Radiation Detection and Monitoring Markets

n-tech Research Article
Radiation Detection and Monitoring Markets
Issue date: June 2015
n-tech Research PO Box 3840 Glen Allen, VA 23058
Phone: 804-938-0030
Email: info@ntechresearch.com

n-tech Research
PO Box 3840 Glen Allen, VA 23058
Phone: 804-938-0030
Web: www.ntechresearch.com
See the report, "Radiation Detection Equipment Markets: 2015-2022
http://ntechresearch.com/market_reports/radiation-detection-equipment-
markets-2015-2022
Radiation Detection and Monitoring
Increasing concerns about nuclear terrorism and expanding use of medical imaging
continue to fuel the need for accurate radiation detection equipment. Demand for
instruments ranging from dosimeters to large radiation portal monitors will continue to
grow, with security and medical applications dominating the revenue stream. The total
market for radiation detection equipment goes well beyond these applications, however,
and industrial and scientific applications are gaining importance as radiation safety
receives greater worldwide attention.
n-tech Research has published a new report on radiation detection, “Radiation Detection
Equipment Markets: 2015-2022” that discusses a wide range of applications for this
equipment and provides granular eight-year revenue forecasts for a dozen different
sectors. The industrial space is focused on the nuclear power industry, but will also benefit
from addressing growing demand for radiation monitoring in the food irradiation and
scrap metal recycling industries.
Radiation detection represents a sizeable market. Looking at only safety and security
detectors - instruments specifically designed to measure radiation dosage – this is an
industry that n-tech Research expects will grow to $3.5 billion by 2022 from around $2.2
billion today. Adding in expensive medical imaging equipment and specialty detectors for
scientific research, the total market is $28 billion and growing.
Safety at Nuclear Power Plants
While the future of nuclear power is still to be determined, it is fairly certain that the world
will continue to use nuclear power as a clean energy source and that radiation safety at
power plants will be paramount. There are plans in place to build new reactors as well as
extend the lifespan of aging reactors that have been in service for decades.
This is good news for the radiation detection equipment industry. There will be continuing
demand for systems within nuclear power plants, including area monitors, contamination
monitors, and a wide range of process monitors that can detect changes in emitted
radiation that indicate potential failure of a system. High resolution is critical, which has
historically meant expensive detectors. Newer monitors with superior resolution at lower

n-tech Research
Phone: 804-938-0030
cost are very promising for this sector and will likely be installed near the end of the
decade.
Residents living near nuclear power plants are increasingly wary about the risk of an
accident. Though this can mean pressure to close down plants or stop construction of
those being proposed, the reality of energy needs worldwide do not necessarily make
that the best option. Instead, this presents an opportunity for greater monitoring of air,
soil, and water in neighborhoods surrounding power plants to improve the ability to
detect a problem and act quickly to address it.
The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Though the threat of a nuclear power plant accident is a serious concern, the thought that
the wrong people might get their hands on special nuclear materials (SNM) and build a
bomb is more frightening. Therefore, deterring nuclear terrorism remains at the forefront
of radiation detection and is seeing greater emphasis worldwide, including in regions that
have not historically put much investment into detection.
Concern about scanning of cargo at international ports will likely result in better training
of personnel in the consistent use of existing radiation detection equipment, but also
investment in equipment to augment or replace instruments already in service. This
includes both fixed and handheld equipment.
Radiation monitoring portals in the U.S. have been in service for many years and are in
need of replacing. Although the timing of replacement is uncertain after an aborted
attempt several years ago to implement new technology, it is certainly on the horizon.
The shorter term opportunities for suppliers are overseas locations where monitoring is
expanding to more ports.
Technology Trends
Governments and private businesses will continue to invest in technology that makes
radiation detection more reliable and easier to implement. This includes an emphasis on
developing new mobile and portable detectors in smaller form factors. To some extent,
radiation detection equipment suppliers are becoming part of the wireless, wearable
device industry.
First responders will increasingly carry spectroscopic personal radiation detectors (SPRDs)
rather than standard PRDs, allow radioisotope detection from an instrument the size of a
pager. Important suppliers include FLIR, Polimaster, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The

