Makers are boosting the development of MEMS types to meet the requirements of automotive and portable electronics, and medical equipment.

Sensor makers in China are diversifying selections to cater to a broadening user base. This is also in response to government directives under the 12th Five-Year Plan to develop new variants that suit requirements in “smart” industries and the Internet of Things. Domestic demand for wireless types targeted at such applications is forecast to increase more than 25 percent annually in the next two or three years, according to CCID.

Local manufacturers are directing R&D toward MEMS sensors, which are widely used in automotive electronics, medical equipment and portable electronic devices. Xi’an Chinastar M&C Ltd will concentrate on MEMS sensors for the Internet of Things and consumer electronics segments. The company has secured more than 50 national science and technology patents.

Already, more than 20 MEMS sensor manufacturers can be found in the city of Xi’an in Shaanxi province. These include Xi’an Chinastar, Xi’an Precise and BCM.

CCID predicts China’s revenue from this category will rise to $3.3 billion in 2013. The upturn will position the country as the world’s largest producer of the variant within the next five years.

Meanwhile, companies are designing upscale sensors to support high precision and reliability, and withstand extreme temperatures, making them suitable for harsh environments. These are utilized in aviation, transportation, energy, security and industrial applications.

Suppliers have so far developed models with slimmer form factors, and greater reliability and multifunctionality. The automotive sector will remain the largest market base for sensors in general, with a share anticipated to climb by 15 to 20 percent in 2012-13. High demand from smartphones and tablet PCs will likewise spur growth. Sales of sensors for the last soared to $140 million in 2011, a 373 percent surge from 2010. The figure is forecast to jump to $280 million by 2014.

Suppliers have so far developed models with slimmer form factors, and greater reliability and multifunctionality. The automotive sector will remain the largest market base for sensors in general, with a share anticipated to climb by 15 to 20 percent in 2012-13. High demand from smartphones and tablet PCs will likewise spur growth. Sales of sensors for the last soared to $140 million in 2011, a 373 percent surge from 2010. The figure is forecast to jump to $280 million by 2014.

China’s annual sensor sales rose to $11.2 billion in 2011 from $9.7 billion the previous year based on CCID statistics. This will expand to 15 percent by year-end, thanks to climbing orders, including for other types such as gyroscope, pressure and accelerometer kinds.