The Steam Autoclaves Market size is estimated at USD 2.45 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 3.60 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising demand for steam disinfection using autoclaves drove the market growth. This was due to the increased demand for medical supplies, such as reusable devices. The increase in the infection rate of COVID-19 was expected to positively impact the market as steam disinfection could prevent the risk of infections from spreading among physicians and patients. Hospitals boosted their infection control protocols to avoid or destroy hospital-acquired infections for the patient and staff safety. For instance, as per the report by IJRASET published in May 2022, the autoclave system was preferable to incineration in managing COVID-19 biomedical waste due to significant environmental benefits and simpler operation, which was expected to have a significant impact on the market over the period.
The steam autoclave market is expected to grow rapidly due to the rising prevalence of hospital-acquired infections, the growing need to manage bio-hazardous and medical waste, and the growing adoption of a central sterile supply department (CSSD) in healthcare establishments. For instance, as per the WHO report in 2022, Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) impact hundreds of millions of individuals annually, many of whom can be fully avoided using proper care management by sterilization, which is possible using an effective method like steam autoclave and drive market to grow.
Furthermore, the addition of new features in the steam autoclaves has several benefits and is expected to have growth in the market. For instance, in February 2021, Consolidated Sterilizer Systems added new features to the line of steam autoclaves. These enhancements present major benefits to both lab and medical facilities, promoting sustainability and reducing both the carbon footprint and operating costs of steam autoclaves, which are expected to drive the market over the study period.
However, the exorbitant cost of steam autoclaves in developing nations and stringent regulations of medical devices are the hindering factors for the market's growth over the forecast period.
Vertical steam autoclaves deliver flexible solutions for steam sterilization in hospitals, clinics, and other areas of application, where reliable steam sterilization is a mandatory process and is a safe and efficient sterilization process. Vertical autoclaves are highly portable, with most incorporating wheels at the bottom of the equipment for easier transportation. A significant number of surgical cases in hospitals and clinics raise the demand for these instruments as the surgical instruments need proper sterilization.
In addition, the increase in the number of research studies in the biotechnology industry is expected to positively impact the vertical steam autoclave segment as it has a key role in sterilizing equipment used for studies. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, as of August 2023, the number of registered studies in 2021 was 37,017; in 2022, the number rose to 38,033. This increase in clinical studies and the necessity of supporting equipment for such studies is expected to propel the market’s growth during the forecast period.
Furthermore, the market is expected to grow during the study period due to the wide usage of vertical autoclaves and their advantages. For instance, as per the 2021 report by iGene Labserve, vertical autoclaves were widely used in hospitals, operation theatres, and microbiology laboratory for sterilization of various media and cultures and hence was expected to have a wider market and drove the market over the forecast period.
North American region is expected to have significant growth in the steam autoclaves market as there is a rising prevalence of rare and infectious diseases, a growing number of research organizations, and increasing R&D investments for new drug development, which will positively impact the market growth.
The North American region ranks at the top of the world regarding research output. This is mainly attributed to the research in the United States. This increase in biotechnology research funding in the region is expected to propel the market's growth. For instance, as per the NIH data in March 2023, the funding for biotechnology research in the United States for 2022 was USD 8,604 million, estimated to be USD 8,960 million in 2023. Thus, the increase in the funding for biotechnology research increases the demand for steam autoclaves during the study and is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.
In addition, the growing concern for controlling the spread of hospital-acquired infections across the North American region and the increasing adoption of a Central Sterile Supply Department framework in the region is expected to drive demand for sterilization and disinfection products and devices throughout the forecast period.
The steam autoclaves market is fragmented, and competitive and consists of several major players. A few of the major players are currently dominating the market in terms of market share. Some companies currently dominating the market are TESALYS Group, Astell Scientific, Belimed Deutschland GmbH, BMM Weston Ltd, Celitron Medical Technologies, Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, Getinge AB, Dental X, Hirayama Manufacturing Corporation, and MELAG Medizintechnik GmbH & Co.
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