Electric Actuator Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Straight Stroke Electric Actuator,Multi-rotary Electric Actuator,Partial Rotary Electric Actuator), By Application (Petrochemical,General Industrial,Electric Power,Water Treatment,Others), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Electric Actuator Market Overview

The Electric Actuator Market size was valued at USD 2851.13 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 3953.9 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2025 to 2033.

The electric actuator market plays a vital role across numerous industries, including power generation, water treatment, petrochemicals, and general manufacturing. In 2023, over 12 million electric actuators were deployed globally, with more than 36% being used in automation-intensive applications. These devices are increasingly replacing hydraulic and pneumatic systems due to lower maintenance, improved precision, and enhanced environmental compatibility.

Electric actuators are now integrated into over 65% of automated valve systems in the water and wastewater industry. Compact actuators under 100 Nm torque accounted for over 4 million units in 2023, showing strong demand in robotics and lab automation. Major economies such as the U.S., China, Germany, and Japan are collectively responsible for over 70% of global actuator output. Energy-efficient actuators with built-in encoders and feedback systems now represent more than 28% of new installations, and demand continues to rise in renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing environments.

Key Findings

Top Driver reason: Increasing automation in industrial plants is driving the demand for electric actuators to reduce human error and operational downtime.

Top Country/Region: China leads the global market with over 3.2 million units sold in 2023, primarily driven by growth in manufacturing and energy sectors.

Top Segment: Straight-stroke electric actuators dominated in 2023, with a share exceeding 40% of the global volume due to their wide use in linear motion control.

Electric Actuator Market Trends

The electric actuator market is experiencing robust growth with strong technological innovation and regional expansion. One of the most notable trends is the shift towards integrated smart actuators, which accounted for 32% of new installations in 2023. These include embedded sensors, control modules, and data feedback capabilities. Europe recorded the highest uptake of these systems, particularly in water management facilities and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Another key trend is the miniaturization of actuators. Compact electric actuators under 200 grams are being increasingly used in medical devices and laboratory automation, with more than 600,000 units sold globally last year. This trend is expected to intensify as demand for precise motion control in tight spaces grows in sectors like biotechnology and electronics assembly.

Asia-Pacific saw a sharp rise in demand for high-thrust actuators exceeding 10 kN, particularly in wind energy projects and heavy-duty industrial applications. Over 900,000 units of this category were installed in 2023. These actuators are also being adopted in dam gate operations and large-scale HVAC systems.

Actuator retrofitting is also a rising trend, especially in legacy power plants and oil refineries. In North America, more than 2,500 aging mechanical and pneumatic systems were upgraded to electric alternatives last year, improving energy efficiency by 15–22% per site.

Environmental sustainability has become a major design consideration. Manufacturers are increasingly offering electric actuators built from recyclable aluminum alloy frames and energy-efficient brushless motors. In 2023, over 18% of all actuators shipped had certified eco-friendly construction and power consumption below 10 W in standby mode.

Electric Actuator Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Rising demand for industrial automation

Electric actuators are being increasingly adopted due to their superior precision, efficiency, and ability to integrate with smart control systems. In 2023, industrial automation represented over 45% of global actuator deployments, highlighting the scale of transformation across sectors such as automotive, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. These actuators enable synchronized movement in conveyor systems, robotic arms, and packaging machines. In automotive assembly alone, over 500,000 electric actuators were used in robotic torque arms, door fixtures, and panel-pressing equipment. The demand is particularly strong in countries such as Japan and Germany, where automation density exceeds 300 robots per 10,000 workers. Additionally, government incentives supporting smart manufacturing have catalyzed rapid installations of servo and feedback-integrated actuators.

RESTRAINT

High initial costs for advanced actuator solutions

Despite growing preference for electric systems, the high upfront cost of premium actuators with integrated electronics and environmental sealing remains a constraint. Multi-rotary or partial rotary electric actuators with torque output above 100 Nm can cost up to 40% more than their pneumatic or hydraulic counterparts. For small to mid-size manufacturers, the investment becomes significant when scaling across hundreds of operational units. Moreover, the requirement of compatible control systems, regular firmware updates, and certified technical integration further escalates the total cost of ownership. In regions like Latin America and Southeast Asia, where capital availability is limited, this has slowed adoption in key sectors such as mining and agriculture.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion of renewable energy infrastructure

The global transition toward renewable energy has opened significant opportunities for electric actuators. In 2023, wind turbine manufacturers installed over 200,000 actuators for blade pitch control, tower orientation, and internal access systems. Similarly, concentrated solar power plants now deploy over 30,000 linear actuators per year to control mirrors and reflectors. Actuators used in renewable energy must operate reliably under extreme temperatures and wind speeds, making electric variants preferable due to their sealed, maintenance-free designs. In addition, tidal and offshore energy developers have increasingly invested in corrosion-resistant electric actuators rated for IP67 and above, with more than 12 pilot projects launched across Europe and Asia in 2023.

