Steam Autoclaves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Configuration (Vertical, Horizontal), By Application (Medical, Dental), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global steam autoclaves market size was estimated at USD 1.13 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing number of surgeries, growing incidences of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI), technological advancements, and rapidly increasing quantities of medical and bio-hazardous waste generated from hospitals, pharmaceutical facilities, life science research facilities, and drug factories are expected to boost the demand for waste sterilization and waste management products. 

The surge in HAI has also brought the attention of healthcare centers towards sterilizers. According to a WHO report in May 2022, out of every 100 patients in hospitals, 15 patients in low- & middle-income countries and 7 patients in high-income countries are expected to acquire at least one HAI. On average, about 1 in every 10 affected patients die from HAI. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in October 2018, about 1 in every 31 hospital patients in the U.S. was infected with at least 1 HAI. This rising prevalence of diseases such as HAIs, can significantly be reduced by taking precautionary measures.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, around 235 million major surgical procedures were performed worldwide annually. This surge in number of surgical procedures performed is expected to drive the market growth over the next few years. As microbiological waste is expected to increase, decontamination of the waste will be a priority, thereby increasing the growing need for sterilization devices.

Hazardous waste management is an integral component of the healthcare industry. Maintaining disinfected, sterilized, and clean surroundings in hospitals has become increasingly important, resulting in the increased use of steam autoclaves and the implementation of a central sterile services department (CSSD) architecture. The market is predicted to grow substantially owing to the aforementioned factors.

Furthermore, against any contamination, the medical equipment requires autoclaving to kill fungus, bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Steam autoclaves are used to disinfect and sterilize medical items using high-pressure and temperature steam. As a result, along with an increase in medical procedures and in-hospital infections, the global market for steam autoclaves is expected to grow in the forecast period.

In addition, the demand for high-quality healthcare services and the need for improvement in healthcare infrastructure is on the rise in emerging economies such as China and India. This can provide a huge opportunity for the market in the coming years. Investment in the healthcare sector in these countries is continuously on the rise. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India’s public expenditure in the healthcare sector has witnessed a rise from 1.3% of the GDP in 2019-20 to 1.8% in 2020-2021 to 2.1% in 2021-2022.

Configuration Insights

Based on the configuration, the market is segmented into table-top, vertical, horizontal, floor-standing, and high-pressure steam autoclaves. The vertical segment held the largest revenue share of around 20.0% in 2022. Vertical steam autoclaves are majorly used in operation theaters and diagnostic centers. Several advantages of vertical steam autoclaves such as availability in a wide capacity range - 22 liters to 200 liters and ease of operation and cleaning make them a preferable choice in healthcare settings. Due to the growing need for hazardous waste management and medium-capacity laboratory sterilization solutions, vertical steam autoclaves are expected to grow at a lucrative rate over the forecast period.

The tabletop segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. This growth can be led by an increase in demand by clinics and healthcare centers. Tabletop autoclaves provide several advantages such as easy operability, high-temperature sterilization, and high functionality. They are typically used in dental hospitals as they are designed for small instruments such as hypodermic syringes, needles, and dental tools.

Application Insights

In terms of application, the market is segmented into medical, dental, and laboratory applications.The medical segment held the largest market share of 49.57% in 2022 owning to the prominent use of autoclaves in hospitals, healthcare establishments, and clinical facilities. The hospital subsegment held a major share due to the requirement for large capacity autoclaving requirements in hospitals to sterilize the equipment. The use of autoclaves in dental clinics is also on the rise owing to the increasing number of dental disorders and the need for sterilization of dental tools to avoid infections.

The laboratory segment is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.28% in the forecast period from 2023 - 2030. Sterilizers are used in laboratories to kill microorganisms on surfaces of laboratory equipment or solutions. Innovation and the launch of new autoclave systems are also expected to anticipate this growth. For instance, in May 2018, Getinge announced the global launch of their GSS sterilizer for the life science industry.

Regional Insights

In terms of region, North America held the largest revenue share of 35.52% in 2022 due to increasing surgeries, a growing geriatric population base, and high healthcare costs. Awareness and adoption of new medical technology are also comparatively more as compared to other parts of the world. The U.S. is the major contributor to the market in the region owing to high expenditure in the healthcare sector. In 2021, U.S. healthcare spending grew 2.7 %, reaching USD 4.3 trillion. Medical waste management, sterilization, and disinfection mandates and guidelines by regulatory agencies such as the FDA, EPA, DOT, and OSHO, and the regulated implementation of these mandates by the regulatory agencies are the major factors accounting for this large share.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.20% over the forecast period. The presence of highly populated countries and rapidly developing medical infrastructure in emerging economies such as India and China are expected to drive the region’s growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The key players are striving to gain a competitive edge through frequent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances. In October 2021, Priorclave launched new autoclave groups in Gambica Pavilion at Medica 2021. There were 3 research-grade laboratory autoclave groups and within each group, various models were offering more benefits and features as compared to the available standards. In February 2021, Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, a leading manufacturer of steam autoclaves, launched advanced autoclave sustainability features. This advancement can offer benefits to medical facilities followed by initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. Some prominent players in the global steam autoclaves market include:

• Belimed Deutschland

• BMM Weston Ltd

• Getinge

• LTE Scientific Ltd

• Matachana

• Medi safe International

• Panasonic

• PRIORCLAVE LTD.

• Tuttnauer

• Eryigit Medical Devices

• STERIS

• Peacocks Medical Group

• Steelco S.p.A.

Steam Autoclaves Market Report Scope

Global Steam Autoclaves Market Report Segmentation

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 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global steam autoclaves market report based on configuration, application, and region.

• Configuration Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Table Top Autoclaves

  • Vertical Steam Autoclaves

  • Horizontal Steam Autoclaves

  • Floor Standing Steam Autoclaves

  • High Pressure Steam Autoclaves

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Medical Steam Autoclaves

    • Hospital Steam Autoclaves

    • Clinical Steam Autoclaves

    • Medical Waste Management Steam Autoclaves

  • Dental Steam Autoclaves

  • Laboratory Steam Autoclaves

    • Pharmaceutical Steam Autoclaves

    • Bio-hazardous Waste Management Steam Autoclaves

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Sweden

    • Norway

    • Denmark

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • MEA

    • Saudi Arabia

    • South Africa

    • UAE

    • Kuwait