Industrial goods industry trends

Summary: Graphene enhances machinery components' durability, conductivity, and heat resistance.

Current Situation: Graphene, a material 200 times stronger than steel, is being integrated into machinery parts like bearings, seals, and electrical contacts. These components exhibit improved durability, reduced friction, and enhanced thermal conductivity. Current applications are experimental and focus on high-performance environments such as aerospace and energy, where material properties can significantly improve efficiency. However, high production costs limit widespread adoption.

Expected Development: In 6-8 years, breakthroughs in graphene production will make it scalable for industrial applications. Graphene-enhanced components will become standard in high-stress machinery, reducing wear and energy losses in heavy-duty equipment. Applications will expand to turbines, compressors, and electrical machinery.

Challenges: High production costs and difficulties in uniformly integrating graphene into large-scale industrial components remain significant barriers.

Time to Impact: 6-8 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Self-healing materials extend machinery lifespan by autonomously repairing damage.

Current Situation: Self-healing materials, including polymers and composites, are being tested for use in machinery components. These materials repair minor cracks or abrasions autonomously under specific conditions, such as heat or stress. Applications are currently experimental, with use cases in critical parts like seals and coatings where failure could disrupt operations. Adoption is still in its infancy due to high costs and limited material strength in industrial settings.

Expected Development: Within 4-6 years, self-healing alloys and coatings will be integrated into heavy-duty machinery to reduce maintenance needs. As costs decrease, they will become standard in equipment exposed to high wear or extreme conditions, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

Challenges: High R&D costs and durability issues in extreme environments slow commercialization. Scaling production for industrial-grade applications remains a significant barrier.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Magnetic levitation bearings eliminate friction and wear in rotating machinery components.

Current Situation: Magnetic levitation (maglev) bearings use magnetic fields to suspend moving parts, reducing friction and wear. Currently, their use is limited to high-precision applications, such as turbines or specialized compressors, where the efficiency gains justify high costs. Development is ongoing to make maglev bearings more robust and cost-effective for industrial use.

Expected Development: Over the next 6-8 years, maglev bearings will become a key feature in large-scale industrial machinery, significantly improving energy efficiency and lifespan. Their frictionless operation will revolutionize applications in high-speed and high-temperature environments, such as power plants and advanced manufacturing facilities.

Challenges: High manufacturing and installation costs, along with a need for fail-safe systems in case of magnetic disruptions, make broader adoption challenging.

Time to Impact: 6-8 years

Potential Impact: High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Advanced recycling methods aim to recover high-purity rare earth elements (REEs) from electronic and industrial waste.

Current Situation: Rare earth recycling technologies, such as advanced electrochemical separation and solvent-based extraction, are emerging as viable solutions to address supply chain vulnerabilities and reduce environmental impact. Current applications are limited to small-scale projects focusing on extracting rare earths from e-waste like magnets and batteries. These methods show potential but remain costly and inefficient compared to traditional mining.

Expected Development: Over the next 4-6 years, improvements in separation efficiency and cost reduction will make rare earth recycling more accessible for industries like electronics, renewable energy, and automotive manufacturing. This will create a circular economy for critical materials, reducing dependence on mining and mitigating geopolitical risks.

Challenges: High costs, inconsistent material quality from recycled sources, and the need for standardized recycling infrastructure globally.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Biomimetic techniques use biological organisms to extract metals, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive mining.

Current Situation: Microorganisms and enzymes are being tested to extract precious metals like gold and rare earths from low-grade ores or mining waste. This process, often called "bioleaching," reduces the need for hazardous chemicals like cyanide. Adoption remains limited to experimental projects, with research institutions leading the way.

Expected Development: Over the next 6-8 years, these processes could become mainstream in resource extraction, particularly for recovering materials from challenging ore bodies or industrial waste. Governments and companies are likely to support biomimetic methods as part of broader sustainability goals.

Challenges: Scaling biomimetic processes is slow due to biological limitations and the need for precise environmental control. Regulatory approval and public acceptance of bio-based mining are also hurdles.

Time to Impact: 6-8 years

Potential Impact: Medium High

STEEP Segment: Ecological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Programmable matter can change its properties or shape, enabling raw materials to adapt to different manufacturing needs.

Current Situation: Programmable materials are in early research stages, designed to respond to external stimuli like temperature, light, or magnetic fields. These materials can dynamically alter their properties, making them useful for applications such as adaptive construction materials or self-healing components. Current development is focused on proof-of-concept models in laboratories.

Expected Development: Within 8-10 years, programmable matter could transform the raw materials sector, reducing waste by enabling multifunctionality. For instance, construction materials could adapt to environmental changes, or industrial components could self-repair, reducing maintenance costs.

Challenges: Significant advancements are needed in material design, manufacturing processes, and cost reduction. Ensuring reliability and scalability will also require extensive testing and development.

Time to Impact: 8-10 years

Potential Impact: High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Components that double as structural elements and energy storage systems are transforming lightweight and multifunctional designs.

