ANN ARBOR , Michigan, April 21, 2004—CIMdata estimates that
in 2003 the worldwide CAM software and related services market
turned around after having declined for three straight years. The
market, as measured by end-user payments, is estimated to have
had a slight growth of 1.1% from $1.039 billion in 2002 to $1.050
billion in 2003. This follows declines of 1.6% in 2000, 7.5% in
2001, and 6.4% in 2002. Purchases reached their peak in 1999 at
$1.22 billion before the three year decline began. The turnaround
in 2003 stems this decline. Moreover, CIMdata is projecting that
2004 will be an improved year and that end-user payments for NC
software and related services will increase by 6.9% to reach a
level of $1.122 billion. This information and other statistics
are contained in the upcoming annual NC Software and Related Services
Market Assessment Report. The Report is over 200 pages and can be
obtained from CIMdata. The annual end-user payments for CAM software
for 1993 through a projected 2004 are shown in the following chart.
CAM Market Size Over Time
by End-User Payments
Mr. Alan Christman, CIMdata Vice President, commented, “The
worldwide CAM software market is highly dependent upon the state
of the global economy, the viability of the manufacturing sector,
the extent of technology spending, and the amount of machine
tool purchases. All four factors began to bounce back in 2003
after depressed conditions in prior years. Although the European
manufacturing economy is expected to remain sluggish in 2004,
strong increases are expected in Asia Pacific countries such
as China, and the rebound in U.S. manufacturing is expected to
continue.”
CIMdata and essentially all worldwide NC software
suppliers are now cautiously optimistic and anticipate an increase
in end-user purchases of CAM software during the balance of
2004. If this occurs, the inherent forces that have driven the
growth in NC software purchases in the past could again come into
play and the CAM software market will again continue its modest
growth of 5% or so per year.
