Sensors and Measurement: Sales up, incoming orders down
AMA Association reports industry development for third quarter of 2022
Sensors and Measurement Technology continued to report sales growth of plus two percent in the third quarter. Incoming orders were down, declining by three percent. Around half of AMA members do not yet recognize a serious threat due to rising purchasing prices and energy costs, while the other half consider the threat to be very serious.
Berlin, December 20, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement (AMA) surveyed its approximately 450 members on economic development. AMA members generated a two percent increase in sales in the third quarter, compared to the previous quarter. Comparing the sales development with the results of the third quarter of 2021, there is a significant increase in sales of 10 percent. Sensor manufacturers supplying the automotive industry posted slight gains, while suppliers to the sensor and measurement technology and electronics sectors performed more weakly.
Incoming orders in the industry developed in the opposite direction in the third quarter, with a drop of three percent compared to the previous quarter. However, the industry remains optimistic and does not expect further declines in new orders in the fourth quarter.
When asked about the threat posed by the impact of the war in Ukraine, nearly half of AMA members fear a very serious threat to their own business. The other half of AMA members do not currently recognize a serious threat to their own company.
"Our industry is sending mixed signals at the moment, which can be explained by the unclear political and economic situation worldwide," says Thomas Simmons, AMA managing director. "Sales growth in sensors and metrology continues to be positive compared to general economic growth. However, incoming orders are weakening for the first time in two years. In my view, however, it is still too early to derive a trend from this. However, the general economic development in the user markets will not leave our industry unscathed."
AMA Innovation Award 2023: Apply now
AMA Association looks for innovations in sensor and measurement technology
Berlin, Oct. 13, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement invites clever minds from science and industry to apply for the AMA Innovation Award 2023. The search is on for innovative research and development results from sensor and measurement technology. The deadline for applications is January 26, 2023.
Individuals and development teams with innovative research and development solutions from sensor and measurement technology with recognizable market relevance can apply. The AMA Innovation Award comes with prize money of 10,000 euros. In addition, companies can apply for the special 'Young Company' award if they have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people and generate annual sales of less than 10 million euros. The winner in this category will receive a free exhibition booth at SENSOR+TEST 2023.
For 23 years, the prestigious AMA Innovation Award has been presented to the developers themselves and not to the companies or institutions behind them. The jurors from universities, research institutions and industry place particular emphasis on scientific achievement, the degree of innovation of the development and the expected opportunities in the market.
"We are looking forward to interesting developments from established companies and institutions as well as those from young companies from Germany and abroad," says jury chairman Andreas Schütze from Saarland University. "Apply and present your development to an international audience of experts next year at the Sensor and Measurement Science International Conference and SENSOR+TEST 2023."
Conditions of participation and submission documents for the AMA Innovation Award 2023 and the special category 'Young Company' as well as brochures with the award winners and all applications from previous years are available free of charge at: AMA Innovation Award 2023
The deadline for submission is January 26, 2023, and the nominations and special award winners will be announced at the AMA press conference on March 9, 2023. The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2023 will be presented at the opening ceremony of the SMSI 2023 (Sensor and Measurement Science International Conference) on May 8, 2023, in Nuremberg, Germany. All nominated teams will also exhibit their developments at SENSOR+TEST 2023.
Sensors and Measurement: Revenue and Order Situation Stable in 2nd Quarter
AMA Association reports industry development for past quarter
Sensors and Measurement already recorded a significant increase in revenue in the first quarter, with sales stabilizing at plus one percent in the second quarter. Incoming orders in the sector remained stable at plus one percent. Short-time working was no longer relevant in the sensors and measuring technology sector in the past quarter.
Berlin, September 15, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement (AMA) surveyed its approximately 450 members on economic development in the second quarter. According to its own data, the industry generated revenue of plus one percent in the second quarter, compared with the previous quarter. Compared to the second quarter of 2021, AMA members' sales were up nine percent. AMA members also saw a one percent increase in new orders in the second quarter, compared to the previous quarter.
The slight increase in revenue is about the same for large and smaller AMA members. Sales to the electronics industry performed better than average, while sales to the automotive industry remain difficult, especially for the small and mid-sized companies. The mood of the industry, however, remains positive, with AMA members anticipating an overall four percent increase in sales for the current third quarter. With the positive order trend, short-time work is currently no longer an issue in the industry.
