The European market for electric motor services was worth $766.8m in 2011 and could reach almost $1.29bn by 2018, according to a new analysis by Frost & Sullivan. One factor driving this growth is the increasing use of advanced technologies such as remote and predictive maintenance.

The market covered by the new Opportunity analysis of European motor services markets study includes: technical consulting; motor management, installation and commissioning; maintenance and repairs; and other services, such as training and supplying standby motors.
 
“The European motor services market is moving toward predictive maintenance, which offers significant advantages to motor manufacturers and end-users,” says Frost & Sullivan research analyst, Raaj Thilak Raveendran. “Remote maintenance and servicing of motors is the ‘next big thing’ which will drastically improve asset utilisation levels.”
 
Evolving energy regulations have highlighted the inadequacy of in-house motor maintenance, according to Frost. Instead, the focus has shifted to motor manufacturers with expertise in service maintenance who can facilitate energy-efficient practices.
 
“In addition to providing full service capabilities, motor manufacturers have moved to predictive maintenance of motors, continually recording motor information and alerting service personnel in case of deviation,” explains Raveendran. “Motor manufacturers also provide complete lifecycle services for purchased motors, highlighting the importance of expert service in the motor space.”
 
As the market recovers strongly from the global economic crisis, a key challenge in the short-to-medium term will be for motor manufacturers to provide the right service mix for end-users.
 
End-user service requirements vary, with most preferring customised solutions, says Frost. The challenge, therefore, will not only be to provide services for the product supplied, but also to understand the functioning of the total plant and customise the service offering accordingly. It is expected, however, that once motor manufacturers and service providers gain sufficient expertise, the impact of this challenge will diminish.
 
Another challenge currently is the inability to quantify the return-on-investment gained from efficient motor servicing. This has limited end-user investment in motor services.
 
“However, the emergence of advanced technologies like remote monitoring and troubleshooting are likely to enable end-users to realise the benefits of such services,” Raveendran concludes.