Lab Automation Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Process (Continuous Flow, Discrete Processing), By Automation Type (Total Automation Systems, Modular Automation Systems), By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global lab automation market size was estimated at USD 4.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from 2021 to 2028. Lab automation uses technology to substitute or streamline the manual manipulation of processes and equipment. Depending on the workflow of a lab the degree of automation is decided. The extended use of automated instruments is most often observed at academic and research institutes to enhance their productivity and decrease the time spent on various tedious tasks. Additionally, the use of automated instruments by drug discovery units of pharmaceutical companies is further anticipated to automate its research phases extensively, propelling market growth.

The rise in advantages offered by lab automation is one of the major factors anticipated to boost market growth in the near future. For clinical laboratories, a paradigm shift from complete manual intervention to lab automation possesses several advantages. Some major advantages include increased productivity, reliable results, safe working conditions, and immense savings on time, space, and cost of tests. Lab automation facilitates the usage of laboratory equipment for monotonous tasks such as labeling tubes and sample verifications, and also helps in reducing and minimizing the physical strain that is caused by manual tasks reducing costs incurred and saving lab space. Thus, various advantages offered by the automated systems are expected to encourage small and large laboratories to adopt these workstations in the near future.

Increase in demand for miniaturization is another factor expected to impact the market growth significantly in the near future. One of the major causes for the implementation of automated systems and workstations at clinical laboratories is to facilitate miniaturization of research processes in order to develop solutions for various complex lab automation tasks for applications such as biotechnology, microbiology, and clinical chemistry among others. Furthermore, miniaturization of these processes facilitates easy expansion, monitoring, and cultivation of cells increasing turn-around times for point of care settings.

Growth in the number of applications of lab automation is expected to fuel market growth in the near future. In the recent past lab, automation has found several applications that have revolutionized laboratory processes that were conventionally carried out by manual intervention. Some of these include applications such as automated chemistry applications, synthetic biology, cell line development, genomics, cellular assays, and drug discovery, among others. Therefore, an increase in the number of clinical applications of automated instruments for labs is anticipated to increase the adoption of lab automation during the forecast period.

Process Insights

The continuous flow segment dominated the overall market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 57.5% in 2020, owing to the high adoption of continuous flow in laboratories for providing high-quality services. In addition, continuous flow analysis is one of the well-established techniques and is also ideal when there is a need to analyze a higher number of samples for a smaller number of chemistries. Based on process, the market is segmented into continuous flow and discrete processing.

The discrete processing segment is anticipated to grow at a significant rate throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to several advantages of discrete processing over continuous flow which is anticipated to support its adoption during the forecast period. In discrete processing, every sample is provided a discrete space, therefore, enhancing the analysis samples in this process. Thus, there is no wastage of excess reagents used for flow as compared to continuous flow processing. This segment is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period, owing to its several advantages over continuous processing.

End-use Insights

The clinical chemistry analysis segment dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 27.0% in 2020. This high share is attributed to technological advancements, an increase in automated systems provided by market players, and growth in the usage of automated systems owing to their benefits, such as the reduced risk of contamination and elimination of human error, among other benefits. Based on end-use the market is segmented into clinical chemistry analysis, photometry and fluorometry, immunoassay analysis, and electrolyte analysis, and others.

The automation of immunoassays has been witnessing significant technological advancements. With automated and hands-free processing of various small batches of immunoassays in research labs, the potential end-user has several choices for immunoassay analysis. The other end-use segment includes the use of automated systems by forensic labs and biobanks. The Netherlands Forensic Institute is a forensic lab that utilizes an automated workflow to ensure that the processes conducted by the professionals comply with the strictly designed rules. The lab uses automated systems provided by the Hamilton Company. The company also provides automated systems to safeguard and store biobanking samples during processing, to ensure quality output for better diagnosis.