"Despite the uncertainties in the political environment, our industry is currently generating gains in revenue and seeing an increase in new orders," says Thomas Simmons, AMA executive director. "Despite ongoing supply difficulties, our industry was able to significantly increase revenue in the first half of the year and expects a positive development for the current quarter."
Sensor and Measurement Science International 2023: Call for Papers online
Submissions on sensor, measurement and metrology now open
Berlin, September 6, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement opens the call for papers for the international congress: Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI) 2023. The congress will be held in Nuremberg, Germany, May 8-11, 2023, in parallel with the SENSOR+TEST 2023 trade fair. The submission deadline for presentations and posters is November 15, 2022.
SMSI 2023 under the scientific leadership of Ulrich Schmid (TU Vienna), Michael Heizmann (KIT) and Klaus-Dieter Sommer (TU Ilmenau), networks representatives from research, science and industry. The conference builds on three thematic pillars: sensor technology, measurement technology and metrology. The Sensor Technology congress pillar focuses on sensor principles, sensor materials and process technologies, electronic sensor interfaces, a wide variety of application areas and integrates the IRS² 2023 satellite conference in the field of infrared sensor technology. The Measurement congress pillar focuses on IoT-relevant and networked measurement systems, advanced measurement approaches, AI approaches in measurement, and the science of measurement and its applications. The Metrology section will address, among other topics, the revised SI (international system of units), metrology in the digital age, advanced calibration approaches and testing methods, and metrology in regulation and standards.
The parallel leading trade fair of the industry SENSOR+TEST 2023, as platform for sensor, measurement and testing technology, promotes the extended innovation dialogue of the SMSI 2023 conference participants.
Interested parties from research, science and industry are invited to submit a short description of the presentation or a poster contribution in English no later than November 15, 2022.
Information about SMSI 2023, the conference columns and the conditions of participation at: SMSI 2023 – Call for Papers
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Contact:
Pascale Taube
Press & Public Affairs Director
AMA Verband für Sensorik und Messtechnik e.V.
(AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement)
Sophie-Charlotten-Str. 15 / 14059 Berlin / Germany
Tel. +49 30 22190362-20 / Fax +49 30 22190362-40
Sensor and measurement technology grows despite supply problems and embargo
Industry starts first quarter with clearly positive results
Berlin, June 2, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensors and Meaurement surveys its 450 members quarterly on economic development. The industry reports sales growth of seven percent for the first quarter, compared to the previous quarter. Incoming orders rose eight percent at the beginning of the year. The industry is starting the first quarter of 2022 with positive overall development and expects sales growth of six percent for the second quarter.
If the sensor and measurement technology industry already showed itself with significant growth last year, it continued this trend in the first quarter of 2022. AMA members generated an increase in sales despite the continuing difficulties with suppliers, with incoming orders picking up. This is true for both large and small and Medium-sized (SME) industry members. However, the large companies are more optimistic than the small ones about the prospects for the economic situation.
In terms of sales, AMA members supplying the electronics industry and those supplying the mechanical engineering industry scored particularly well. Among suppliers to the automotive industry, SMEs performed better than the large AMA members.
When asked about the impact of sanctions due to the Ukraine war, 87 percent of AMA members said they are affected. However, AMA members estimate that the embargo has a tolerable seven percent impact on their own operations. However, since the military invasion began, there have been some large price increases in energy and raw materials, thus uncertainty about the overall economic performance of the industry remains high.
"Our members' economic results continue to show an upward trend in the first quarter, " said Thomas Simmons, executive director of the AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement. "The outlook is also positive, with our industry anticipating a six percent increase in sales for the current quarter. The biggest challenge for our industry remains the procurement difficulties that determine our members' ability to deliver."
Technology platform for NDIR gas sensor technology wins AMA Innovation Award 2022
Classic sensor technology with technological solution at the highest level convinces jury
Berlin, May 10, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measuring Technology (AMA) awarded the winning team with the AMA Innovation Prize at SENSOR+TEST 2022 in Nuremberg on May 10. The jury attested this development a particularly innovative approach, with clearly recognizable market relevance. The team of developers of the technology platform for NDIR gas sensors, a joint project of Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH, CIS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH, Siegert Thin Film Technology GmbH and 5microns GmbH, received the prize money of 10,000 euros.
