Author(s):

Tiffanie Demone

Introduction:

The European video and high-tech hardware device market will experience moderate expansion through 2014, driven by the introduction and adoption of technologically advanced devices, including high-definition television (HDTV) camera systems and light-emitting diode (LED) surgical lights and light sources, which are generally priced at a premium. The clearer images offered by HDTV systems will boost their adoption over less expensive standard-definition (SD) camera systems, propelling market expansion throughout the forecast period. Increased HDTV camera system sales will also drive revenues in the accessory markets that offer HDTV—including surgical monitors and data capture devices (DCDs)—because facilities will need to purchase these devices to fully realize the visual benefits provided by the technology. Higher-priced LED surgical lights and light sources, which are durable and energy-efficient, will also be acquired over halogen surgical lights and 300 W xenon light sources, respectively. The adoption of premium-priced LED lights will propel market expansion through 2014. The economic downturn will, nonetheless, limit market growth in the beginning of the forecast period because capital equipment budgets will be reduced or frozen. In response to tighter health care budgets, facilities will negotiate greater discounts for bulk purchases, and consequently, manufacturers will need to decrease prices in order to remain competitive. These limited budgets combined with the growing influence of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) will lead to average selling price (ASP) declines over the forecast period.

Questions Answered in This Report:

  *   In 2009, three-chip HDTV camera systems were adopted at the expense of medical HD and SD three-chip camera systems due to HDTV's enhanced image quality. Richard Wolf and Stryker were the most recent major camera competitors to launch HDTV three-chip camera systems. In 2008, Richard Wolf introduced its 5550 Endocam, while Stryker upgraded its 1188HD camera system and also launched its 1288HD camera system in 2009. How will the introduction of new competitors to the HDTV three-chip camera market impact the competitive landscape? How quickly will HDTV three-chip camera systems be adopted over medical HD and SD three-chip systems through 2014?

  *   In 2009, the most common level of integration among European hospitals was level 2 (video and data communication). A number of health care facilities in the region implemented digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) systems and picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) over a decade ago; these hospitals are now looking to network their existing systems in the operating room (OR). Over the forecast period, will video and data communication remain the most common level of integration in Europe?

  *   Premium-priced LED surgical lights are growing in popularity in Europe due to the greater energy efficiency and durability of these devices over halogen lights. How quickly will LED surgical lights be adopted over halogen surgical lights through 2014? How will this adoption impact the overall surgical light market?

  *   The economic downturn has had a negative effect on most medical device capital equipment markets, including video and high-tech devices. How has the adoption rate of HDTV systems, which are priced at a premium over competing devices, been impacted by the economic downturn in Europe? How has the economic downturn impacted OR integration sales? When is recovery expected across these and other video and high-tech device markets?

Scope:

Regions covered: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK

Segmentation: Our analysis uses the following segmentation of the market:

• Cameras
  • Three-chip camera systems (HDTV, SD)
  • Single-chip camera systems
• Surgical tables
• Surgical lights
  • LED surgical lights
  • Halogen surgical lights
• Surgical monitors
  • Flat-panel LCD monitors
  • Wide-screen LCD monitors
• OR integration
  • OR integration devices (video routing, video and data communication, hub routing)
  • Booms
  • Device controls
• Video capture and recording devices
  • HDTV digital capture devices
  • SD digital capture devices
• Light sources
• Printers
  • Analog printers
  • Consumer-grade digital printers

Market forecast features: Based on primary research with industry professionals, we use our proprietary forecasting model to provide an in-depth examination of current and future trends in unit sales, ASPs, and market values over a 7-year period (2008–2014).

Competitive analysis: We provide a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape in the market, as well as market shares and qualitative discussions of the leading competitors in each market segment.