CHALLENGE

Rising costs and electronic component shortages

The electric actuator industry faces ongoing challenges linked to the global shortage of semiconductors, sensors, and rare earth materials used in precision motor windings. In 2023, delivery delays increased by 30–45 days on average, particularly for actuators with encoder feedback and Bluetooth/IoT capability. Component pricing rose by 12–18% year-over-year, leading several OEMs to downscale or temporarily suspend new product releases. This volatility has forced many manufacturers to diversify supply chains and re-engineer components with alternative materials, which can affect performance and reliability. The shortage also hinders R&D schedules, delaying smart actuator rollout timelines, particularly in the power distribution and pharmaceutical packaging sectors.

Electric Actuator Market Segmentation

The electric actuator market is segmented by type and application to meet diverse industrial motion control needs. Each type offers unique mechanical movement and torque output, while application-based segmentation highlights industry-specific demand patterns. This classification enables manufacturers and integrators to tailor solutions based on performance, space constraints, and environmental conditions. As of 2023, over 12 million units were installed globally, with more than 5 unique motion control variants across various industries.

By Type

• Straight Stroke Electric Actuator: Straight stroke electric actuators, also known as linear actuators, accounted for over 5.2 million units in global sales during 2023. These actuators provide precise linear motion and are widely used in positioning systems, lifting mechanisms, and valve control applications. In the healthcare sector, over 300,000 units were used in hospital beds and patient lifts. In the manufacturing sector, over 1.5 million units were installed in packaging lines, material handling systems, and CNC equipment. Their popularity stems from features like stroke lengths ranging from 10 mm to 1,000 mm, load ratings up to 15 kN, and sealed housings for harsh environments.
• Multi-rotary Electric Actuator: Multi-rotary electric actuators are ideal for operations requiring complex rotational movements beyond a single axis. In 2023, global demand reached 2.3 million units, particularly in robotics and advanced manufacturing systems. These actuators are typically used in assembly lines and robotic arms where rotation over 360 degrees is required. Japan and South Korea led deployment with over 400,000 units used in electronics and automotive production. High-resolution step motors and feedback control systems are common in these actuators, enabling positioning accuracy within ±0.05 degrees. Their compact design supports multi-axis integration and reduced setup time.
• Partial Rotary Electric Actuator: Partial rotary electric actuators, also referred to as quarter-turn actuators, were responsible for 4.1 million installations globally in 2023. These are extensively used in valve actuation, especially for butterfly and ball valves in process industries. Torque output typically ranges from 10 Nm to 5,000 Nm, making them suitable for high-force applications. In water treatment plants, over 600,000 units were installed for gate and sluice valve operation. These actuators are preferred for their fail-safe functionality, corrosion resistance, and compatibility with explosion-proof environments. Over 40% of these were IP68-rated for submersible or outdoor applications.

By Application

• Petrochemical: The petrochemical industry accounted for more than 2.8 million electric actuator units in 2023. These actuators are used for operating control valves, safety shutdown systems, and process flow regulation. In offshore and onshore drilling units, partial rotary actuators control fluid circulation valves under pressures exceeding 200 bar. IP67 and flameproof variants are standard, especially in LNG and gas separation units. Over 45% of petrochemical facilities in the U.S. now use electric actuators instead of pneumatic systems for improved control and compliance.
• General Industrial: General industrial applications include material handling, conveyor automation, robotics, and assembly operations. In 2023, this segment consumed 3.6 million electric actuators, with straight stroke models making up 55% of deployments. Factories across Germany, India, and China have increasingly adopted electric actuators for ergonomic systems, such as automated lifts, presses, and inspection machines. These actuators offer programmable position settings and energy-efficient operation, with duty cycles of up to 80% in repetitive manufacturing environments.
• Electric Power: Electric power generation and distribution accounted for 1.9 million actuator installations in 2023. Most were used in dam gates, turbine blade positioning, and transformer cooling systems. Partial rotary actuators made up 60% of this category, especially in medium-voltage switchgear operations. In hydroelectric plants, actuators rated at 20,000 Nm torque are used to operate large sluice gates and radial valves. Remote operation and SCADA integration are key drivers for their adoption, with more than 300 hydro plants globally upgrading to electric actuation systems last year.
• Water Treatment: The water and wastewater treatment segment saw 2.2 million actuator installations in 2023. These were predominantly deployed in filtration systems, aeration tanks, and chlorine injection units. Electric actuators in this sector often meet IP68 standards and include features such as torque control, limit switches, and feedback sensors. The European region accounted for over 650,000 units, driven by municipal upgrades and clean water regulations. Over 40% of new installations included remote monitoring via Modbus or Ethernet protocols.
• Others: Other applications such as marine, HVAC, agriculture, and food & beverage collectively represented 1.5 million units in 2023. In HVAC systems, actuators are used in damper and valve control across commercial buildings. Over 180,000 actuators were installed in automated greenhouses and precision agriculture, especially in irrigation and fertigation systems. In food processing, over 250,000 units were used to automate portioning machines, sealing systems, and conveyor gates, with stainless steel bodies meeting IP69K sanitation standards.

