Go
Recession Reaches Sensor Industry
Although it achieved a growth rate of approx. 3% in 2008, towards the end of the year the sensor industry too was experiencing a decline in revenue. A new member poll by AMA Association for Sensor Technology ascertains that during the fourth quarter 2008 the sensor industry experienced approx. 9% decline and another approx. 11% during the first quarter 2009.
Already by the publishing date for results from 2008, current developments had rendered obsolete data presented at the AMA Press Conference Day in February 2009. In view of inconsistent expectations published in the business press, and in order to provide reliable data to its members, AMA Association for Sensor Technology therefore resolved to launch its own regular quarterly survey. The survey might be discontinued when the economic situation stabilizes sufficiently again.
Covering approx. 15% of all businesses in the sector in central Europe, the survey can be considered to be representative. Its necessity becomes immediately apparent when one considers the changes registered during the interval from third quarter 2008 to first quarter 2009. During this time, revenues fell by almost 20%, which threw the sector back to a level comparable to mid 2006. Striking about this is that during this time, the smallest enterprises still achieved growth: more than +6%. At ‑5%, enterprises with 11-50 employees still outperformed the larger companies, which had to absorb an average of ‑9.5% and ‑13% during the last quarter 2008 and the first quarter 2009, respectively. Thus most of the larger enterprises were forced to revise their business plans.
Obviously, this revenue slump also had its effect on production capacity planning. This was quite dramatic, since it was preceded by an exceptionally dynamic year during which the sector raised its workforce by approx. 5,500 additional employees, which included workplace build up and training. In an attempt to salvage this effort, many employers were forced to place their employees on short hours – something which in such breadth the sensor sector had never before experienced. Whereas this instrument was used only sporadically during the final quarter 2008, during the first quarter 2009 it affected about 14% of all employees in the sector and about 30% of production capability. Even among the smallest sensor companies with less than 11 employees, almost one out of ten employees was affected by reduced working hours. Middle sized companies placed approx. 1/3 of their employees on short hours.During recent weeks we have observed some tentative signs that this dramatic development might be stabilizing. However this turnaround must still be corroborated through this quarter’s upcoming survey.
Goettingen, April 30, 2009
Please find the press release here.
Contact:
Dr. Dirk Rein Tel. +49 551 21695
AMA Association for Sensor Technology Fax +49 551 25155
Friedlaender Weg 20 rein@ama-sensorik.de
D-37085 Goettingen www.ama-sensorik.de
GERMANY
