Spring Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type, By End-use (Automotive & Transportation, Construction, Agriculture & Forestry, Manufacturing), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Report Overview

The global spring market size was valued at USD 23.6 billion in 2019, thriving at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027. The increasing demand for springs across various end-use verticals such as automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, and forestry will drive the market over the forecast period. Also, practically, there are no other components available to replace the utility of springs and hence the springs are widely used across all the verticals. Furthermore, growing development and adoption of manufacturing methods such as shift from manual manufacturing to automated drive and robotic arm is also expected to support the growth of the market.

Manufacturing of springs from light weight and high strength metals and alloys to reduce weight and to increase the strength has also increased the application of springs in aircraft, satellite, and automobile manufacturing. As a large number of springs are used in automotive and aircraft, reduction in the weight of springs will decrease the overall weight of the structure and increase the structure’s load caring capacity. In automobile and aircraft, springs are also used in the suspension system, brakes system, and interiors to facilitate, the opening and closing of many components such as doors and armrests. Moreover, springs are also used in a wide range of integral components including actuators, engines, and fuel pumps. 

The initial cost of set-up for the manufacturing of springs is not very high and requires moderate capital investment with a good return of investment due to significant demand. This has attracted many vendors towards investing in the market, providing easy entry to the new entrants in the market. Also, the rising automation in various industries has significantly raised the machining methods to optimize the production processes.

This is done to increase the production capacity to cater to the ever-increasing demand for spring from the end users. Innovative machining methods (use of Cad and Cam) are now capable of manufacturing springs with complex geometries from different alloys. These alloy springs are lighter in weight and offer longer work life than conventional springs.

The presence of a large number of domestic and international participants in this market has made the market highly competitive. Also, export contributes to substantial share of the market, owing to which, the market is highly susceptible to the growth of other economies as well.  Hence, a decline in demand from importing economies can negatively impact exports as well as export-oriented industries.

Spring Market Trends

Springs form a vital component in automobiles. Different types of springs are used in the suspension systems and braking systems of both passenger vehicles and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. While the main application of the springs is to release the stored energy, different types of springs, including helical springs, leaf springs, compression springs, spiral springs, and coil springs, are installed in automobiles depending upon the application. Given the fact that there is hardly any practical replacement for springs when it comes to automotive applications, the growth of the automotive industry is expected to drive the demand for springs required in various automotive applications.

The primary function of springs is to absorb shocks and reduce the mass of the assembled structure. Hence, springs form a vital component in automobiles. However, as the application portfolio of springs continues to widen, the need for different types of springs is growing. As such, different types of springs, such as lightweight springs, corrosion-resistant springs, and springs with high fatigue life, are being manufactured according to the changing needs of various end-use industries and industry verticals. At this juncture, spring manufacturers have realized that advanced, state-of-the-art technology would be required to design springs with precision and cater to the evolving requirements of the end users. CAD/CAM systems are being used aggressively to design complex springs.

The widening application portfolio of springs is driving the demand for different types of springs, such as leaf springs, coil springs, flat springs, and composite springs. However, these springs need to be tailored to the specific requirements of different end-use industries and industry verticals. Manufacturing springs requires high precision. Selection of defective materials, deficiencies in designing, and errors in manufacturing can lead to spring failures, particularly if the springs are unable to take the desired loads and fatigue. At this juncture, the manufacturing of springs needs to be done with a proper understanding of the end-use application, and corrosion-resistant, lightweight materials with high fatigue life need to be selected accordingly. Durability, flexibility, strength-to-weight ratio, load-carrying ability, vibration and shock absorption capability, and friction resistance are some of the parameters that need to be considered while designing and manufacturing springs.

Type Insights

The helical spring segment captured the highest market share in 2019 and is expected to witness considerable growth during the forecast period. High demand for helical spring is attributed to its advantages such as coil structure. For instance, in shock absorber, a specific type of helical structure is used. These springs enable energy storage when pressed because of resilient force, and then this energy is subsequently released providing comfort to the passenger riding the automobile even on uneven surfaces. Other benefits offered by this type include resisting the pull forces between two or more objects, making it suitable for various applications such as carburetors, drum brakes. Helical springs are known for the excellent absorption of shocks and sudden impacts, which are crucial for the automotive, aerospace, and railways industry.

