October 6, 2004—Despite the emphasis on security in building design and facilities management in recent years, growth in the market for access control systems has been slow since 2002. Prospects into the future are only moderately better.
Specialist the firm Research and Markets says that the industry’s performance has been held back by falling output of new buildings and a slowing of UK economic growth. In 2002, the value of the market was in the region of 226m, rising to 232m in 2003.
On the positive side, demand for new systems has been strong in the public sector, particularly schools and universities, local and national government buildings and hospitals. The researchers also note a trend associated with the Private Finance Initiative, specifically a shift away from multiple small contracts to a smaller number of very large contracts encompassing several sites.
Concerns about crime and terrorism are encouraging some organizations to upgrade their systems. But others are choosing new smart-card systems as a ‘future-proof’ measure, with the intention of adding other kinds of information to the systems at a later date.
Current estimates put annual market growth at between 3% and 4% from 2004 to 2008. Prospects for output of new building work in 2004 and 2005 are not favorable in the important commercial and industrial sectors, the researchers say, but growth is expected in public sector projects.
—Elliott Chase
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2004 i-FM
