July 7, 2024

Distributed Control Systems are Driven by Increasing Demand for Efficient Process Control

 

Distributed control systems (DCS) are advanced process automation control systems that are used to control industrial processes and facilities. A distributed control system uses controllers and input/output (I/O) devices to monitor and control individual modules of a process from a centralized location. This centralized control and monitoring allows operators to view and monitor an entire process from one location which provides better visibility and control of distributed processes. Key advantages of distributed control systems include greater reliability through redundancy, enhanced process monitoring capabilities, scalability to adapt to process requirement changes, and reduced installation and wiring costs compared to conventional central control systems. The global distributed control systems market continues to grow driven by an increasing need for efficient process control across various industries including oil & gas, chemicals, power generation, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and metals & mining. Rising energy costs have also driven demand for advanced DCS that enable optimization of plant assets and energy consumption. The global Distributed Control Systems Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 35.24 Bn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Market Key Trends: One of the key trends in the distributed control systems market is the increasing adoption of wireless technologies in DCS. Traditional DCS relied on wired networking to connect field devices to controllers. However, wireless technologies enable flexible configurations and reduce installation costs associated with wiring. Leading DCS manufacturers are integrating wireless capabilities with their systems using technologies like WirelessHART, Zigbee, and Bluetooth to connect transmitters, valves and other field devices. This is expected to further drive the demand for DCS going forward.

Porter’s Analysis
Threat of new entrants: The distributed control systems market requires high R&D investment and technology, acting as a deterrent for new entrants. The presence of major players also poses competition. However, opportunities exist in system integration services.
Bargaining power of buyers: Buyers have moderate bargaining power due to the availability of variety and quality of products from major vendors. However, switching costs incurred when replacing existing systems increase buyer dependence on vendors.
Bargaining power of suppliers: A few large technology companies specialize in distributed control systems, exerting pressure on pricing. However, the availability of components from alternative suppliers balances this power.
Threat of new substitutes: No close substitute offers integrated control and monitoring capabilities at plant/process level like DCS. Programmable Logic Controllers serve a different set of applications at lower operational costs, posing a minor threat.
Competitive rivalry: The distributed control systems market sees stiff competition among major global players. Differentiators include product features, integrated solutions, reliability, and localized support. Price competition is moderate due to customized system requirements.

Key Takeaways
The global Distributed Control Systems market is expected to witness high growth.

Regional analysis: North America dominates the global market currently due to large-scale uptake across industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, energy & power, and food & beverages. Asia Pacific is anticipated to register the fastest growth attributed to increasing manufacturing activities, rapidly expanding process industries, and rising infrastructural development.

Key players: Key players operating in the distributed control systems market include ABB Group, Yokogawa Electric Company, Honeywell International Inc., Toshiba, Siemens AG, Azbil Corporation, Schneider Electric, Novatech LLC, Mitsubishi Electric, Omri Corporation, Rockwell Automation, METSO, and Emerson Electric Company. ABB, Schneider, and Siemens have the largest market shares due to their comprehensive product portfolios and wider geographical presence worldwide. Honeywell and Emerson focus on specific application areas to gain advantage.

*Note:

  1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
  2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it