Ultra-low alpha metals are majorly used in solder bumping in the electronics industry. The strict government regulations on the use of hazardous substances in electronic equipment drive the growth of the ultra-low alpha metals market. However, the volatility in the prices of the raw materials impedes market growth.
In 2020, Asia Pacific contributed to the largest share in the global ultra-low alpha metals market. The market growth in the region is primarily attributed to the presence of strong industrial base with prominent manufactures. High demand for ultra-low alpha metals from applications such as electronics, automotive, and medical backed by the significantly growing end-use industrial bases is stimulating the growth of the ultra-low alpha metals market in the region.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the status of the chemicals & materials sector and negatively impacted the growth of the ultra-low alpha metals market. The implementation of measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus has aggravated the situation and declined the demand for industrial metals and materials. The operations of industries have been impacted amid the pandemic, which has ultimately disturbed the delivery cycle and increased import–export tariff. The sudden distortion in operational efficiencies and disruptions in the value chains are attributed to the sudden closure of national and international boundaries and the temporarily closure of manufacturing bases due to indefinite lockdowns and temporary quarantines, which have hampered the growth of the market during the pandemic. The restrictions on supply chain with volatility in raw material pricing and sourcing due to initial weeks of lockdown have disturbed the industrial products and processes. Also, the focus on the just-in-time production is another concerning factor hindering market growth. However, as the economies are planning to revive their operations, the demand for ultra-low alpha metals is expected to rise globally in the coming years. The increasing demand for advanced industrial materials due to the growth of various end-use industries, such as electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, medical, and telecommunication, is also expected to drive the growth of the market in the coming years. Further, significant investments by prominent manufacturers in the advancement of ultra-low alpha lead-free alloys would fuel the growth of the ultra-low alpha metals market during the forecast period.
The expanding demand for high density and low power product requirements has propelled the concept of reducing the dimensions and operating voltages of modern electronic devices. The constant scaling of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device technologies has led to miniaturization and shrinkage in the operating voltage of the device transistors. However, the concept has opened new challenges, both from the technology and materials point of view. One such issue is soft error, the temporary malfunction of the device, which is caused by the radiation of high-energy alpha particles. One of the primary sources of alpha particle radiation is the solders which are significantly deployed for joining components in the packaging. Hence, the growing concern toward the soft error issue has led to an increase in demand for ultra-low alpha metals.
Based on type, the global ultra-low alpha metals market is segmented into ULA tin, ULA tin alloys, ULA lead alloys, ULA lead-free alloys and others. The ULA lead-free alloys and others segment led the market in 2020. With the growing investments in research and development activities, manufacturers are coming up with the advanced forms of products, which could meet specific industry requirements. Similarly, manufacturers have introduced ULA lead-free alloys that is composed of a significantly low proportion of lead (i.e., 0.1%) or no lead at all. The demand for ultra-low alpha lead-free soldering alloys is rising due to the growing concerns toward the environment.
Based on application, the global ultra-low alpha metals market is segmented into electronics, automotive, medical, telecommunication, and others. The electronics segment led the market in 2020. It is imperative to deploy the use of alloys and metals that could hold an ultra-low alpha grade when engaged in electronic applications. The use of ultra-low alpha metals helps to dodge any malfunctioning caused due to soft errors in electronics devices. Additionally, the significant reduction in the size of devices, along with the installation of solder materials close to the sensitive locations in electronic devices, generates the need for ultra-low alpha metals. There is a rise in demand for ultra-low alpha metals in the production of consumer electronics.
A few of the key players operating in the global ultra-low alpha metals market are MITSUBISHI MATERIALS Corporation; Teck Resources Limited; Advanced Manufacturing Services (AMS) Ltd; Pure Technologies; Honeywell International Inc.; DUKSAN Hi-Metal Co., Ltd; and MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions.
The regional trends and factors influencing the Ultra-Low Alpha Metals Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Ultra-Low Alpha Metals Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2020 | US$ 3.13 Billion |
| Market Size by 2028 | US$ 5.46 Billion |
| Global CAGR (2020 - 2028) | 7.4% |
| Historical Data | 2018-2019 |
| Forecast period | 2021-2028 |
| Segments Covered |
By Type
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Ultra-Low Alpha Metals Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Ultra-Low Alpha Metals Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
The List of Companies - Ultra-Low Alpha Metals Market
Based on application, the ultra-low alpha metals market is categorized into electronics, automotive, medical, telecommunication and others. The electronics segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020. The implementation of the legislations such as RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) have led to growing adoption of Pb-free ultra-low alpha metals in production of electronic products. The primary alloys categorized as leadfree ultra-low alpha solders are Sn-Ag and Sn-Ag-Cu as well as alloy systems composed of Bi, Sb and others. The growing concern towards alpha emission along with rising focus towards environment has led to the inclination towards lead free alloys. However, in current scenario, several development activities have been oriented towards development of Pb-free solder with an aim to meet up the manufacturability and reliability expectation from the industries
The major players operating in the global ultra-low alpha metals market are MITSUBISHI MATERIALS Corporation; Teck Resources Limited; Advanced Manufacturing Services (AMS) Ltd; Pure Technologies; Honeywell International Inc.; DUKSAN Hi-Metal Co., Ltd; MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions; among many others.
In 2020, Asia Pacific held the largest share of the global ultra-low alpha metals market. The demand for ultra-low alpha metals is rising in the region due to factors such as the significant growth in chemical, automotive, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, and other such industries. The region encompasses an ample amount of opportunities for the growth of the market attributable to the rapid industrial development along with significant rise in foreign direct investments and increasing expenditure towards research and development activities which are altogether expected to diversify the application base of ultra-low alpha metals has also led to market growth. Further, the rapid development of manufacturing base backed by improved economic activities and better investment opportunities is also promoting the growth of ultra-low alpha metals in regional market. China is dominating the regional market, followed by other countries such as Japan, India, South Korea and other countries.