Electric Actuator Market Regional Outlook

The global electric actuator market exhibits strong performance across diverse geographies, each driven by specific industrial trends and technology adoption levels. North America and Europe focus on modernizing existing infrastructure, while Asia-Pacific leads in manufacturing-driven demand. The Middle East & Africa region is gradually expanding in utility and water infrastructure automation, presenting new market entry opportunities.

• North America

holds a significant share in the electric actuator market, particularly due to its robust industrial automation and water treatment sectors. In 2023, over 2.5 million electric actuators were sold across the U.S. and Canada, with more than 40% deployed in petrochemical and energy applications. The U.S. remains a leader in adopting smart actuators with real-time feedback, and over 35% of newly installed systems feature Bluetooth or Ethernet IP integration. High regulatory standards in food and pharma sectors are also driving demand for hygienic design actuators, with over 250,000 units sold into cleanroom environments last year.

• Europe

 market emphasizes precision, safety, and sustainability. In 2023, the region installed over 2.1 million units, primarily in Germany, France, and Italy. More than 45% of these were used in electric power generation and water treatment projects. Germany, in particular, accounted for over 600,000 units, driven by energy transition policies and increasing wind and solar deployments. The region has also witnessed growing adoption of electric actuators in rail and transport systems, where over 75,000 actuators were used in access doors, suspension control, and HVAC automation. European manufacturers increasingly prefer stainless steel and explosion-proof designs, ensuring compatibility with stringent EU standards.

• Asia-Pacific

leads the global electric actuator market in volume, with over 4.6 million units installed in 2023 alone. China and India dominate due to expansive manufacturing operations and growing demand in power, water treatment, and automation. China accounted for 3.2 million units, and India saw a 12% year-on-year rise in installations across power plants and smart city projects. Actuators in this region are commonly used in motorized valve systems, CNC machines, robotics, and automotive assembly lines. The growing demand for infrastructure automation and the increasing adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions are fueling the need for advanced electric actuators in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

• Middle East & Africa

In the electric actuators are increasingly adopted for water management, power distribution, and oil refinery automation. In 2023, over 750,000 units were deployed, primarily in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. These actuators were predominantly used in electric power and desalination plants, with over 35% featuring environmental protection ratings above IP66. The deployment of SCADA-integrated actuators in utility sectors and oil terminals is rising, with over 120 projects incorporating electric linear and rotary systems for real-time valve control. Government-led infrastructure and energy diversification initiatives continue to boost demand across this region.

List of Top Electric Actuator Companies

• LINAK
• THK
• SMC Corporation
• IAI
• Parker
• Ewellix
• Thomson Industries
• TiMOTION
• FESTO
• Yamaha
• CKD
• Kollmorgen
• Chiaphua Components
• Tsubakimoto Chain
• Moteck Electric
• Tolomatic
• Mindman Industrial
• Auma
• Rotork
• Emerson
• Flowserve
• Chuanyi
• Schiebel
• Changzhou Power Station Auxiliary Equipment Co., LTD
• Shanghai Automation Instrument Co., LTD
• Surpass
• Wenzhou RICH Measure and Control Equipment Co., Ltd.
• YANGZHOU HENGCHUN ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
• TFL
• Actuators Co., Ltd. Yangzhou Aotuo Ke
• BERNARD CONTROLS
• Koei Industry
• Tomoe
• ABB

Top Companies with the Highest Share:

Rotork: With over 1.1 million electric actuators sold globally in 2023, Rotork leads the market in high-torque industrial actuator solutions, serving power, oil, gas, and water industries. Their explosion-proof and smart actuators are used in over 160 countries, with 70% of installations integrated into DCS/PLC systems.

