1

S ecurity/energy systems Euromarket up 12% pa The European market for security/ fire energy systems will grow by 12 per cent per year through 1985, according to a report from Frost & Sullivan. The report forecasts a saturation point being reached about the middle of the decade, with the growth slowing down to around 8 per cent. The total market for these systems will increase to $1222M in 1991 from $473M in 1981 (1981 dollar values). The market for building automation systems will increase to $432M in 1988 from $228M in 1981, according to another report from Frost & Sullivan. This increase is attributed to rising energy costs, reductions in hardware prices and the obsolescence of existing mechanical devices. The security/fire/energy market will continue to be dominated by West Germany who will account for more than 25 per cent. Together with France, UK and Italy, they will account for more than two-thirds of the European market, according to the report. Frost & Sullivan anticipate that Philips, Siemens, GEC, Racal and Thompson4~SF will continue their dominance of this part of the European electronics market. Breaking down the building automation system market, the report estimates that 56 per cent will be used in large building systems; 25 per cent in multibuilding systems; and 19 per cent in small building systems. The largest market sector will be in office systems, the report continues. Retrofitting will witness considerable activity in the next three to five years, the report says. Buildings erected in the late '50s and earlier are becoming outdated, as far as their engineering services are concerned, and must be modernized, Frost & Sullivan say. Because of this, and the downturn in new construction, the bulk of the installations made until 1987 will be retrofits, the report says. (Frost & Sullivan Ltd, 104-I 12 Marylebone Lane, London WIM 5FU, UK. Tel: 01-486 8377)

vol 6 no 6july/august 1982

A worldwide software development centre which cost over £7M to build has been opened in the UK by Hewlett-Packard. Pinewood is the third major Hewlett-Packard installation in the UK, and will export 90 per cent of the software generated here, according to HP founder David Packard (centre). lip have a tradition of investing in the UK but their decision to have the software facility at Pinewood was strongly influenced by Britain's reputation for programming excellence. Pinewood has been occupied since January 1982 and has already generated their first product - electronic mail for liP's office of the future. A 67 hectare site near Bristol in England's West Country for the manufacturer of disc drives in liP's next venture. First shipments are due in spring 1983.Also present were Patrick/enkin, UK Secretary of State for Industry (left) and lashings of strawberries and cream.

Japanese semiconductor production up 27% in 1980/1 The total value of semiconductor production in Japan was over $4500M in 1981, according to a report from Information Researchers Inc. This represents an increase of 27 per cent over 1980 levels. I R forecast that revenue from semiconductor sales in Japan will reach $7500M by 1986. Semiconductor trade frictions with the US and Europe leading to moves from free trade to more protectionism will be an important factor when analysing the future of the Japanese semiconductor industry, the report says. At present in Japan, the market is dominated by the large scale broad based affluent companies. The top

ten companies have a market share of 85 per cent between them, the report says. This has lead to smaller companies looking for specialist niches to find their way into the market. There are not 60 semiconductor manufacturers identified in the report. Investment race

The picture is similar in the investment race. Ten companies accounted for nearly 88 per cent of the total investment by the Japanese semiconductor industry in 1981. Total facilities investment was in excess of $865M with the priority being given to IC production.

335