The global glove box market is characterized by the presence of many global and regional players. However, the presence of several medium and small players made the market fragmented in 2017. The global market is witnessing an increase in competition, owing to a massive increase in investments by companies related to the glove box systems. The increase in the demand for advanced glove boxes will improve the competition in the global market. Additionally, the manufacturers are adopting an expansion strategy to gain an edge over their peers and enhance their presence in the global glove box market. Furthermore, the manufacturers invest in collaborations and partnerships with the research and development department of various END–USE industries such as defense, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, chemical, and food.
The growth of the companies is dependent on the research and development expenditure, government regulations, and product development. Thus, the glove box market manufacturing companies should focus on product development and collaboration with research institutes. In 2017, Coy Laboratory Products, Inc. (US), Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, LLC (US), Glove Box Technology Limited (UK), Vacuum Atmospheres Company (US), MBRAUN (Germany), Inert Corporation (US), LC TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC (US), Banthrax Corporation (US), Germfree Laboratories, Inc. (US), Jacomex (France), GS GLOVEBOX Systemtechnik GmbH (Germany), Marine & Industrial Plastics Ltd (UK), Miwa Mfg. Co., Ltd (Japan), Changsha Deco Equipment Co., Ltd (China), and Bangalore Vacuum Technology (India) were some of the key companies in the global glove box market.
Of all the industry participants, the above companies are the major players in the development of the global glove box market. These players have strengthened their presence in the global market owing to product development with a focus on expansion and investments in terms of increasing manufacturing facilities and export product to other countries through dealers, distributors, and globally recognized retailers. The competitive environment in the market is likely to intensify further due to the increase in the research and development expenditure of countries, worldwide. Hence, it is expected that the increase in the expenditure will enhance the number of partnerships and collaborations of the glove box manufacturers with the research institutes and universities as wells as with government bodies during the forecast period.
Inert Corporation: The most active players in the GLOBAL Glove box market
Company Name
Collaboration/ Partnership/ Joint Venture
Mergers & Acquisitions
New Product Development
Expansions & Investments
Total
Coy Laboratory Products, Inc.
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Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, LLC
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Glove Box Technology Limited
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Vacuum Atmospheres Company
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MBRAUN
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Inert Corporation
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LC TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC
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Banthrax Corporation
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Germfree Laboratories, Inc.
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Jacomex
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GS GLOVEBOX Systemtechnik GmbH
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Marine & Industrial Plastics Ltd
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Miwa Mfg Co., Ltd
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Changsha Deco Equipment Co., Ltd
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Bangalore Vacuum Technology
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Total
Michael Porter’s Five Forces Model is a framework for the global glove box market, which is influenced by five forces. The strategic business managers, trying to create an edge over competitive firms in the global glove box market, can utilize this model to comprehend the industry connection, in which the firm operates. The components of each of the forces and the degree of impact of each component in the context of global glove box market have been broken down and analyzed. Threat of New Entrants
The glove box industry is highly capital intensive. The level of technical expertise required for glove box development and manufacturing is highly specific. The presence of well-known glove box companies such as Germfree Laboratories, Inc., JACOMEX, GS GLOVEBOX Systemtechnik GmbH, Coy Laboratory Products, Inc., Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, LLC, and Vacuum Atmospheres Company (VAC) in the glove box market, with their strong brand recognition make it difficult for the new entrants to create a brand value and achieve economies of scale.
Moreover, the established companies are manufacturing glove boxes with high-quality materials using advanced technologies. Their high standards and manufacturing processes give them a competitive advantage over new entrants. Thus, the threat of new entrants in the global glove box market is low. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
The glove box manufacturers procure both raw materials and parts from suppliers. The raw materials include glass, acrylic, plastics, aluminum, rubber, and stainless steel while the parts include door piston (hydraulic pump, facilitates opening and closing the antechamber door), slide rails, vacuum gauge, filters, valves, gloves, seals, and flanges. There is a large number of raw material suppliers for materials such as glass, acrylic, rubber, and stainless steel in the market. The availability of part suppliers is limited as the parts are required to be produced while maintaining the highest manufacturing standards to achieve the required working efficiency in extreme END–USE applications.
Major glove box manufacturers procure these raw materials and parts in very high quantities, which reduces the bargaining power of suppliers up to a certain extent. However, the glove box manufacturing companies cannot easily switch suppliers due to the risks involved in not obtaining the required quantity and quality of materials and parts from new suppliers, on time, which in terms increases the switching cost. Hence, these manufacturers tend to have long term contracts with their suppliers. Thus, the bargaining power of suppliers in the glove box market is moderate. Bargaining Power of Buyers
Glove box buyers include manufacturing companies from pharmaceutical and biotechnology, semiconductor, electronic/lithium batteries, automotive, and defense industries. The number of buyers of glove boxes is moderate as the awareness about the use of glove boxes to complete critical operations is high in developed regions and low in developing regions. The buyers generally depend on the existing providers as the switching costs and the risks associated with the product quality, technical specifications, installation and replacement services of the new glove box manufacturers, are high.
Thus, the overall power of bargaining in glove box market is moderate. Threat of Substitutes
Glove boxes have no direct substitutes that can match their technical specifications and features while performing critical operations. However, the high prices of glove boxes, lack of government focus on occupant safety at workplace and awareness related to their use are some of the factors negatively impacting the adoption of glove boxes in small and medium-sized industries operating in the END–USE industries, especially in developing regions. Thus, the threat of substitutes ranges between low to moderate in the glove box market. Rivalry
Product differentiation within glove box market is very high as the glove box manufacturing companies are developing various materials, technologies, and product designs, as per the requirements of the END–USE industries, to improve the performance and technical capabilities of a glove box. Hence, they are investing in the extensive research and development of this system. The market is led by some top players, which are competing continuously to increase their respective market shares, while the rest have an intense rivalry, owing to their presence in the unorganized market sector, primarily in developing regions.
The low threat of new entrants, moderate threat of substitutes, moderate bargaining power of buyers, and moderate bargaining power of suppliers are the factors contributing to the moderate intensity of rivalry in the global glove box market.
