(Automated Imaging Association: Ann Arbor, Michigan) -- A new machine vision market study reports that machine vision and automated imaging continues to be a growth industry in North America.

The 2008 study is based on 2007 actual results and is organized primarily around the major machine vision product markets: optics, lighting, cameras, imaging boards, smart cameras, and application-specific machine vision systems (ASMV). While the study predominantly focuses on the North American market, two chapters are dedicated to the emerging Chinese and Indian machine vision markets. The study also provides worldwide estimates of sales.

The study found that the North American economy has indeed had an effect on U.S. and Canadian manufacturing sectors, with most economists predicting a continued slowdown in the economy for the United States throughout 2008, which could result in a decrease in purchases of machine-vision products.

Overall, sales results were mixed for 2007; while smart cameras and ASMV system sales were up over 2006, total component sales were down from the previous year. Smart cameras experienced sales of $116.6 million.

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