Unidirectional Tapes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Thermoplastic, Thermoset), By Fiber (Carbon, Glass, Other Fiber), By End-use (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Unidirectional Tapes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Thermoplastic, Thermoset), By Fiber (Carbon, Glass, Other Fiber), By End-use (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Unidirectional Tapes Market Growth & Trends

The global unidirectional tapes market size is anticipated to reach USD 793.6 million by 2030 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 16.3% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The demand for unidirectional tapes (UD Tapes) is expected to be driven by growth in emphasis by aircraft manufacturing companies towards the development of lightweight aircraft with increased fuel efficiency by substituting metal parts with composite materials. This also helps to reduce the maintenance cost of airplanes by eradicating problems like rusting of the outer body.

High emphasis by electric vehicle manufacturing companies towards increasing the range of vehicles is expected to propel the demand for unidirectional tapes, for improving battery utilization efficiency of the vehicles. Furthermore, initiatives by governments across several countries towards increasing the usage of electric vehicles by providing subsidies for production and sale are expected to create new growth opportunities in the market.

The growing demand for unidirectional tapes in several industries including aerospace, automotive, medical, construction, and sports & leisure has led to the adoption of several new technologies over the past few years to increase production rate and high efficiency. Some of the major technologies used in present times include automated tape laying (ATL), advanced fiber placement (AFP), and spread-tow technology.

Metals such as aluminum and steel are among the most widely used materials in the global automotive and aerospace manufacturing industry due to their high structural strength, high dimensional stability, and abundance availability. However, growing emphasis by automotive and aerospace companies on the production of lightweight cars and aircraft with better fuel efficiency is expected to create demand for woven textiles and composite materials such as unidirectional tapes.

Usage of composites such as unidirectional tapes is expanding rapidly in industries such as aerospace and automotive as substitutes for metals due to less weight. The product adoption is still limited in the market, due to its high initial cost as compared to metals and widespread usage of metals in cars over the historic period. Thus, number of buyers in the present is less as compared to product manufacturers, thus leading to high bargaining power of buyers.

Unidirectional Tapes Market Report Highlights

• Based on product, unidirectional tapes are segmented into thermoplastic UD tapes and thermoset UD tapes. Thermoplastic UD tapes led the market in 2023 with a revenue share of 72.2%. The product offers flexibility, durability, and exceptional strength for autoclave manufacturing processes, in-situ consolidation, and press molding. In addition, these tapes have high chemical and fire resistance, which makes them suitable for applications such as rockets, model boats, launch vehicles, and Formula 1 racing cars
• Carbon fibers dominated the market with a volume share of 69.1% in 2023 as it is used in chassis & door panels of automotive vehicles, reinforcements inserted in protective equipment including helmets and vests, containers & winding pipes in other utility services. Furthermore, carbon fiber is primarily 15% lighter than glass fiber, 40% lighter than aluminum, and approximately 70% lighter than steel, which makes it a very light, strong, and rigid reinforced material
• Glass fiber was fastest-growing fiber in 2023, with a CAGR of 16.8%. Glass fibers are used to make structural composites as well as a wide range of specialty items such as frame and mold connecting sections for watercraft, airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and rockets. When compared to steel wires of the same diameter, glass fiber has a higher tensile strength and a lower weight, making it an ideal choice for the production of unidirectional tapes
• Aerospace & defense industry accounted for the largest share of market in 2023 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% over the forecast period. One of the major factors that are propelling the market growth in aerospace applications is that structures and components made with UD tapes take less time to produce. As a result, it decreases the production time to manufacture structural components of an aircraft including aircraft seat frames, business jet wings, and sandwich panels for light aircraft
• North America dominated the market accounting for a revenue of USD 108.7 million in 2023. Robust aerospace and automobile manufacturing industries in the region coupled with growing demand for lightweight vehicles are expected to increase the demand for unidirectional tapes over the forecast period
• The market consists of key players such as Evonik Industries AG, BASF SE, SABIC, and Solvay. S.A., Hexcel Corporation, Toray Industries, Inc., and Teijin Ltd. A majority of players are involved in new product launches, acquisitions, and procuring government contracts to gain a competitive edge over their competitors, which in turn is expected to increase the player's market positioning in the overall market during the forecast period.

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