Emerging trends impacting global NC in auto market

This growth can be attributed to the anticipated boom in the automotive industry during the forecast period as it will lead to a demand for new production facilities and production machineries including NC machining centers.

A NC machine is an effective and efficient motion control system that enables high-speed, accurate machining process. These machines are primarily deployed in industrial machineries, thus paving the way for development of quality products.

“These solutions are adopted by companies across industries like machine builders, automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, medical products, and electrical and electronics for high-precision machining capabilities integrated with safety functions to create a safe work environment and enhanced productivity,” says Amrita Choudhary, a lead research analyst at Technavio for product lifecycle management. 

Increased support for multitasking

A major trend in the NC market is the support for multitasking. NC helps to integrate multitasking processes that involve turning, milling, tapping, drilling, and boring.

For example, multitask machining software manufactured by GibbsCAM uses a feature known as Sync Manager for multitasking. Sync Manager synchronizes different levels of operations, which occur simultaneously. This avoids idle time and collision of moving parts. Also, with the help of the software, changes in machining programs for complex parts can be done quickly.

Enactment of new CAFE law post 2016

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) law was created in the US in 1975. The law was enacted to increase the efficiency of engines in the automotive industry year by year. From 2016 onward the CAFE rules require cars to improve their fuel efficiency from 27.5 mpg (since 1990) to 37.8 mpg. The same rule applies to other vehicles also.

This rule has forced automotive manufacturers to improvise and change their production set up from engines to chassis and body. This may provide a better opportunity for CNC machine manufacturers and NC software manufacturers because they play a major role in the manufacturing process of automobiles.

Advancements in post processing

Post processing software plays a major role in NC machines. The processor does the job of converting tool path data generated by CAM software to NC code so that the NC machines can read it. This software provides full support for all the features in the NC machines and it is proactive providing additional support to overcome the shortfalls faced by NC machines or CAM software.

Mergers and acquisitions by NC vendors

Leading NC vendors are now strengthening their market position through tactical M&A to improve their product offerings and tap potential markets. Leading vendors have started to acquire small, core electronic design automation (EDA) vendors to foray into newer markets. Many vendors have started to enhance their market potential through various innovative strategies and M&A.