“In 2015, the motion control market experienced a modest decline from 2014 due to a slowing manufacturing sector late in the year and contractions in a few main product categories,” says the MCMA’s director of market analysis, Alex Shikany. “Three of the five largest segments we track – electronic drives, AC drives, and motion controllers – decreased on a year-on-year basis (by 8.1%, 7.4% and 1.4%, respectively). Conversely, the largest segment we track ­– motors – saw modest growth (of 2.6%) in 2015.”

The fourth quarter of 2015 fell by 7.3% compared to the previous year, to a total of $709m. Despite this decline, some categories, such as AC motors and support services, saw growth in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year.

In 2015, the former Motion Control Association (MCA) merged with SMMA, the Motor & Motion Association, to form the MCMA. Its members include suppliers of raw and finished materials, manufacturers of motors and motion control components and systems, system integrators, distributors, end users, consulting firms, academic institutions and research groups involved in motion control around the world.