Hardware Supplies

Hardware Supplies, forms an important component of industry and includes an extensive range of products that are used in diverse applications and in various sectors. Hardware supplies can be defined as the products that support major operations and functions in different industries, such as packaging, cleaning, adhesion and sealing, safety, among others.

Over the years, hardware supplies industry has made significant progress that can be seen from an extensive range of specialty products available in the market that are designed to execute specific tasks more effectively and efficiently.

Hardware Supplies Types
Hardware supplies can be broadly categorized into six types -
Adhesives & Sealants, Packing Supplies, Lubrication & Chemical Additives, Safety Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, Painting Supplies

Hardware Supplies Application
Hardware supply products are used in a multitude of industrial applications, including -

• Building, construction and civil engineering
• Transportation
• Paper, board and related products
• Woodworking and Joinery
• Footwear and leather
• Packaging
• Automotive and engines
• Safety and protective equipment in industrial environments
• Residential and commercial applications
• Painting applications

Hardware Supplies Industry
The hardware supplies industry include establishments primarily engaged in the manufacturing, trade, supply, distribution and retailing of general hardware supply products.

Hardware supplies industry can be broadly categorised into major segments like adhesive & sealant industry, packaging industry, lubricant market, chemical additives market, paints and coatings market.

Market Overview of the Major Segments
Adhesives & Sealants
Of the different segments of hardware supplies industry, the market of adhesive / sealant industry is valued at over $9 billion. The majority of sales are divided between - industry assembly (24%), packaging (23%), construction (16%), wood bonding (16%), transportation (11%), and consumer products (6%). The major market players in adhesives and sealants industry are US, China, Japan, Germany and Canada.

Packaging
The global packaging industry was worth $424 billion market in 2004. The industry can be categorized into four general categories depending on material type - paper and board, plastics, glass and metal. The primary segment of the packaging supplies industry are paper and board and plastics that account for 36% and 35%, respectively, of the world packaging market.

Lubrication & Chemical Additives
The global lubricant market is valued at around $35.7 billion of which automotive lubricants account for more than 60% of sales volume. China is the fastest growing lubricant market in the world and is the second largest after US market in terms of sales volume.

Of the total global consumption of 37.4 million tons of lubricants in 2004, the share of automotive lubricants was 53%, industrial lubricants 32% (including related specialties), marine oils 5%, and process oils 10%. Amongst the industrial lubricants, 37% were hydraulic oils, 31% other industrial oils, 7% industrial gear oils, 16% metalworking fluids, and 9% greases.

Paints & Coatings
In 2006, the global paints and coatings market grew by 5.7% to reach a value of $71.7 billion and in terms of volume it grew by 3.5% to reach 29.4 million tonnes. . The industry is expected to grow by 29 % from 2006-2011 and reach a value of $92.5 billion.