ANN ARBOR, MI-Sales of machine vision components and systems in North America rose substantially in third quarter 2010. Overall, year-over-year growth hit 68%, up from second quarter 2010 at 60% and first quarter 2010 at 34%, according to the new sales tracking report of the Automated Imaging Association (AIA).

The new report, entitled 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% of companies submitting data for the report expect sales to improve in the next six reported months; that is, 4th quarter 2010 through 1st quarter 2011. Of the remaining companies, 28% anticipate sales at or near the level reached in the third quarter, and just 4% 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,” noted Paul Kellett, AIA’s director of market analysis.” “Based on industry expectations, we expect the recovery to continue at least another six months,” Kellett added. Kellett will provide further details and analysis on January 20, 2011 at the AIA Business Conference in Orlando, FL, which is open to all registered AIA members. The quarterly tracking report is distributed to all participating AIA members.

In addition to the new report, AIA provides regular reports on the health of the machine vision market and economic trends that impact the industry at “Market Data and Trends,” which is a special section of the Machine Vision Online website. Machine Vision Online (www.machinevisiononline.org) is the world’s most important resource for machine vision and imaging information.