Emerson: Emerson holds a dominant position with over 1 million electric actuators supplied across industries, particularly in petrochemical and energy infrastructure. The company’s Bettis and El-O-Matic product lines account for more than 400,000 active installations worldwide with high reliability in harsh operating conditions.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The electric actuator market continues to attract significant capital investment due to its wide applicability in automation, energy, and smart infrastructure. In 2023, more than USD 2.8 billion equivalent was invested globally across manufacturing, water treatment, robotics, and energy sectors. Asia-Pacific captured 42% of the total investments, driven by government-led smart factory upgrades and private industrial automation expansions.

In Europe, the EU funded over 220 modernization projects that involved smart electric actuators with real-time diagnostics and network communication features. Over €300 million was directed to upgrading water treatment plants across France, Italy, and Spain with IP68-rated electric actuators, reducing maintenance intervals by 25–30%.

In North America, private sector investments were focused on retrofitting old pneumatic systems. Over 35 industrial parks in the U.S. initiated full-scale upgrades, replacing over 40,000 outdated actuators with high-efficiency brushless motor variants. This reduced energy consumption by 15–22% per facility.

Emerging economies in the Middle East and Africa have seen an increase in development bank-backed infrastructure automation programs. Over $150 million in investments were reported in 2023 across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Nigeria, mostly targeting electric actuators for pump stations, desalination plants, and distributed energy networks.

Opportunities continue to emerge in electric vehicle battery production, solar energy fields, precision agriculture, and autonomous transport systems, where electric actuators are critical for robotic arm control, solar tracker adjustments, and valve regulation. Over 900 start-ups globally were developing custom actuator technologies for next-generation machines in 2023, with collective funding exceeding USD 500 million.

New Product Development

In 2023 and early 2024, manufacturers launched over 120 new electric actuator models designed for higher efficiency, precision control, and digital integration. Rotork introduced its IQ3 Pro electric actuator series featuring onboard diagnostics, data logging, and support for over 10 network protocols. These models are now used in more than 700 municipal water facilities worldwide.

Emerson expanded its Bettis line with the XTE300 model, rated up to 25,000 Nm, designed for heavy-duty oil and gas valve actuation. Over 1,000 units were deployed in offshore platforms and LNG terminals within six months of launch.

IAI (Intelligent Actuator Inc.) introduced its ROBO Cylinder series with 10-micron precision, suitable for cleanroom automation and pharmaceutical packaging. Over 5,000 units were sold within Japan and Korea for biotech and lab testing operations.

LINAK unveiled an energy-optimized actuator series consuming 30% less standby power than previous generations. Over 60,000 units were integrated into healthcare beds, ergonomic desks, and industrial lift systems in 2023.

FESTO released electric actuators with self-commissioning features and advanced control algorithms that adjust travel speed and torque based on load dynamics. These actuators are now implemented in robotic welding and 3D printing platforms across Europe.

Five Recent Developments

• Rotork launched the IQT Flex actuator in Q4 2023 with modular torque control and AI-enabled diagnostics; over 1,200 units installed in Europe’s water utility sector within five months.
• Emerson deployed 800+ XTE series actuators in a Saudi Aramco project, offering explosion-proof certification and torque outputs exceeding 20,000 Nm.
• LINAK invested USD 50 million in expanding its electric actuator production plant in Slovakia, increasing capacity by 250,000 units annually.
• SMC Corporation launched compact electric cylinders with repeatability of ±0.02 mm for semiconductor and medical device automation; already adopted by 50+ companies in Japan.
• IAI released a Bluetooth-enabled control system for its ROBO Cylinder series in early 2024, streamlining remote commissioning and diagnostics; over 15,000 units sold within four months.

Report Coverage of Electric Actuator Market

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the electric actuator market, covering over 200 companies, 70 countries, and 15 industry verticals. It analyzes market data from over 25,000 industrial facilities, presenting insights on actuator design, torque capacity, motion types, IP ratings, energy consumption, and feedback capabilities.

Segment-wise analysis includes linear (straight stroke), partial rotary, and multi-rotary actuators, with application mapping across petrochemical, water treatment, electric power, and industrial automation. The report reviews more than 85 product lines, detailing technical specifications such as load ratings, repeatability, stroke length, and temperature tolerance.

Coverage includes trends in miniaturization, smart integration, material optimization (aluminum, stainless steel, polymer composites), and sealing standards for harsh environments. Over 150 charts and data tables illustrate actuator deployment by sector, control interface (Modbus, Profibus, Bluetooth), and environment (subsea, explosion-proof, cleanroom).

The report evaluates regional activity with detailed investment patterns, regulatory impact, and industry-specific growth. R&D benchmarks, product launches, and strategic partnerships from 2023–2024 are thoroughly examined.

It is tailored for OEMs, engineers, procurement planners, plant managers, and investment strategists seeking insight into actuator efficiency, lifecycle cost, and deployment strategies across modern industrial infrastructure.

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