Spray Drying Equipment Market By Product Type (Rotary Atomizers, Nozzle Atomizers, Fluidized Spray Dryers, Closed-Loop Dryers); By Application (Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Nutraceuticals, Others); By End User (Large-Scale Manufacturers, Contract Manufacturers, Research & Academic Institutions); By Geography, Segment Revenue Estimation, Forecast, 2024–2030.

Introduction And Strategic Context

The Global Spray Drying Equipment Market will witness a CAGR of 7.4 % , valued at USD 6.1 billion in 2024 , expected to appreciate and reach USD 9.4 billion by 2030 , according to Strategic Market Research.

 

Spray drying equipment enables the conversion of liquid or slurry feedstocks into powders with high stability and long shelf life. It has become a critical enabler across food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and specialty materials. By 2024, the technology is increasingly seen as more than a drying method—it is an advanced process that shapes product quality, particle uniformity, and functional performance.

 

Macroeconomic and sectoral forces are converging to support adoption. Rising demand for processed food and shelf-stable products drives large-scale installations in food manufacturing. In the pharmaceutical sector, spray drying supports solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs, making it an essential tool for formulation scientists. Chemicals and materials manufacturers deploy the technology for encapsulation, catalyst development, and advanced composites.

 

Regulatory pressures also play a role. Food safety frameworks in Europe and North America are pushing companies to replace legacy dryers with automated, hygienic, and digitally monitored systems. Sustainability trends are accelerating the shift toward energy-efficient equipment, aligning with global decarbonization goals.

 

The stakeholder landscape is broad. Original equipment manufacturers design and supply end-to-end solutions. Food and pharmaceutical producers drive most of the operational demand. Contract manufacturing organizations use spray drying to support outsourcing trends in both food and life sciences. Regulators enforce quality and environmental compliance, while investors focus on the sector’s long-term growth linked to food security, healthcare needs, and material innovation.

 

Spray drying equipment has moved beyond being a backroom utility. With digital process control, particle engineering capabilities, and demand from high-value applications like biologics and nutraceuticals, it is becoming a strategic investment. For many companies, the decision to upgrade or expand spray drying infrastructure can determine competitiveness in efficiency, compliance, and product innovation.

 

Market Segmentation And Forecast Scope

The spray drying equipment market can be viewed through several dimensions that define product adoption and growth potential between 2024 and 2030.

By Product Type, the market divides into rotary atomizers, nozzle atomizers, fluidized spray dryers, and closed-loop dryers. Rotary atomizers are widely used in food processing due to their efficiency in handling large capacities. Nozzle atomizers, however, are gaining traction in pharmaceutical formulations where precision particle size distribution is critical. Fluidized spray dryers, though smaller in share, are seeing faster adoption for heat-sensitive materials.

 

By Application, food and beverage remains the largest segment, with dairy, infant nutrition, and instant coffee products driving bulk demand. Pharmaceuticals represent the fastest-growing application segment, where spray drying is increasingly used for solubility enhancement and encapsulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Chemical processing follows closely, with applications in detergents, catalysts, and ceramics. Specialty uses, such as nutraceuticals and biotechnology, are also expanding as companies look for advanced formulations.

 

By End User, the landscape splits between large-scale manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and research laboratories. Large-scale processors hold the majority share, though contract development and manufacturing organizations are rapidly increasing their investment in high-specification dryers. Research institutions, while a smaller end-user category, drive innovation through pilot-scale applications.

 

By Region, the segmentation follows North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Asia-Pacific leads in installed base due to strong demand from China and India’s food and pharmaceutical industries. Europe holds a steady position, with technology-intensive installations. North America is more consolidated, with emphasis on high-value, specialized products. LAMEA remains underpenetrated but attractive for future growth.

 

Based On 2024 Estimates, the food and beverage application segment accounts for over 35 percent of total market revenue. The pharmaceutical segment, while smaller in current size, is projected to be the fastest-growing through 2030, driven by solid dispersions and biologics. This balance of volume-driven and value-driven applications frames the market outlook.

 

In Scope , this forecast captures product categories, end users, and applications across the major regions, projecting revenue contributions through 2030. The segmentation illustrates not just where the demand lies today, but where strategic investment is most likely to shift in the next six years.

 

Market Trends And Innovation Landscape

The spray drying equipment market is being shaped by a mix of technological upgrades, sustainability imperatives, and the growing need for precision in particle engineering. Between 2024 and 2030, three themes stand out: digitization, efficiency, and cross-industry adoption.

Digitization is advancing rapidly. Modern spray dryers now incorporate automated control systems, sensors, and process analytics. This shift allows manufacturers to maintain tighter control over particle size distribution, moisture content, and yield. Digital interfaces are enabling predictive maintenance, reducing downtime, and ensuring consistent product quality across large production runs. For food producers, this translates into better flavor retention and powder uniformity. For pharmaceutical companies, it means higher reproducibility in drug formulations.

