Process Chromatography was once used exclusively as a research tool in science labs, but in the 21st century it’s flourished into a technology used in a wide array of industries including Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical, Fine Chemicals, and Food and Beverage. The expansion of this technology across such a broad and diverse group of end-users is one of the key driving forces behind the Global Process Chromatography Market, and is expected to push the market to a value of over US$5.1 billion by 2016.
That said, vendors in the market should be wary of a few challenges on the horizon. Namely, the following:
1. High Cost of Instruments
Firstly, chromatography equipment is equipped with incredibly advanced features and functionalities which means that these products are priced at a premium. High capital costs, maintenance costs, and several other indirect expenses result in an overall increase in the total cost of ownership of process chromatography instruments and hinder the mass adoption of the technology.
2. Need for Skilled Professionals
Secondly, as is the case with many new and advanced technologies, there is currently a deficit of skilled professionals who know how to effectively operate process chromatography equipment. Optimum usage of chromatography equipment in process industries requires expertise with relevant experience and knowledge on chromatography. For instance, inconsistent column packing can result in low purity levels and product yield which in turn impacts the quality of the final product. In addition, the selection of the right chromatography technique specific to a given task plays a crucial role in the purification process, the lack of which incurs several direct and indirect expenses and the time-to-market.
All that being said, we at TechNavio think it’s unlikely that these hindrances are significant enough to have any major impact on the Global Process Chromatography Market’s future success-particularly when you take into account the multiple drivers pushing it forward, including:
- Increasing Need for High Purity Levels
- Increasing Adoption of Multicolumn Chromatography
- Increasing Need for Separation Analysis in Process Industries
- Increasing Adoption in the Multiple industries
Ultimately, the Global Process Chromatography Market’s current value of over US $4.1 billion should be at least somewhat of an indicator of its potential. Moreover, the recent advancements in process chromatography technology including increased reliability, high efficiency, and faster analysis are impossible to ignore, and sure to prompt even further growth. Thus, we’re more than confident in predicting a promising and profitable for the long-term future of the Global Process Chromatography market.