Automation Type Insights

The total automation systems segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 47.8% in 2020, owing to various benefits offered by these systems. The developments in this field in various life science processes have been one of the important driving factors anticipated to fuel the segment growth in the near future. Based on automation type, the market is segmented into total automation systems and modular automation systems.

Total automation systems are further segmented into steps for further process. The segment is mostly driven by the need to enable repetitive processes or technically challenging, many of the drug discovery laboratories are now adopting lab automation systems such as benchtop automation systems.

Modular automation systems are segmented into steps involved in the further process. One of the major factors contributing to market growth is the change in consumer demand facilitating rising uptake of modular automation systems. These systems are mostly used in fine chemical, pharmaceuticals, and food processing fields.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the lab automation market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 36.4% in 2020 and is expected to maintain the position during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the presence of a well-established healthcare infrastructure, which has led to an increase in the adoption of lab automation systems in the region. In addition, the local presence of major players and supportive reimbursement framework in this region is also boosting the penetration of novel solutions in the market.

In Asia Pacific, the market is expected to exhibit an exponential CAGR of 9.9% during the forecast period, which can be attributed to the growing demand for lab automation in emerging economies, such as China and India. The lucrative growth registered by this region is also believed to be an outcome of increasing initiatives by regional and international players to provide accessibility to novel lab automation solutions in these potential markets.

High disease burden and rising availability of health insurance are among the factors expected to positively influence the MEA market. In addition, an increase in the number of government initiatives being undertaken to improve healthcare infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and UAE is also expected to boost the demand for lab automation solutions.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Increase in mergers and collaborations undertaken by market players is anticipated to boost market growth. In May 2017, Qiagen formed a joint venture with Maccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd., an in-vitro diagnostics company based in Japan. The joint venture was known as MAQGEN that aims at accelerating local adaptions, commercialization, and development of GeneReader NGS System in growing clinical research and clinical markets based in China. Thus, an increase in the adoption of such initiatives is expected to fuel the adoption of automated instruments across the globe in the near future.

In January 2019, Roche launched the cobas pro integrated solutions in all countries accepting CE mark. The product has reset standards for maintenance, efficiency, and reliability by increasing patient satisfaction and lowering the cost of healthcare delivery. Thus, growth in the number of initiatives undertaken by the major companies is expected to enhance their geographical presence in the near future. Some of the prominent players in the lab automation market include:

• Qiagen N.V.

• PerkinElmer Inc.

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• Siemens Healthineers

• Danaher Corporation

• Agilent Technologies, Inc.

• Bio Tek Instruments, Inc.

• Eppendorf AG

• Hudson Robotics

• Aurora Biomed Inc.

• BMG LABTECH GMBH

• Tecan Group Ltd.

• Hamilton Company

• F. Hoffmann-La Roche

Lab Automation Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global lab automation market report on the basis of process, automation type, end use, and region:

• Process Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Continuous Flow

    • By Workflow

      • Sequential Processing

      • Parallel Processing

    • By Components

      • Consumables

      • Equipment

  • Discrete Processing

    • By Method

      • Centrifugal Discrete Processing

      • Random Access Discrete Processing

    • By Components

      • Consumables

      • Equipment

    • By Workflow

      • Dependent Analysis

      • Independent Analysis

• Automation Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Total Automation Systems

    • By Steps

      • Pre-analysis

        • Centrifugation

        • Sample Preparation

        • Sample Sorting  

      • Transport Mechanisms

      • Liquid Handling

      • Sample Storage

      • Sample Analysis

  • Modular Automation Systems

    • By Steps

      • Specimen Acquisition & Identification & Labelling

      • Transport Mechanisms

      • Sample Preparation

      • Sample Loading & Aspiration

      • Reagent Handling & Storage

      • Sample Analysis & Measurements

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Clinical Chemistry Analysis

  • Photometry & Fluorometry

  • Immunoassay Analysis

  • Electrolyte Analysis

  • Other end-uses

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) 

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Singapore

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • MEA

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE