When a live wire is joined with a properly grounded, deep & wide enough metal piece, the brunt of the high voltage directly reaches the ground without causing any damage to the people and property around. Thus, earthing plays perhaps the most important role to ensure electrical safety both inside and outside the premises.
Traditionally earthing is done in two ways. It may be a Metal Plate type earthing or a Metal Pipe type earthing. Although it is the most essential system as far as the electrical safety is concerned, especially in the residential sector it is often given less priority, which causes many small or big (avoidable) accidents.
Any electrical equipment or system or circuit needs proper earthing that will provide a low resistance path for dissipation of current into the earth. In the power generation, transmission and distribution segments also, where safety is the topmost priority, special attention is paid on proper earthing. If the leakage or excess current does not get an easier way to reach the earth, ultimately it makes its own way through the human body and one or more persons are electrocuted. Thus, improper earthing or grounding is always harmful. However, the awareness is growing in this field and the earthing equipment market is showing a positive growth trend.
The future of the earthing equipment market
According to a recent study published by Market Research Future (MRF), a part of WantStats Research And Media Pvt. Ltd., “Earthing system is a process of connecting through a metal link between the body of any electrical appliance, or neutral point to the deeper ground soil. It transfers the electricity directly to the earth plate by low resistance electrical cables. The metal link is normally of MS earthing flat, CI earthing flat, GI earthing flat which should be penetrated to the ground earth grid. Earthing equipment are devices that include fuses and residual current devices, low voltage earthing kits that aid in reducing the risk of electric shock from uninsulated metal parts of electrical devices and others.
The global earthing equipment market is anticipated to witness sustainable growth in the upcoming years which is attributed to the rise in demand for alternative energy sources, and rapid growth of the construction industry in emerging economies such as China, India and other South Asian countries. Moreover, the earthing equipment is also expected to experience rapid growth which is attributed to rise in the consumer electronics industries, across the globe. The growth in the demand for earthing equipment in the developing economies of Asia-Pacific and Latin America has pushed manufacturers to expand their distribution network. The consumer electronics industry has witnessed improved sales volume in India, which is largely driven by increasing population, coupled with rising disposable income levels.
Factors such as growing construction activities coupled with increasing government investment in infrastructure development; especially in emerging economies, has led to the tremendous growth of the earthing equipment market.
Hence, the global earthing equipment market is expected to witness a CAGR of around 5.5% over the forecast period. However, fluctuating cost of raw materials hampers the growth of earthing equipment market.”
Growth boosters
As per the MRFR report, there are several factors that are fuelling the global earthing equipment market share. Some of these entail the growing need for alternative energy sources, rapid growth of the construction industry in emerging economies including India, China, & other South Asian countries, growing construction activities, rising government investments in infrastructure development in emerging economies, rapid industrialization, growth in the construction industry, and increasing construction of residential and commercial buildings, railway tracks, manufacturing plants, tunnels, and roads in developing nations.
The additional factors adding to the global earthing equipment market value include the growing need for efficient earthing equipment, increasing use of smart devices like refrigerators and televisions that need constant earthing, the increasing product demand from automobile manufacturers and reconstruction of existing power grids. Besides, several technological advances like integration of consumer electronics with Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence are the latest earthing equipment market trends.
Global earthing equipment market: regional analysis
The report (MRFR), “Earthing Equipment Market Research Report, By Product (MS Earthing Flat, GI Earthing Flat, and CI Earthing Flat), End-User (Industrial, Commercial, and Residential) and Region — Global Forecast till 2027” also states, “Geographically, the global earthing equipment market is segmented on the basis of region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the world (RoW). North America held the largest share in the earthing equipment market. The market in this region is majorly driven by technological advancements in the electrical equipment industry. US is projected to be the largest consumer of earthing equipment and accounted for the largest market share in terms of value and volume among all countries in the North American region. Leading earthing equipment manufacturing companies such as Emerson Electric, GE, and Harger Lightning & Grounding are based in this region.
However, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to witness maximum growth rate over the forecast period. While majority of the companies are based in the US, the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed an overwhelming increase in the demand for earthing equipment market. Companies based out of the US are now setting up operations in countries such as India and China, which offer tax benefits and reduced manufacturing costs.”
Global earthing equipment market: segmentation
As MRFR notes, “By product, the global earthing equipment market is segmented into CI earthing flat, GI earthing flat, and MS earthing flat. Of these, the CI earthing flat will lead the market over the forecast period for the rise in industrial construction projects.
By end user, the global earthing equipment market is segmented into residential, commercial, and industrial. Of these, the industrial segment will dominate the market over the forecast period for the expansion of the industrial sector in India and China. These countries have expanded their manufacturing capabilities in the last decades to cater to the growing need for electronic goods and services.”
The flip side
On the flip side, as MRFR points out, “Fluctuating prices of raw materials, high price and changes & absence of standards for product design may limit the global earthing equipment market revenue over the forecast period.
Also, the global earthing equipment market has faced the brunt of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is owing to several factors such as supply chain disruptions, demand share fluctuations, the economic outcomes of the pandemic, and the instant as well as future impact of the global crisis due to physical distancing trends and lockdowns imposed by the government all across the world have all affected the market growth negatively. However following relaxation of the lockdown in some parts the market is likely to return to normalcy soon.
The global earthing equipment market is fragmented and competitive due to the presence of different international as well as domestic industry players. They have incorporated an array of strategies to remain at the vanguard and also cater to the burgeoing requirements of the customers, including collaborations, contracts, partnerships, new product launches, geographic expansions, joint ventures and more. Additionally, these players are also making huge investments in various research and development activities for strengthening their portfolios as well as creating a hold in the market.
Conclusion
As the impressive report by Market Research Future indicates – the Indian market for earthing equipment is bound to grow. With the country’s pledge for ‘Make in India’ indigenous production of different kinds of electrical equipment are to be started here soon. Also, because of our achievement of cent per cent electrification, and drive for renewable power generation (in many cases decentralised) the use of electrically operated equipment will grow to a large extent in the coming days. Naturally, the demand for earthing equipment in India will also grow manifold.
By P. K. Chatterjee (PK)
