Thermal Camera Market by Product Type (Handheld Cameras and Standstill Cameras), Application (Security & Surveillance, Monitoring & Inspection, and Detection & Measurement), End-use (Industrial, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, and Others (Law Enforcement, Healthcare, and Marine), and Regional Analysis (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2030

Global Thermal Camera Market Analysis

The global thermal camera market size is predicted to garner a revenue of $11,332.2 million by 2030, growing from $6,200 million in 2021, at a healthy CAGR of 6.79%.

Market Synopsis

A thermal camera is a non-contact equipment that senses infrared energy (heat) and changes it into a photographic image. Increase in demand for thermal cameras among the automotive and healthcare sectors is projected to drive the global thermal camera market revenue growth. Increasing demand for advance thermal imaging solutions in end-use verticals such as the military & defense sector and healthcare & life science sector is driving the market forward.

Export restrictions on thermal imaging cameras imposed by the U.S. Government are expected to restrain market revenue growth throughout the predicted period. Under these restrictions, manufacturers of thermal cameras will be banned from selling their products to buyers in the U.S. or out of the country without first attaining an export license, and if they fail to obey with the rules they will face penalties.

During the forecast period, increased R&D activities by key market players and technological advances in thermal cameras are expected to drive revenue growth of the thermal camera market.

According to the regional analysis of the market, the Asia-Pacific thermal camera market share is anticipated to grow during the review period. Increasing military budget to revolutionize the country’s military armaments, is predicted to drive revenue growth of the market in the region. For instance, currently, China is the second-largest country across the world with a significant military armaments budget.

Thermal Camera Overview

Thermal imaging is the process of using Infrared (IR) radiation emitted from an object to capture and construct an image of the object using a thermal camera. Thermal imagers use heat instead of visible light to produce images. Although, heat (also referred as heat energy or infrared) and light are both components of the electromagnetic spectrum, a camera that can identify visible light cannot detect thermal energy and vice versa. Thermal cameras collect IR energy and convert it to analog or digital video outputs to create images. Thermal cameras, which were originally developed for surveillance and military operations, are now widely used for building inspections (insulation, moisture, insulation, roofing, and others), firefighting, autonomous vehicles & automatic braking, skin temperature screening, industrial inspections, scientific research, and other applications.

COVID-19 Impact on Thermal Camera Market

The thermal camera industrial supply chain was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supply chain interruptions and manufacturing plants shutdowns were experienced by several organizations, causing production to be delayed by several weeks. One reason is that a complete thermal camera includes materials from a range of suppliers all over the world, such as focal plane arrays or read out integrated circuits, lenses, retinas, packaging, and other components. Furthermore, most businesses were shut down completely at the start of the outbreak, and it took time to get back things to normalize and rigorous measures were implemented to protect people returning to work.

However, due to the demand for thermal imaging solutions that can detect temperature from far, demand for thermal cameras has increased which resulted in a moderate effect on the overall market revenue growth.

Rising Demand for Thermal Cameras from the Automotive and Medical Industry to Boost the Market Growth

Thermal cameras are used in the automotive industry to help drivers see in poor light and bad weather conditions, reducing accidents and maintaining safety. To create cutting-edge thermal imaging technology, the automobile industry is working with thermal imaging solution providers. For example, Magnetic Marely, an Italian developer and manufacturer of high-tech car components, collaborated on the development of the Viper thermal detection camera. In order to ensure vehicle safety while saving time and money, thermal imaging technology is also used for non-destructive testing of automotive components such as tires and brakes, as well as micro-components.

Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) has been used to successfully diagnose breast cancer, diabetic neuropathy, and peripheral vascular diseases in the medical field. It has also been utilized to detect issues in gynecology, neonatal, cardiology, fever screening, brain imaging, and kidney transplantation, the infrared energy of objects is detected and measured using an infrared camera (also known as a thermal imager). The camera turns the infrared data into an electronic image of the object being measured, displaying the apparent surface temperature.

To know more about global thermal camera market drivers, get in touch with our analysts here.

Restrictions Imposed by Various Governments on Thermal Cameras Might Hamper the Market Growth

The market expansion may be hampered by restrictions placed on thermal camera vendors and manufacturers by various nations such as the U.S. High capital and maintenance expenditures are also anticipated to constrain market expansion. The use of infrared cameras requires expensive sensors, which makes the finished product more expensive and restricts the market expansion. Infrared cameras are used to measure thermal variations. Erroneous readings are frequently the result of infrared cameras' inability to distinguish between objects with similar temperatures.

