Massive Growth Anticipated for Touch Screen Rental Mark

It seems like it’s a good time to be a touch screen manufacturer.

Due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, the demand for touch screen modules has skyrocketed, resulting in revenue growth of 90 percent. This information comes from an analytical report compiled by DisplaySearch.
According to the results, touch screen revenue will pass the $13 billion mark this year – but is slated to double that number by 2017.

According to Jennifer Colegrove, the vice president of emerging technology displays over at DisplaySearch shared her thoughts on the market boom. "Touch screen penetration has rapidly increased in mobile phones, handheld games, game consoles, and tablet PC applications, which collectively will account for more than $10.5 billion in touch screen revenues this year.”

She added, "In addition, we see strong touch screen growth over the next several years driven by demand in larger display applications such as all-in-one PCs, notebook PCs, and consumer gaming."

Colegrove is spot on, but she doesn’t discuss any of the issues facing touch screen production. Supply has been an issue – with tablet sales being hindered by a lack of components. And expertise is also a concern -- as highlighted by the explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu plant (where Apple iPads are assembled).

Tablets, a relatively new trend, have really powered the adaption of capacitive technology. Netbooks are officially dead and even the lightest ultraportable is at risk of being edged out by this newest evolution.

And as pretty much all modern tablets have touch screens, it’s been a boon for the module manufacturers. Take Atmel, a semiconductor company responsible for producing the “MaXTouch” line of products that line the facades of various HTC, Nokia, Motorola and Samsung smartphones. It is screen is also used in Samsung’s second generation tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The DisplaySearch analysis isn’t the only finding that reports growth in the touch screen arena. In fact, the Bedford Report, an investment research document summarizing successes within the Semiconductor industry (of which Atmel is technically a part of) anticipates that the company will experience a growth of around seven percent.

We consider ourselves bystanders in this rapidly evolving world – but we’ll help do our part in supporting this particular field of expansion. Half of our products are touch screen rental options these days (whether they’re LCDs, printers, copiers, or tablets).