This report brings these factors into focus and provides manufacturers, distributors, users, and raw material suppliers with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions relating to investment, procurement and material selection. It also provides historical and forecast data on the volume and value of the elastomers and resins used as the raw materials for hoses and tubing and describes the competitive environment surrounding the industry. It shows the market share held by the important producers in each major market segment and profiles the most important companies. It is intended to inform producers and distributors of hoses and tubing and their raw material suppliers, as well as users of hoses and tubing and other parties interested in this multifaceted industry. The important types of hose and tube are differentiated into rubber, thermoplastic, and thermoplastic elastomer, according to the elastomer or resin used.
Much emphasis is placed on the analysis of hose and tube markets and hose and tube materials.
We have not included metal tubing in this report. Metal tubing is used primarily in markets where plastic and rubber are simply inappropriate, such as air-conditioning and refrigeration condensers. There is an overlap in certain applications and we make note of these when appropriate throughout the report. Metal tubing continues to be displaced by rubber and plastic materials. The rate of conversion has slowed quite dramatically in sectors such as hydraulics but remains very strong in the semiconductor sector.