(Food-Beverage-News.Com, September 14, 2021 ) The food ultrasound market was valued at USD 87.7 Million in 2016. It is projected to reach USD 134.6 Million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2017. Ultrasound technology is used for the processing of various food products such as meat & food, fruits & vegetables, beverages, dairy, bakery & confectionery, and others (cereals, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, spices, and packaged foods).
The global market is expected to grow at a considerable rate with the rising awareness about food quality, the demand for an extended shelf-life, and nutritional value in food. Further, the ultrasound technique has been emerging as a new trend in the food industry offering multiple functions such as quality assurance, microbial enzyme) inactivation, homogenization, emulsification, cutting, cleaning, drying, thawing, freezing, and others (drying, mixing, freezing, thawing, crystallization, filtration, pickling, marinating, sterilization, fermentation, pasteurization, and packaging). Market players are responding to new opportunities by expanding their global presence and product offerings. They are witnessing strong demand from the food processing industry due to its high reliability.
Conventionally used thermal food processing technologies may lead to alteration in a product’s flavor, color, texture, or nutritional value. With the growing need for process efficiency and environmental friendly technology, the demand for energy-efficient ultrasound technology has been increasing. Ultrasound technology aids in the retention of sensory attributes and increased productivity. It also accommodates the current consumer demand for natural, fresh, and minimally processed foods as no preservatives or additives are added to the products.
Ultrasound technology in food finds application in processes such as quality assurance, microbial (enzyme) inactivation, cutting, homogenization, cleaning, and others such as drying, mixing, freezing, thawing, crystallization, filtration, pickling, marinating, sterilization, fermentation, and pasteurization. Of these, quality assurance is the largest segment in the food ultrasound market, followed by microbial inactivation. In meat production, ultrasonic technology accelerates the process of margination and pickling.
The food ultrasound market for food, based on frequency range, is segmented into low-intensity high-frequency and high-intensity low-frequency. The frequency to be used is chosen according to the food product to be processed and the function to be performed. Processes such as cleaning, microbial inactivation, and cutting can be performed through both high as well as low ultrasound frequency depending upon the sensitivity of the product being processed and the function which has to be performed.
By food product, the market is segmented into meat & seafood, fruits & vegetables, beverages, dairy, bakery & confectionery, and others. Bakery & confectionery include chocolates, cakes, cookies, and other confectionery products. Meat & seafood processing is the prominent market for ultrasound technology. The demand for ultrasonic food processing is driven by the growing demand for process efficiency through shortened processing time and energy-saving technology.
The North American region is projected to dominate the food ultrasound market by 2022. The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing market during the forecast period since the demand in countries such as Japan, China, and India due to the adoption of the latest techniques for food processing to meet the growing food demand. Other factors responsible for the growth of the Asia Pacific market are the emerging economies and the growing R&D activities for launching new technologies.
Being a new and emerging technology, not many people have the skillset for operating ultrasonic processing equipment. Shortage of skilled labor could delay processing and affect the results, which could increase the wastage of raw materials. Companies have been taking several efforts by providing training and organizing seminars to increase the awareness of ultrasonic processing to avoid these issues.
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New product & technology launches, expansions, acquisitions & collaborations, and mergers & partnerships are the key strategies adopted by market players to ensure their growth in the market. The market is dominated by players such as Bosch (Germany), Emerson (US), Bühler (Switzerland), Dukane (US), Heilscher (Germany), Siemens (Germany), and Newtech (UK). Other major players in the market include Cheersonic (China), Rinco Ultrasonics (Switzerland), Omni international (US), Sonics & Materials (US), Elliptical Design (UK), Marchant Schmidt (US), and Sonomechanics (US).