The leaf spring segment is anticipated to witness considerable growth by 2027 owing to its increasing demand in various end-use industries such as railways and automotive. Leaf spring helps in maintaining good health of the vehicle and safety of the passengers by isolating the vibrations produced due to road disturbances from transferring to the driver and passengers. The escalating demand for automobiles in developing countries coupled with an increasing focus of automobile original equipment manufacturers on improving passenger safety and comfort is anticipated to fuel segment growth. Also, shifting preference of people towards electric vehicle, has led to an increased demand of springs from electric vehicle manufacturers which is expected to positively impact the market over the forecast period.

End-use Insights

The manufacturing segment dominated the spring market in 2019 attributed to wide range of applications such as robotics, and automated drives. Rapidly changing manufacturing technology such as use of CNC (computer numerical control) machine, frequent innovation of springs in terms of design and materials, and adoption of customized product manufacturing have accelerated the growth of the segment. Springs offer high flexibility and can be customized to meet user-specific requirements. 

The automotive and transportation segment is anticipated to emerge as the fastest growing segment over the forecast period. This is due to the fact that automobiles highly rely on springs to withstand surface conditions (rough, uneven terrain). Also, electric vehicles have been witnessing significant growth due to the growing need to address future energy requirements. In 2018, the global electric vehicle fleet exceeded more than 5.0 million units from 2.0 million in 2017. Being a crucial part of all electric vehicles, spring is expected to register considerable growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

The Asia Pacific is projected to emerge as a predominant region in terms of value over the forecast period. Increased demand for spring from the automobile, transportation, and manufacturing sectors is owing to the development of manufacturing facilities by industry leaders in this region. China is estimated to commence the operations of the largest production facilities of automobile spare parts on account of the easy availability of raw materials and labor in the country.

Europe accounted for over 25.0% of the market in 2019 and is expected to witness the fastest growth rate by 2027 owing to the presence of established automobile, aerospace, and defense manufacturers in the region.  Ascending demand for electric vehicles in European countries has boosted the electric vehicle production, impacting the growth of the market in the region. Additionally, growth in the aerospace and defense sector in countries such as France and U.K. is also expected to boost the market over the forecast period.

The U.K. and France are expected to grow at a considerable growth rate of 5.7% and 6.9%, respectively, on account of the rising adoption of state-of-the-art machining methods and increasing demand for springs to support continued automation across various industry verticals. The presence of several electric vehicle manufacturers across the U.K. and France is expected to play a vital role in driving the growth of the spring market. Also, the rising development of the aerospace and defense industry in the U.K. and France bodes well for the growth of the spring market.

Spring Market Share Insights

Key companies include GALA GROUP; Ace Wire Spring and Form Co., Inc.; Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.; Barnes Group Inc. (Associated Spring); CARL HAAS GmbH; EBSCO Spring Co.; Frauenthal Holding AG; Hendrickson Usa L.L.C.; Ifc Composite Gmbh; Jamna Auto Industries Ltd.; John Evans Sons Incorporated; Mubea Tellerfedern GmbH; Rassini SAB de CV; and Sogefi SpA. These players are focusing on the formation of long-term agreements and strategic alliances with other manufacturers as well as OEMs to dilute or eliminate the risks and increased costs associated with the development of new automotive products.

Industry participants are also involved in research and development of new springs with lighter weight and higher-pressure resistant capability to decrease the overall weight of the automobile, to reduce the overall emission, and to increase the efficiency of the automobile. Moreover, there is a high demand for light weight spring in aerospace and defense sector to decrease the overall weight of the aircraft and increase its load carrying capacity. 

Spring Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends for each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global spring market report on the basis of type, end-use, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Leaf Spring

  • Helical Spring

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Automotive and Transportation

  • Construction

  • Agriculture & Forestry

  • Manufacturing

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa