Demand for Mobile Driving Global X-ray Growth

The global X-ray market is expected to see strong growth in the next few years, thanks to demand for mobile X-ray and retrofit upgrade kits, according to a new market research report.

Revenue for general radiography X-ray is projected to rise to $3.8 billion in 2017, up 5 percent from $2.9 billion in 2012, according to “The World Market for General Radiography and Fluoroscopy X-ray Equipment – 2013” from IMS Research, now part of IHS Inc.

Mobile and retrofit upgrade kits are expected to grow by 13 percent and 15 percent, respectively during the same time. Flat-panel detector equipment is showing modest growth, while computed radiography and analogue X-ray are projected to take a shape decline, according to IHS.

“With increasing global economic pressure, hospitals worldwide are looking for solutions to improve staff workflow and improve patient care,” Sarah Jones, medical imaging analyst for HIS, said in a statement. “The cost of new digital X-ray equipment is much higher than for a retrofit upgrade kit, driving many hospitals to purchase this cheaper option. Hospitals also are purchasing mobile equipment to help patients who are critically ill to receive faster treatment.”

The retrofit X-ray market is expected to peak in 2014 as the market transitions back to purchasing new equipment due to economic stabilization, according to researchers. Mobile equipment sales are forecast strong growth, as portable equipment can reach immobile patients in the ICU and ER. Digital mobile equipment can help improve workflow and cut the need for lengthy processing, researchers noted.