The Laser Illuminated Projector Association (LIPA) has reported that the industry has seen continuing strong growth over the last two years in the adoption of digital laser projectors, worldwide.
As of the end of 2017, the global installed base of high-end RGB laser projectors had reached nearly 700, an increase of nearly 100% since 2016, according to industry analysts at IHS Markit, a cinema-industry observer and research firm.
In addition, the analyst firm also reported that, according to industry sales figures estimates, the number of laser phosphor projectors installed in cinemas has now surpassed 10,000; again an approximately 100% growth rate over the previous year.
Jan Daem, LIPA chairperson said, "Based on input from our member manufacturers, it seems order books are also pretty healthy for 2018 so far, so we’re expecting similar growth rates to last year, with RGB unit installations very likely topping well more than 1000 sites, and similar growth of phosphor units. With such strong growth for the whole industry, it is more essential than ever that LIPA is there to represent the interests of its members and worldwide cinema viewers."
Daem also believes the market is increasingly convinced about installing LIPs because of the ever-improving quality of the technology being developed by its member companies, which is evident in the higher resolution, higher contrast, brighter and more varied colours, brighter and more vivid 3D films, and vastly better energy efficiency. In addition, the industry has continued to improve TCO for customers, across the spectrum of projector solutions, including OEM retrofits/upgrades, fibre solutions, phosphor and full RGB.
IHS Markit’s analysts also believe growth is helped by the fact that prices for high-end lasers have been coming down now that all laser projector manufacturers are offering RGB machines, including Christie, Barco, NEC.