n-tech Research
Phone: 804-938-0030
growth in SPRDs should to some degree temper the need for larger handheld RIIDs,
although these devices will still be in demand for their ability to identify large libraries of
radioisotopes using both gamma and neutron detection.
Systems are becoming increasingly networked, streamlining the delivery and sharing of
information and enabling faster action in case of a real threat. Handheld devices that relay
data to central servers or to industry experts using a smart phone are becoming the norm.
We also expect to see an increase in cloud-based systems that collect data and display
them on real-time maps.
The need for more accurate detection is driving changes in both hardware and software.
Approaches to improve the ability to distinguish SNM from non-hazardous sources of
radiation include both better detection materials and better algorithms. Suppliers that can
deliver this at the right price should find a wide open market for a range of security,
military, and industrial uses.
Even in relatively cost-insensitive industries, cost does matter when it comes to
replacement schedules. Suppliers are seeing pressure to keep a lid on prices, and
therefore controlling production cost will be important, especially in the face of uncertain
government and military contracts.
The Medical Imaging Landscape
The emphasis in the medical imaging industry continues to be expanding diagnosis and
treatment of heart disease, cancer, and other diseases while minimizing patient exposure
to radiation. In this environment, dosage tracking and control systems play an important
role and we expect to see increased penetration of this type of technology. There is also
a need for instruments that better monitor radiation exposure of medical personnel.
Software advances are affecting the healthcare industry in other ways. Improved software
can help distinguish radiation from background noise and allow for more accurate 3D
reconstruction of images. This in turn helps minimize radiation exposure while improving
diagnostic capability.
Globally, the major market for medical imaging equipment has been in the U.S., and we
expect that this will continue to be the case. There are however, signs of increasing
investment worldwide, providing significant growth opportunities in underserved
markets. Access to nuclear medicine is expanding in various countries, ranging from
Russia and Belarus to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia.

n-tech Research
Phone: 804-938-0030
It is significant for the radiation detection industry that watchdogs are clamping down on
unsafe practices in emerging healthcare markets, which is leading to greater demand for
dosimeters and related equipment in these regions. India, in particular, should experience
significant growth in safety and security detectors for medical imaging applications.
Even established markets are undergoing changes that will increase the need for radiation
monitoring. For example, the latest update to the European Council’s Basic Safety
Standards Directive will be enforced beginning in 2018, forcing medical facilities to make
changes to ensure that they will be able to comply with the new restrictions. In the U.S.,
new Joint Commission diagnostic imaging services standards go into effect in July 2015.
These primarily affect demand for medical physicists but have also affected the equipment
market to some extent.
Digital X-ray Imaging
The transition from film to digital X-ray imaging has been in progress for some time, but
it is now accelerating as image storage and sharing systems become more commonplace
in the healthcare industry.
Mammography is undergoing a significant shift with greater adoption of 3D digital
tomosynthesis, which has eclipsed 2D digital mammography in mature markets and is
making greater inroads in emerging markets worldwide. Hologic, the company that
introduced tomosynthesis in 2011, is seeing increased competition from global healthcare
giants including GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, and Siemens.
We expect that penetration of tomosynthesis will first occur in the U.S. and Europe, but
suppliers are eyeing lucrative global markets where demand for diagnostic procedures is
accelerating. Medical facilities in emerging markets will, however, be more likely to
purchase lower cost 2D systems in the short term.
This mimics the situation for nuclear medicine, in which high-end hybrid systems first
penetrated mature markets but have extended their reach worldwide. For example, we
expect that all standalone PET machines currently still in service will eventually be replaced
by PET/CT systems.

n-tech Research
Phone: 804-938-0030
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Market for Radiation Monitoring Equipment-Safety
and Security Detectors
PRD/SPRDs Dosimeters Area Monitors
Survey Meters RIIDs Portal Monitors, Fixed
Portal Monitors, Portable Backpack systems Contamination Monitors

Radiation Detection and Monitoring Markets

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from n-tech Research

More from n-tech Research (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Radiation Detection and Monitoring Markets