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Thus low-power variable frequency drives (VFDs, AC drives, variable speed drives, frequency inverters) will benefit in this environment, because they are key components of both infrastructure development and operation. 

 Like most other industrial sectors, the low-power variable frequency drives (VFDs, frequency inverters, VSDs, ac drives) market rebounded in 2010 from the global recession of 2009. The good news is, energy efficiency and infrastructure boom low-power variable frequency drives (VFDs, AC drives) market again.

These years with the advancement of the power electronics technology, computer technology and automatic control technology, the electric drive technology is facing a historic revolution. AC drive has become the mainstream. For AC induction motor system, the most efficient and high performance one is variable speed system. The main advantage is energy saving.

In fact as the important energy saving equipments, the potential of the industry of frequency inverters (variable speed drives, VSDs), servo motors & drives is very large. It serves as one strategic industry.

The data shows that the market potential of frequency inverter (VSD) may be up to RMB180 billion yuan. And high voltage (or medium voltage) frequency inverters (AC drives) may be about 40% of the total market.

It's reported that according to the second session of China frequency inverter and servo motor user survey, the top 10 brands in the market of China include Siemens, ABB, Mitsubishi. The market share of frequency inverters and servo motor & drive of domestic brands in China is only 25%.

But the after-sale services and quality of domestic manufacturers of frequency inverters, servo motors & drives have been improved. And it's expected that domestic brands will play more and more important roles in the market.

But where's the market for frequency inverter?

I think different demands exists in different areas. The requirements for frequency inverter in Japan may be different from that in India. The requirements for frequency inverters in USA are different from Mexico. So different qualities meet the demands of different countries because of the cost.

The market scale of china MV converter reached RMB23 billion in 2007, MV converters were sold 2500, increased 51.5%, more than 2006, showed that it had being on a fast growing market.

In China market, MV converter is often used in industry of electrical power, metallurgy, petrochemical, town planning, cement, mine pharmacy, papermaking, etc. And it is been used in some new industry, for example, ship propelling, wind power generation, wind tunnel test, ocean platform and so on.

MV converter accounts for 29.1% in the industry of electric power.

The main brands of MV are nearly 12 enterprises, such as Siemens, Ld-harvest, TOSHIBA, Mitsubishi, ABB, DFSTW and Hitachi etc. And 21.7% market share is occupied by Siemens.

MV is composed of general-purpose MV converter and traction-type MV converter. General-purpose MV converter is used for wind machine, pumps drive control in the industry of metallurgy, electrical power, coal, mine. Regarding General-purpose MV converter, domestic brand has replaced the brands of foreign country.

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ARC says that China AC Drives market to reach $1.9 Billion in 2012, But do you think so too? Frankly speaking, we don't agree.

The High Power AC Drives market in China was 1.0 billion in 2007. And the ARC Advisory Group study says the market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% from 2008 to 2012. We don't know the market in 2008 of high power ac drives in China. But we think the market was less than 1.129 billion in 2008.

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The worldwide market for Low Power AC Drives is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2008 to 2012. This is forecasted by ARC Advisory Group. The market for low power ac drives worldwide was over $7 billion in 2007. The study of ARC Advisory Group expects that the market for low power ac drives worldwide will be nearly $11 billion in 2012.

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The market for low power AC drives in India exceeded $150 million in 2006. According to a ARC Advisory Group study, the market for low power ac drive in India will grow at a compound annual growth of 15.4% from 2007 to 2011 because of the country's growing manufacturing sector. You can refer to the study here: the article in our Automation and Control Forum. And experts believe that suppliers of low power ac drives are benefiting from the increasing level of automation in manufacturing, leading to a greater use of low-power AC drives in industries such as automotive, mining & metals, printing and publishing, and textiles, for applications such as conveying and material handling, fans, pumps, and compressors.

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