According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Infrared Camera Market by Technology and End Use: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2026,” the global infrared camera market was valued at $744.8 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $1,378.47 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020 to 2026.

Infrared cameras can capture images through harsh environments such as fog, smoke, haze, and water vapors. This has resulted in the usage of these cameras for security and surveillance end uses. Infrared cameras are equipped with greater magnificent capabilities than uncooled cameras as it can sense shorter infrared wavelengths very quickly. In addition, cooled cameras have greater sensitivity characteristics and allow lenses with more optical elements to ensure better magnification performance. Furthermore, cooled thermal cameras has the ability to perform spectral filtering to acquire accurate image details with precision, which provides assistance for the growth of infrared camera market size globally as against uncooled cameras.

A modern cooled thermal imaging camera has an imaging sensor that is integrated with a cryocooler. This is a device that lowers the sensor temperature to cryogenic temperatures. This reduction in sensor temperature is necessary to reduce thermally induced noise to a level below that of the signal from the scene being imaged. Infrared cameras are gaining traction for its usage in quality assurance monitoring and process control. Process control assures data on temperature measurement and determines the shape of a product on a production line.

As per infrared camera market analysis, thermal imagery in production line provides enhanced information to product specialists. For instance, thermal imaging is used to monitor metal manufacturing production line. Heat treatment is used in metal manufacturing to alter its chemical and physical properties. These cameras are used to monitor the temperature of metal parts. In addition, many automobile manufacturers are using infrared cameras for quality control. End uses in automobile manufacturing includes inspection of rear window heating, heated seats, and air-conditioning outlets among others. Furthermore, infrared cameras are also used for quality control & inspection in semiconductor manufacturing to detect hot spots, which are indicative of defective products. All these factors enable the usage of infrared cameras in quality control & inspection under various industry verticals and provide assistance to the infrared camera market growth globally.

According to infrared camera market trends, the governments worldwide are promoting strategies to support problem-solving techniques that are proactively reported in immediate conditions with the use of surveillance and monitoring systems, which can instantly provide live feeds. Infrared cameras in military & defense are used for weapon sights and to identify stations. In addition, this camera technology is also used for increasing the gunner’s visual range for identification and acquisition of targets in all lighting and weather conditions, which provides significant infrared camera market opportunity globally.

Infrared cameras provide remote access to data and this function is encouraging governments to use these surveillance systems in high alert spaces such as prisons. This system helps analyze the government functionality of guard staff, ensure the security level of all areas of jail, and maintain the protocol. Video analytics also helps security departments to identify specific time-period activities. This technology continuously provides both passive and active monitoring. Infrared imaging is used in many defense end uses to enable high-resolution vision and identification in darkness. Such enhanced features of infrared cameras create lucrative opportunities for infrared camera market growth for defense & military industry vertical.

Key Findings of the Study

• Based on technology, uncooled IR camera segment generated the highest revenue in the global infrared camera market forecast in 2019.
• Based on end use, the defense & military segment generated the highest revenue in the global infrared camera market share in 2019.

The key players profiled in the infrared camera market include Leonardo DRS, Global Sensor Technology Co., ltd., Xenics, AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH, Lynred, FLIR System Inc., L3 Technologies, SemiConductor Devices, Boston Electronics Corporation, and Hamamatsu Photonics. These key players adopt several strategies such as new product launch and development, acquisition, partnership and collaboration, and business expansion to increase the infrared camera market during the forecast period.