The technology platform for highly reliable NDIR gas sensor technology is an innovative gas sensor system with novel spectral broadband infrared (IR) emitter. The development of Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH and its partners combines groundbreaking technologies from MEMS chips to modules for gas sensors with special long-term stability even in extreme environmental conditions. A patented design, the hermetically sealed assembly technology of the IR components and IR emitter chips with micro-nano structures as optical functionalization are the innovation drivers for new cross-industry gas measurement applications. (brochure p. 8)
The jury congratulates the development team consisting of Steffen Biermann, Patrick Sachse, Thomas Bartnitzek from Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH, Professor Dr. Thomas Ortlepp from CIS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH, Dr. Ralf Koppert from Siegert Thin Film Technology GmbH and Lars Dittrich from 5microns GmbH.
"The technology platform for NDIR gas sensor technology represents classical sensor technology with technological solutions at the highest level and shows that a sensor element alone is usually not sufficient. The packaging technology is equally essential for long-term stability and reliability. Solutions for a wide variety of applications are only achieved in the system network of different components," explains Professor Andreas Schütze, jury chairman from Saarland University, about this year's decision.
Brochure with all submissions 2022
All accepted submissions will be published with a brief description of the innovation in the brochure 'AMA Innovation Award 2022 - The Applicants', which can be downloaded online free of charge.
Applications for the Innovation Award 2023
Application forms for the AMA Innovation Award 2023 will be available from the end of October 2022. Individuals or development teams from companies and institutes can apply. For more information: https://www.ama-sensorik.de/en/
Sensors and Measurement Technology Shows Stable Growth at a High Level and Invests Again
AMA Association reports economic industry development in 2021 and outlook for 2022
Sensor and measurement technology generated a 20 percent increase in sales in 2021, compared to the previous year. This makes the industry optimistic for the current fiscal year, and it expects sales to increase by ten percent in 2022. Last year, the industry invested twelve percent more than in the previous year, the export ratio fell by eleven percentage points, and the proportion of companies with employees on short-time working declined significantly to seven percent at the End of 2021.
Berlin, March, 2022 - The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) surveyed its members in January 2022 on the economic development of the past fiscal year. According to its own information, the industry generated an overall increase in sales of twenty percent, compared to the previous year. In the first quarter, the industry recorded a significant increase in sales due to a catch-up effect, while the subsequent quarters showed stable sales at a high level.
Sensors and measurement technology shows willingness to invest
The industry is once again showing a willingness to invest. While investments declined in 2020, AMA members invested twelve percent more last year and plan to increase investments by a further 14 percent in the current year. This shows that the sensor and measurement technology sector is an optimistic industry in a spirit of optimism.
Exports down due to pandemic
Until now, the industry's export quotas have grown continuously, but this changed last year. The export quota decreased by eleven percent, but overall, with an export quota of 50 percent, sensor and measurement technology is within the comparable average of the industry.
Number of employees increases, short-time work decreases significantly
Short-time work fell at AMA member companies from around 50 percent in the comparable quarter to seven percent in Q4 2021. If the industry hired three percent new employees last year, it plans to hire another plus five percent this year.
Positive development in R&D intensity
The AMA Association asked its members about the percentage of sales that companies invest in research and development. The large companies invested twelve percent and the small and medium-sized ones ten percent. Overall, the industry invested around eleven percent of sales in research and development. This is a comparably high R&D intensity to that achieved by the electronics industry. This has the highest in Germany, according to the latest study by ZEW (Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research).
Summary statement
"If the year 2020 was challenging for our members due to the pandemic, they were able to catch up significantly last year and use catch-up effects for themselves. ", says Thomas Simmons, Managing Director AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology. "Sales are stabilizing at a high level, and the industry is investing in research and development and hiring new employees. This illustrates the optimistic mood of optimism in our industry for the current fiscal year."
AMA Innovation Award 2022: Five nominations, two special award winners
Special 'Young Company' Award for Ackision GmbH and HCP Sense GmbH
Berlin, March, 2022 - This year, 30 research and development teams from Germany and abroad applied for the prestigious AMA Innovation Award. Prize money of 10,000 euros awaits the winners.
