The global radiation shielding glass market size is valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2024 to 2030. The growing popularity of radiation shielding glass is due to stringent safety regulations in industries such as medical, nuclear, and industrial. Radiation shielding glass, which often includes lead oxide or barium oxide, is popular due to its ability to effectively reduce ionizing radiation, primarily X-rays and gamma rays. Its unique properties ensure minimal radiation penetration, reducing the risks of radiation exposure to staff and patients in medical imaging facilities, improving safety in nuclear power plants, and protecting sensitive equipment in industrial settings.
In addition, glass maintains transparency for visual inspection and clear communication, combining safety with operational efficiency. These properties underline its widespread use and preference in various applications where radiation protection is critical.
Growing concerns about safety regulations worldwide are a major driver of the radiation shielding glass market. Stringent regulations aimed at reducing radiation exposure in healthcare, industry, and nuclear power are forcing companies to invest in advanced shielding solutions to ensure compliance and protect workers and the public. For example, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed the Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) to provide guidance on radiation protection measures for various industries. Compliance with these standards has led to the adoption of radiation shielding glass in healthcare facilities, nuclear power plants, and research laboratories worldwide.
The high initial cost of installing and maintaining radiation-protective glass is a significant constraint on market growth. The initial investment required to acquire specialized glass materials and installation expertise may be costly for some organizations, especially smaller businesses or companies in emerging markets, which may limit the rate of adoption. The high cost of radiation-protective glass may hinder its widespread adoption in developing countries that may have limited budgets for safety measures.
The use of radiation-protective glass is increasing in emerging markets, offering huge growth opportunities for the market. As the medical infrastructure continues to develop in regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America, and awareness of radiation hazards increases, the need for reliable radiation protection solutions is growing. This trend provides an opportunity for market players to expand their reach and cater to new customer segments that require advanced safety measures.
The lead glass application segment is expected to continue to dominate during the forecast period due to its high lead oxide content and its excellent radiation blocking capabilities. This property makes lead glass very effective in shielding harmful radiation while maintaining optical clarity, which is critical for medical imaging equipment, nuclear facilities, and industrial applications where accurate imaging and safety are critical.
The lead-free glass market is experiencing rapid growth due to growing concerns about environmental and health issues related to lead exposure. Regulatory regulations in various regions, such as the European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and stringent regulations in the healthcare sector, are driving the adoption of lead-free alternatives.
Alternatives to lead-free glass, often composed of barium oxide or other heavy metals, provide similar radiation protection while addressing the environmental and health safety concerns associated with lead. The market is growing rapidly as manufacturers focus on developing innovative lead-free solutions to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly and safe radiation protection products.
In the medical field, radiation shielding glass plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of patients and staff during diagnostic imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans and fluoroscopy. As healthcare regulations continue to focus on radiation safety standards, the demand for reliable and highly effective radiation shielding solutions such as lead glass remains high, cementing the company’s dominant position in the medical market.
For example, a 2023 report by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission highlighted the widespread use of radiation glass for radiation shielding in healthcare settings, particularly in areas where diagnostic equipment is used. The report emphasized the importance of lead glass in protecting healthcare workers and patients from unnecessary radiation exposure while maintaining clear visibility during procedures.
In industrial settings, radiation protective glass is widely used in environments where radiation sources are used or processed, such as nuclear power plants, research laboratories, and industrial radiography facilities. These glasses are used to protect workers, equipment, and the environment from radiation hazards.
Industrial radiation protective glass is often tailored to specific protection requirements and environmental conditions, ensuring operational safety and regulatory compliance in sensitive industrial processes. Its applications include protecting windows, doors and viewing openings in containment areas, control rooms and hot cells where good visibility and strict radiation protection are critical.
”China accounts for more than 30% of the total market revenue for radiation-protective glass in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The Asia Pacific region is seeing the fastest growth, driven by booming healthcare infrastructure and increasing awareness of radiation safety measures. Countries like China and India are leading this growth, fueled by rising healthcare spending and government initiatives to upgrade healthcare facilities. Beyond healthcare, expanding nuclear power generation in countries like Japan and South Korea is further driving demand for radiation shielding glass for reactor containment and research purposes.
North America remains a mature market for radiation shielding glass, characterized by strict regulatory standards and high adoption rates in the healthcare and industrial sectors.
The United States is driving radiation shielding glass consumption in North America due to its advanced medical facilities and continuous advancements in radiation therapy and diagnostic imaging technologies. The Canadian radiation shielding glass market is closely following, with a particular focus on nuclear power and industrial applications where radiation shielding glass is critical for safety and regulatory compliance.
Europe dominates the consumption of radiation-shielding glass, benefiting from the region’s strict environmental and safety regulations. Innovative glass production technologies aim to improve radiation attenuation performance while meeting sustainability standards, reflecting the region’s commitment to safety and technological advancement in radiation protection.
Specialising in special glass and glass ceramics, SCHOTT offers a wide range of radiation-protective glass products for healthcare, nuclear power and industry. SCHOTT offers lead glass options and lead-free glass alternatives that meet stringent global regulatory standards.
Corning Incorporated is a leader in materials science and glass technology, providing advanced radiation-protective glass solutions for healthcare, industrial, and scientific markets. Its products provide reliable protection from ionizing radiation while providing clear visibility in diagnostic imaging and industrial processes. The company’s product portfolio includes leaded and lead-free glass.
Below are the leading companies in the radiation protection glass market. Together, these companies hold the largest market share and set industry trends.
In April 2024, STERIS announced the expansion of its Chonburi Plant 1 in Thailand to include X-ray processing capabilities. The expansion complements the existing gamma irradiation services at the Chonburi 1 and Chonburi 2 facilities. Demand for radiation-protective glass is expected to grow as the plants expand their capabilities to handle X-ray equipment and processes efficiently and safely.
In December 2023, Carestream Health launched the DRX-Rise mobile X-ray system, an advanced digital imaging solution that provides customers with a cost-effective way to implement or expand digital radiography capabilities. The introduction of this system will increase the need for radiation-protective glass as the equipment is upgraded to meet modern imaging standards.
British Glass Incorporated, H.V. Scan Ltd., MidlandLead, Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., Ray-Bar Engineering Ltd., Wolf Roentgen
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This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, country and regional levels and analyzes the latest trends in each segment from 2018 to 2030. In this study, Grand View Research segments the global radiation protection glass market report by type, application and region:
b. The global radiation shielding glass market size is valued at US$ 1.1 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 1.16 billion in 2024.
b. The global radiation shielding glass market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2024 to 2030, reaching US$ 1.62 billion in 2030.
b. The largest suppliers in the global radiation-protective glass market include British Glass, Corning Incorporated, ELECTRIC GLASS BUILDING MATERIALS CO., LTD., HV Skan Ltd., Lead Glass Pro., MAVIG GmbH, MidlandLead, Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., Ray-Bar Engineering Corporation, Raybloc Ltd., Schott, Wolf X-Ray, etc.
b. The key driver for the growth of the global radiation protective glass market is the growing application of radiation protective glass in the medical and industrial sectors.
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Post time: Jan-24-2025
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