 

Energy efficiency remains another strong trend. Spray drying is traditionally an energy-intensive process, but newer systems are designed to minimize heat loss and recover energy. Closed-loop configurations are gaining attention, particularly in pharmaceutical and chemical applications where solvent recovery is critical. This development addresses both cost pressures and environmental mandates, helping companies reduce emissions while improving return on capital expenditure.

 

Innovation is also visible in application-specific customization. Food processors are investing in multi-stage dryers that can handle dairy, coffee, and nutraceutical powders with minimal cross-contamination. Pharmaceutical developers are working closely with equipment suppliers to design lab-scale dryers that replicate commercial conditions, ensuring smooth scale-up for clinical products. In chemicals, encapsulation techniques supported by spray drying are helping create new catalyst structures and functional coatings.

 

Collaborations between equipment manufacturers and research institutions are fostering the next wave of innovation. Universities and applied science centers are partnering with OEMs to develop dryers capable of handling biologics and sensitive materials. These partnerships are also focused on integrating spray drying with upstream and downstream operations, creating more continuous and automated production lines.

 

To be candid, the innovation story here is less about disruptive leaps and more about steady, incremental upgrades that accumulate into major competitive advantages. Companies that adopt digital monitoring, energy-efficient designs, and application-specific equipment will position themselves well for a market that rewards precision, sustainability, and reliability.

 

Competitive Intelligence And Benchmarking

The spray drying equipment market is defined by a handful of global manufacturers that set the pace on technology, service, and scale, alongside several regional specialists who compete on customization and cost. Competition is less about price alone and more about reliability, process optimization, and ability to deliver turnkey systems across food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

GEA Group remains one of the most established players, with a strong portfolio across industrial-scale dryers. Its competitive strength lies in integrated process solutions, ranging from pilot-scale units to large installations for dairy and coffee applications. SPX FLOW follows closely, offering broad coverage in food and beverage while leveraging its global service network to secure long-term contracts.

 

Yamato Scientific is better positioned in the lab-scale and pilot-scale market, supporting pharmaceutical R&D and academic research. Its reputation for compact and precise equipment gives it a strong foothold where smaller batch processing is required. Dedert Corporation competes with a focus on custom-engineered systems, particularly for chemicals and niche food segments, often partnering closely with clients to design bespoke installations.

 

Buchi Labortechnik, another significant competitor, dominates the benchtop dryer segment used in pharmaceutical labs and universities. Its systems are widely regarded for reliability in early-stage testing, making it a trusted choice for research organizations. In contrast, European manufacturers like SiccaDania and regional Asian suppliers are targeting mid-range markets with cost-competitive units that balance performance with affordability.

 

What sets leaders apart is the emphasis on value-added services. Maintenance packages, training, digital monitoring tools, and rapid spare part availability are increasingly becoming decision factors for buyers. Benchmarking across the industry shows that while large OEMs compete on scale and technology, smaller companies carve niches through agility and client-specific customization.

 

The competitive landscape is expected to intensify as pharmaceutical outsourcing and functional food growth accelerate demand for advanced drying solutions. Companies that continue to invest in digital integration, energy efficiency, and post-installation service ecosystems will be best positioned to defend and expand their share.

 

Regional Landscape And Adoption Outlook

Adoption of spray drying equipment varies widely across regions, shaped by the maturity of end-use industries, regulatory standards, and investment priorities. The competitive balance between volume-driven installations and value-driven specialized systems is evident when comparing markets across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America maintains steady demand, anchored by the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. The United States leads the region, where contract development and manufacturing organizations have expanded their reliance on spray drying for solubility enhancement and biologic formulations. Food applications are more consolidated, with major dairy and infant nutrition companies investing in process upgrades. Canada follows with smaller but specialized applications, especially in functional foods.

 

Europe remains a technology-driven market, with strong adoption in both food and chemicals. Countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands are home to advanced installations that integrate automation and energy recovery systems. Regulatory emphasis on food safety and sustainability has driven companies to replace legacy systems earlier than other regions. The European Union’s focus on decarbonization also creates demand for energy-efficient dryers, positioning suppliers that can demonstrate measurable efficiency gains at an advantage.

 

Asia-Pacific represents the largest and fastest-growing region. China leads with extensive installations in food and beverage processing, supported by its scale in dairy, instant coffee, and nutritional powders. India is seeing accelerating adoption, particularly in pharmaceuticals, where spray drying supports the shift toward complex generics and biologics. Japan and South Korea contribute with demand from high-value pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals, while Southeast Asia offers volume-driven opportunities in food applications. This region is forecast to capture the highest share of incremental growth between 2024 and 2030.

 

LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , And Africa) remains an underpenetrated but high-potential market. Brazil anchors Latin America with strong dairy and coffee processing industries, while Mexico shows growing interest in nutraceutical applications. The Middle East is gradually building capacity in food and beverage processing to reduce import dependency, though adoption remains limited to large industrial players. Africa, while small in current scale, presents long-term opportunity tied to food security and local processing initiatives.

