Latest Temperature Probe Trends

There are a number of important temperature probe trends for probe manufacturers to be aware of and start planning actions on. The temperature probe industry continues to grow as integration and automation push designers, engineers and manufacturers to innovate.

Increased Connectivity and Integration:

There is an growing shift from traditional wired temperature probes or sensors toward wireless, networked, connected options. Traditional probes continue to hold the majority of the market share, but multiple research reports predict significant expansion of wireless and connected systems of temperature probes for various applications.

Probes that are networked would be capable of improved communication between devices and integration with monitoring systems to make sure the devices shut off if the programmed conditions exist or specific parameters are triggered.

This is especially true for applications that require remote monitoring or monitor tracking throughout a transportation process (such as cold chain systems for food, pharmaceuticals or chemicals) are causing demand for more and better performing connected temperature probes.

Temperature probe or sensor manufacturers, if they have not already, should plan to design and develop products that allow for a variety of connective uses, including wireless, networking, internet of things (IoT), home automation systems, storage and transport processes.

Smaller, Faster, Efficient and More Accurate:

Consumer and commercial demand is focused on smaller sizes, lower power requirements, increased accuracy and faster processing for every device in our lives.

Ranging from consumer electronics and wearables to medical devices and smart applicances, the requirements for temperature probes need to fit in smaller applications, but deliver performance that is more accurate, offer faster responses and demands less power so it will last longer on a single charge.

The implication for temperature probe designers and manufacturers is clear: smaller, faster, more accurate and more efficient are what is in demand and being able to execute on custom requirements for customers will be an even bigger advantage than it is already.

New Application Opportunities:

Temperature probes are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including commercial food service equipment, storage systems, packaging machines, HVAC systems and beyond.

However, today those opportunities continue to expand into new applications that need accurate and consistent measurement to perform. Industries integrating temperature probes includes Automotive, Healthcare, Consumer Electronics and Battery Technologies.

How that impacts temperature probe designers and manufacturers should be apparent: growth and expansion into new industries and applications is happening and accelerating each year as the benefits and versatility of temperature probes become more accepted.

New Demands: Regulation, Safety and Traceability:

In many industries, including pharmaceutical, healthcare, nutraceutical and food just to name a few of the major ones, federal and state regulations for temperature monitoring and/or tracking are growing as the demand grows from commercial forces for improved performance and from their constituents for accountability and reliability.

Other industries, such as power generation and chemical, demand is expanding for accurate and consistent temperature measurement and monitoring. Failures in critical infrastructure like the power grid, public utilities, water systems and power plants would be disastrous and damaging not only to the companies involved, but people could be hurt and population centers impacted.

Manufacturers who can offer temperature probes that can be certified, traceable, documented and durable enough for challenging conditions and harsh environments will be strong players in the marketplace.

Increased demand and opportunity should provide manufacturers with stable costs and the ability to innovate without too much market pressure. However, signs are pointing in the other direction so far due to the spread and usage of temperature probes and the dilution of manufacturing quality by companies in countries that focus on cheap knock off versions of all types of products.

In conclusion, the differentiators for temperature probes continue to be cost, accuracy and size. Manufacturers and designers should concentrate on integration and connectivity opportunities, decreasing the size and footprint of probes so they can be used in all kinds of the ever shrinking devices we use and improving the accuracy, response time and dependability of probes so people will trust them as monitors of critical systems all over the world.

Please contact Probes Unlimited for help with custom temperature probes or sensors for specific applications. We specialize in designing the optimal solution based on your requirements.