A flaw in the thermal camera in particular objects with fluctuating temperatures & images are challenging to interpret. Different emissivity and reflections from surfaces make accurate temperature measuring difficult. For the investigation of submerged objects, thermal imaging cameras are not used.

Thermal Camera Market is expected to Benefit from Technological Advancements and R&D Activities

Owing to increased spending on R&D by the key market players and a greater focus on implementation of breakthrough technology, the market for thermal imaging cameras has a bright future. As surveillance technologies improve and the security & surveillance industry expands, revenue growth of the thermal cameras market is expected to increase. As thermal imaging technology becomes more frequently used in perimeter security and cost of thermal imaging equipment falls, demand for thermal imaging cameras will rise. Increased acceptance of thermal imaging in the vehicle industry, as well as supportive government legislation and initiatives are factors expected to boost demand for thermal cameras.

To know more about global thermal camera market drivers, get in touch with our analysts here.

Thermal Camera Market, by Product Type

Based on product type, the thermal camera market has been sub-segmented into handheld cameras and standstill cameras. Out of which the handheld cameras sub-segment is projected to generate the maximum revenue during the forecast period.

Thermal Camera Market Share, by Product Type, 2021

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The handheld cameras sub-segment is predicted to have a dominating market share in the global market during the forecast period. Due to its wider range of applications, including thermal imaging, predictive maintenance, medical imaging, and others, the handheld thermal cameras sub-segment is anticipated to experience the highest growth throughout the projection period. Additionally, rising demand for these cameras is being driven by the healthcare industry's increasing need for these devices to measure body temperature and for other purposes.

Thermal Camera Market, by Application

Based on application, the market has been divided into security & surveillance, monitoring & inspection, and detection & measurement sub-segments. Out of which, the monitoring & inspection sub-segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

Thermal Camera Market Share, by Application, 2021

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The monitoring & inspection sub-segment is anticipated to have the fastest market growth during the forecast period. In the oil & gas industry, for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, thermal cameras based on IR technology are generally used. Furthermore, infrared technology offers an advantage over traditional visual inspection and other procedures because it does not need touching the device being monitored. Temperature changes affect thermal radiation proportionally. To put it another way, when a component's temperature changes, so does the amount of radiation it emits. Thermal cameras are required for component inspection as this type of radiation is an electromagnetic wave that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These factors are projected to drive revenue growth of the sub-segment.

Thermal Camera Market, by End-use Industry

Based on end-use industry, thermal camera market is classified into industrial, aerospace & defense, automotive, and others. Among these, aerospace & defense sub-segment is anticipated to hold the maximum share in the global market revenue.

Thermal Camera Market Share, by End-use Industry, 2021

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The aerospace & defense sub-segment is predicted to have a dominating market share in the global market during the forecast period. Infrared cameras with thermal resolutions of 20 km and/or frame rates of 100 Hz or greater are commonly utilized in aviation measuring tasks. For example, accurate studies of aircraft engine thermal behavior are required by the aviation authority's strict safety and reliability criteria. Precision quality control is required in the aircraft industry due to the usage of lightweight composite materials and other lightweight construction technologies. This is where active heat flow thermography comes in use.

 Thermal Camera Market, by Regional Insights

The thermal camera market was inspected across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Global Thermal Camera Market Size & Forecast, by Region, 2021-2030 (USD Million)

Source: Research Dive Analysis

The Market for Thermal Camera in North America to be the Most Dominating North America market is expected to be the most dominating region throughout the projected period, due to presence of major thermal camera manufacturers in this region. Thermal imaging machineries such as scopes, thermal cameras, and modules are mass-produced in the region in enormous quantities. The government's increasing investments in the military & defense sector has also contributed to the market revenue growth. These are a few of the factors that are expected to drive revenue growth of the market in this region over the forecast timeframe.

Competitive Scenario in the Global Thermal Camera Market

Product launches and mergers & acquisitions are common strategies followed by the major market players. For instance, the FLIR A8580 series of thermal cameras was introduced by FLIR System, INC. It was created for use in product R&D, various industries, and military. This system provides a wide range of accuracy, manual & motorized lenses, records blur-free views of high-speed objectives, and seamlessly integrates with the new FLAR thermal analysis software.

Source: Research Dive Analysis

Some of the leading thermal camera market players are FLIR Systems, Fluke Corporation, Leonardo, L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, United Technologies, Axis Communications, BAE Systems, Opgal, Testo, and Thales group.