Current Situation: Research into energy-storing structural parts is focusing on integrating batteries and capacitors into mechanical components. Early prototypes, such as carbon fiber-reinforced composites, are being tested for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and aerospace applications. These components aim to reduce overall system weight and improve energy efficiency by serving dual purposes. However, their adoption is limited to experimental setups and high-performance industries.

Expected Development: Over the next 6-8 years, energy-storing structural components will see commercial use in EVs, drones, and portable industrial tools. By combining energy storage with load-bearing capabilities, these parts will improve performance and reduce complexity in product designs. As material technology advances, broader adoption across consumer and industrial products is expected.

Challenges: Developing materials that balance mechanical strength and energy capacity while ensuring safety and reliability is a key hurdle. High costs and manufacturing complexity also slow adoption.

Time to Impact: 6-8 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year’s trend development

Summary: Microfluidic components are revolutionizing heat management in high-performance and miniaturized systems.

Current Situation: Microfluidic systems, using channels on the microscale to manage fluid flow, are being developed for precision cooling in electronics and industrial machinery. Current applications are limited to research environments and niche industries like high-performance computing, where efficient heat dissipation is critical. These systems promise to dramatically improve the lifespan and efficiency of components by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.

Expected Development: In the next 4-6 years, microfluidic cooling systems will become a standard solution for advanced electronics and compact machinery. Their adoption in industrial robotics and IoT devices is likely as they become smaller, cheaper, and more effective. This will enable more powerful components in a smaller footprint without overheating risks.

Challenges: Manufacturing microfluidic systems at scale and ensuring their reliability under industrial conditions remain significant barriers. Cost-effectiveness in mass production is another concern.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year's trend development

Summary: Flexible, soft robotic materials are enabling safer and more precise industrial operations.

Current Situation: Soft robotics is gaining traction in industries requiring gentle handling, such as food processing and electronics assembly. These components, made of elastomers and soft actuators, are currently being used in experimental setups for tasks like gripping and manipulating fragile objects. Prototypes are also being tested in healthcare for wearable robotics and prosthetics.

Expected Development: Within the next 4-6 years, soft robotics components will see broader use in industrial automation, precision manufacturing, and collaborative robotics (cobots). Their ability to safely interact with humans and handle delicate materials will revolutionize production lines and service industries.

Challenges: Ensuring durability and precision of soft materials in harsh industrial conditions, as well as overcoming cost barriers for wide-scale adoption, are major obstacles.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year's trend development

Summary: Automation in industrial services reduces labor costs, increases efficiency, and enhances service delivery in maintenance, inspections, and repair operations.

Current Situation: Robotics, AI, and automated monitoring tools are being deployed in industrial services to handle repetitive or high-risk tasks. Automation is improving efficiency in areas like inspections, predictive maintenance, and supply chain management. While larger companies have begun implementation, smaller firms face barriers like high initial costs and a lack of expertise.

Expected Development: In the next 2-4 years, automation will become a standard across industrial services as costs decline and adoption scales. Advanced AI systems will perform real-time diagnostics, robotic systems will handle complex servicing tasks, and automation will increase productivity while reducing labor-intensive processes.

Challenges: High upfront costs, resistance from the workforce, and integrating automation into older, legacy systems.

Time to Impact: 2-4 years

Potential Impact: Very High

STEEP Segment: Economic

This year’s trend development

Summary: Advanced robotics and imaging enable zero-contact servicing in sterile or hazardous industrial environments, improving safety and precision.

Current Situation: Zero-contact servicing uses non-invasive methods, including robotic arms and imaging technologies, to repair or maintain equipment in sterile or hazardous environments like biohazard zones or high-temperature facilities. Current applications are in niche industries such as healthcare manufacturing and nuclear plants, where human access is limited or risky.

Expected Development: Over the next 4-6 years, advancements in robotic dexterity and imaging will enable broader adoption across industries. Zero-contact methods will improve servicing precision, reduce contamination risks, and enhance safety in extreme environments, making them indispensable in high-risk sectors.

Challenges: High costs of robotic and imaging technologies, limited capability for handling complex repairs, and regulatory approval for safety-critical industries.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year's trend development

Summary: Coordinated swarms of drones will revolutionize industrial inspections, reducing downtime and increasing coverage in hazardous or remote environments.

Current Situation: Drone swarms, equipped with advanced sensors and AI coordination, are being tested for inspecting pipelines, turbines, and industrial facilities. These drones can operate collaboratively to map large areas, identify faults, and provide real-time data. Currently, their use is limited by regulatory hurdles and the complexity of AI algorithms needed for coordination.

Expected Development: Over the next 4-6 years, autonomous swarms will become a standard tool for industrial inspections, reducing human risk and downtime. Improved AI will enable better coordination, and drones will become capable of autonomously adapting to dynamic inspection environments.

Challenges: Regulatory barriers, high costs of deployment, vulnerability to system failures, and the need for skilled operators to manage drone operations.

Time to Impact: 4-6 years

Potential Impact: High

STEEP Segment: Technological

This year's trend development