In the special category 'Young Company', companies that have been on the market for less than five years, employ fewer than 50 people and generate annual sales of less than 10 million euros were eligible to apply. The winners of the special award will receive a free booth at SENSOR+TEST 2022. This year, two young companies convinced the jury, so there are two winners in the special category. On the one hand, Ackision GmbH for "FUSE - Femto to microampere fast and low-noise detection" and HCP Sense GmbH for "Sensor bearing without sensor - measuring rolling bearing forces in a space-neutral way". Both applications remain contenders for the AMA Innovation Award 2022.
Nominated for the AMA Innovation Award 2022 are (in alphabetical order):
FUSE - Acquire femto- to microamperes quickly and with low noise
Dr. Ansgar T. Kirk, Cornelius Wendt, Alexander Bohnhorst, Prof. Dr. Stefan Zimmermann
(Ackision GmbH, Leibniz University of Hannover)
FUSE is a patent-pending current measurement device with a unique combination of highest signal-to-noise ratio, wide bandwidth as well as excellent dynamic range with linearity over more than six orders of magnitude from femto to microamps. It represents an important enabling technology for a leap in sensor performance, enabling new application fields and sensor principles for the next generation of sensors. A prototype of FUSE is already in continuous use at a pilot customer and is currently being brought to series maturity as part of an EXIST research transfer. (Brochure p. 8)
H2MEMS: new H2 sensor with wide measuring range and high selectivity
Maren Lengert, Michael Weidner, Dr. Marion Wienecke (Materion GmbH, Wismar)
The H2MEMS is the realization of a new idea for a sensor based on physical switching Pd-based layer systems in combination with micro-electro-mechanical sensor structures. Unique selling points are the wide measuring range from 100 ppm to 100 % vol hydrogen in varying gas mixtures, a high selectivity, especially the insensitivity to methane, and a short response time. The design of the sensor is considerably miniaturized and compatible with micro-technological manufacturing (Si technology), allowing cost-effective production of large quantities. (brochure p. 9)
Scanning Short Coherent Heterodyne IR Laser Vibrometer MSA-650 IRIS
Dr. Marco Wolfer, Dr. Volker Seyfried, Dr. Marcus Winter, Moritz Giesen, Christian Ehrmann, Stephan Barking, Mike Herberich, Jürgen Glauner, Babak Pourat, Dr. Frank Heimes (Polytec GmbH, Waldbronn)
The Polytec MSA-650 IRIS enables the measurement of component dynamics within encapsulated microsystems. The innovative and patented interferometer design combines a short-coherent SLD light source for effective selection of the active component level with a special IR camera. It is thus the first optical measurement device for high-precision and area-based acquisition of device dynamics on MEMS and microstructures through the intact silicon encapsulation with effective short-coherent suppression of interfering signal contributions - contact-free and without affecting the real dynamics. (brochure p. 10)
Sensor bearings without sensors - measuring rolling bearing forces in a space-neutral manner
Sarah Wicker, Dr. Georg Martin, Dr. Tobias Schirra, Ansgar Thilmann (HCP Sense GmbH, Darmstadt)
The sensor bearing from HCP Sense offers the possibility to measure acting forces and the lubrication condition in rolling bearings, e.g. for condition monitoring applications. It takes up the same installation space as a corresponding conventional bearing and can therefore be integrated into machines without major design changes, since the bearing itself acts as a sensor and no essential changes are made here. HCP Sense is a spin-off of the TU Darmstadt and has been funded by the EXIST research transfer funding program since 2021. (Brochure p. 8)
Technology platform for highly reliable NDIR gas sensors
Steffen Biermann, Patrick Sachse, Thomas Bartnitzek (Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH, Hermsdorf); Prof. Dr. Thomas Ortlepp (CIS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik GmbH), Dr. Ralf Koppert (Siegert Thin Film Technology GmbH), Lars Dittrich (5microns GmbH).
An innovative gas sensor system with novel spectral broadband infrared (IR) emitter. The development of Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH and its partners combines groundbreaking technologies from MEMS chips to modules for gas sensors with special long-term stability even in extreme environmental conditions. A patented design, the hermetically sealed assembly technology of the IR components and IR emitter chips with micro-nano structures as optical functionalization are the innovation drivers for new cross-industry gas measurement applications. (brochure p. 9)
The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2022 will be announced on May 10, 2022, at the opening ceremony of SENSOR+TEST 2022 in Nuremberg.
The overview of all applications for the AMA Innovation Award 2022 at:
