Sales of machine vision components and systems in North America rose substantially in the third quarter 2010. Overall, year-over-year growth hit 68 percent, up from the second quarter 2010 at 60 percent and the first quarter 2010 at 34 percent, according to the new sales tracking report of the Automated Imaging Association (AIA). The new Quarterly Machine Vision Sales Tracking Report showed that sales were robust in all major machine vision supplier markets, including cameras, lighting, optics, imaging boards, software, application-specific machine vision systems and smart cameras. The new report also disclosed that 68 percent of companies submitting data for the report expect sales to improve in the next six reported months; that is, fourth quarter 2010 through first quarter 2011. Of the remaining companies, 28 percent anticipate sales at or near the level reached in the third quarter, and just 4 percent believe that sales will decrease. “These results are very impressive, leaving little doubt that the recovery in the North American machine vision market is real and sustainable,” said Paul Kellett, AIA’s Director of Market Analysis. “Based on industry expectations, we expect the recovery to continue at least another six months,” he added. Kellett will provide further details and analysis at the AIA Business Conference in Orlando, Fla., which is open to all registered AIA members. The quarterly tracking report is distributed to all participating AIA members. Founded in 1984, the AIA was organized specifically to promote the understanding and use of image capture and analysis technology and now represents more than 280 machine vision suppliers, system integrators, users, researchers and consulting firms from 30 countries. In addition to the annual study, the AIA is best-known for The Vision Show (May 2012 in Boston); the Automate 2011 show (March 2011 in Chicago); its annual AIA Business Conference and Machine Vision Online. For more information, visit: www.machinevisiononline.org