospitals, and healthcare centers. These autoclaves can sterilize the sample in bulk, and thus are most preferred by medical facilities. Apart from this, table top autoclaves have become useful while conducting research and tests due to their safer protection from water lacking, automatic sterilization control, and fully stainless-steel structure. Moreover, these have a large chamber capacity that permits relocation because of their convenient size and ease of setting up. Thus, these mentioned factors are driving segmental growth during the forthcoming years.

On the basis of technology, the market is categorized into gravity displacement, pre-vacuum, and steam flush. The gravity displacement category held the dominant share in the market in 2020 owing to its suitability for sterilizing the most common laboratory media such as steel, utensils, glassware, and bio-hazardous waste. Moreover, its lacks of dependency on peripheral mechanisms to displace ambient air with steam and simple design. The gravity autoclaves are dependable and cheap, thus increasing preference and acceptance of these autoclaves.

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into medical, dental, and laboratory. The medical category held a significant share of the market in 2020, due to its prominent use in healthcare institutions, hospitals, diagnostic centers, and others. Moreover, companies are also launching technologically advanced product to be utilized in this sector. For instance, Intertronics launched Dymax MD 1040-M, which is a durable material designed to be autoclave resistant for more than 100 cycles and thus is a suitable option in range of medical devices and surgical tools.

On the basis of end-use, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, healthcare companies, research and academic institutes, and others. The research and academic institutes is expected to grow with significant CAGR during the forecast period due to increase in the number of research institutes and associated rise in number of clinical trials. As per U.S. National Laboratory of Medicine, in 2021, there were about 36,732 registered clinical studies.

For a better understanding of the market adoption of the steam autoclaves, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in the countries such as North America (U.S., Canada, Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Rest of World. APAC is anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. Several factors, such as rising medical and biohazardous waste generated by hospitals, the introduction of portable autoclaves, and an increase in hospital-acquired infections. Moreover, there has been increasing in investments in the development of novel autoclaves, thus having a positive impact on market growth. For instance, KKR autoclave has veen developed by National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), in India. This equipment controls pressure, temperature, and vacuum in multiple cycles which is controlled by advanced software.

Some of the major players operating in the market include: STERIS; Belimed; Astell Scientific; BMM Weston Ltd.; Celitron Medical Technologies; Getinge AB; LTE Scientific Ltd; Tuttnauer; PHC Holdings Corporation; and ANTONIO MATACHANA, S. A.