Still Groovy After All These Years: Protein Electrophoresis Remains Active and Profitable

What has this meant for suppliers? Those with a consistent focus on this market have done well, while those with less commitment have suffered badly in the past five years.

These are a few of the conclusions of a new 230 page study, which forms part of PhorTech's MSPPSA series. The report examines the installed base over the past ten years for electrophoresis chambers for protein applications (including standard vertical, mini vertical, electroblotting units, electrofocusing units, and preparative systems).

Respondents were asked to itemize electrophoretic equipment they had acquired in the past eight years, describing the brand and model of the instrument, the year of acquisition, and the category of instrument, according to a provided list. From this wealth of data (respondents itemized 2,367 protein electrophoresis chambers), we were able to show detailed graphs of growth over the past eight years. We then combined this dataset with the results of our previous study from 2004 and present an entire decade of data covering the US electrophoresis market. Using this longitudinal dataset, we establish market sizes and growth rates for each of these equipment categories.

However, the report wouldn't be complete without a detailed audit of power supplies, which have rivaled the other segments in size. A screen shot of the questionnaire is shown below. Respondents itemized 652 power supplies purchased for use with protein electrophoresis over the past 8 years.

Unit and dollar placements per year, market sizes and growth rates, plus unit and dollar market shares for each product category are calculated, based upon an analysis of the 416 responses to invitations e-mailed out to a cross-section of U.S. life science researchers in October 2008. From this database of randomly selected products purchased, we can project size, growth, and trend data, as well as estimate leading suppliers' product mixes for these products. In the next graph, we see the focus GE Healthcare maintains on the electrofocusing segment, larger than for any other supplier.

Complete demographic analyses for respondents to this survey include the distribution of users by type of organization, job title, scientific discipline, years of experience with protein electrophoresis, electrophoretic techniques in use, and involvement in the purchasing process

In addition, we calculate both unit and dollar market shares for suppliers, and look at the mix of electrophoretic products sold by the 25 leading suppliers to this market. Extrapolating to the market as a whole, we show tables of annual US sales for 1995 through 2004 and we find the total US market now well in excess of $100 million. An entire section of the report is dedicated to future purchase plans and we use this data to project future growth rates and lines of products forecast to grow least and most rapidly. Over-confident suppliers will ignore these statistics at their own peril, while market-savvy suppliers will use this data to increase their market share and avoid market dead zones.

Customer satisfaction ratings are measured for leading vendors of instrumentation. That so much can change in so little time underscores the importance of consistent and periodic assessments such as this report series provides.

Finally, the report itemizes literally hundreds of specific verbatim comments regarding suppliers' performance, why certain brands or models of products would not be purchased again as well as the reasons why ready-made gels are not currently used. Reading these comments is equivalent to spending weeks of time in the field with end-users and provides essential insight for suppliers.

This report is undoubtedly the most comprehensive analysis of the current market for protein electrophoresis equipment in the U.S. and Canada and has already been purchased by astute competitors determined to strengthen their position in this lucrative market. Enhanced by over 180 color graphs and tables, this study provides a penetrating analysis and should be considered essential reading for anyone seriously intending to succeed in this competitive area.

A companion volume has also just been published that provides details for the precast gels, stains, and standards used in protein electrophoresis.

To obtain more information, contact Michael Eby at PhorTech International, +1 (650) 594-0785, or point your Web browser to www.phortech.com
A detailed summary of the report including table of contents and list of tables and graphs, as well as the methodology and project objectives, the survey demographics, and a copy of the survey questionnaire can be downloaded from the site at no charge.

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