 

In summary, while Asia-Pacific dominates in scale, Europe drives technology leadership, and North America focuses on pharmaceutical innovation. LAMEA offers white-space opportunities, particularly for companies willing to adapt equipment to local conditions and provide cost-effective solutions. This regional mosaic highlights how equipment suppliers must align strategies differently depending on the balance of volume, value, and regulation.

 

End-User Dynamics And Use Case

End users of spray drying equipment span a diverse set of industries, each with distinct requirements for scale, precision, and compliance. The three most influential groups are large-scale food processors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and chemical producers, with research institutions and contract service providers playing supporting but strategic roles.

 

In the food and beverage sector, large multinationals drive most of the installed capacity. These companies demand high-throughput systems capable of handling dairy powders, coffee, flavors , and nutritional supplements. Efficiency, hygiene, and consistent powder quality are the priorities, as production runs are continuous and any downtime directly impacts profitability. Food manufacturers also push suppliers for multi-stage dryers that can process a range of products without risking contamination, which is increasingly important as portfolios diversify into functional and fortified foods.

 

Pharmaceutical companies represent a smaller but faster-growing user base. Their needs are markedly different: particle uniformity, moisture control, and scalability from lab to commercial production are the key factors. Spray drying is becoming essential in solid dispersion formulations, helping enhance the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. The equipment must comply with strict regulatory standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices, making validation and documentation support critical for suppliers. Contract development and manufacturing organizations also rely heavily on spray dryers, offering outsourced services to pharma companies that lack in-house capability.

 

In chemicals, spray dryers serve diverse applications such as catalysts, ceramics, detergents, and coatings. Users in this category tend to prioritize durability, flexibility, and energy efficiency, as production batches can be varied and solvents often need to be recovered. This segment is more price-sensitive compared to food and pharmaceuticals, but also highly technical, requiring customized solutions.

 

Research laboratories and universities form a smaller but influential end-user group. They rely on benchtop and pilot-scale dryers for experimentation, formulation testing, and proof-of-concept work. Although the segment generates less revenue, it drives innovation and creates pathways for future adoption at industrial scale.

 

A practical example underscores the strategic role of spray drying. A tertiary hospital-affiliated research center in South Korea recently used pilot-scale spray drying equipment to develop a new formulation for a poorly soluble oncology drug. The lab-scale system allowed the research team to fine-tune particle size and moisture parameters, generating a powder suitable for clinical trials. Within months, the project moved into a partnership with a contract manufacturer, which scaled up the process using a commercial spray dryer. This end-to-end use case highlights how spray drying equipment can accelerate the transition from lab discovery to patient-ready medicine.

 

In essence, while food processors dominate in volume, pharmaceutical users set the pace for innovation and high-value applications. Chemical producers balance versatility and cost, while research centers fuel experimentation. Each group reinforces the central position of spray drying as a cross-industry enabling technology.

 

Recent Developments + Opportunities & Restraints

Recent Developments (Last 2 Years):

• GEA Group introduced an upgraded spray dryer line designed for improved energy recovery and solvent handling, targeting both pharmaceutical and specialty chemical applications.

• SPX FLOW expanded its presence in Asia-Pacific by establishing a service hub in India, strengthening aftermarket support for regional food and beverage clients.

• Yamato Scientific launched a new lab-scale dryer optimized for biologics research, offering precise temperature control for heat-sensitive materials.

• Dedert Corporation partnered with a European chemicals company to co-develop customized dryers for catalyst production, demonstrating the trend toward joint innovation.

• Buchi Labortechnik updated its benchtop units with integrated digital monitoring, enhancing real-time control for academic and research users.

 

Opportunities

• Rising pharmaceutical outsourcing is creating demand for contract manufacturers with advanced spray drying capability.

• Growing functional food and nutraceutical sectors in Asia-Pacific are expanding the addressable market for mid-scale dryers.

• Energy-efficient designs and closed-loop systems are opening opportunities for equipment suppliers to align with global sustainability mandates.

 

Restraints

• High capital investment remains a barrier for small and medium-scale manufacturers, particularly in emerging markets.

• Shortage of skilled operators with expertise in process optimization limits adoption in certain regions.

 

7.1. Report Coverage Table

Report Attribute	Details
Forecast Period	2024 – 2030
Market Size Value in 2024	USD 6.1 Billion
Revenue Forecast in 2030	USD 9.4 Billion
Overall Growth Rate	CAGR of 7.4% (2024 – 2030)
Base Year for Estimation	2024
Historical Data	2019 – 2023
Unit	USD Million, CAGR (2024 – 2030)
Segmentation	By Product Type, By Application, By End User, By Geography
By Product Type	Rotary Atomizers, Nozzle Atomizers, Fluidized Spray Dryers, Closed-Loop Dryers
By Application	Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Nutraceuticals, Others
By End User	Large-Scale Manufacturers, Contract Manufacturers, Research & Academic Institutions
By Region	North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAMEA
Country Scope	U.S., Canada, Germany, U.K., France, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, GCC Countries, South Africa
Market Drivers	Rising demand for shelf-stable food products; Expansion of pharmaceutical spray drying for solubility enhancement; Increasing adoption of energy-efficient drying systems
Customization Option	Available upon request