Specialization and Specialization in the Capital Tide

A small water meter connects people's "happiness" with water at one end and urban construction at the other. Small water meter has a big universe, through the technology upgrade can effectively reduce the measurement error and water supply network measurement leakage, to help the development of the national energy industry. However, behind the visible and accurate measurement is the invisible investment and polishing of enterprises.

In Qingdao, there is such a "little giant" enterprise in the field of instrument manufacturing. It is not only a technical advocate, industrialization promoter and industry standard setter of China's photoelectric direct reading automatic meter reading, but also a "leader" who has the courage to innovate and break through ultrasonic flow metering technology ". This enterprise is Qingdao Jicheng Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Qingdao Jicheng") located in Shinan District of Qingdao.

After 21 years of exploration, Qingdao has developed into an "all-round player" in the instrument manufacturing industry with technological upgrading. After photoelectric direct reading instruments and Internet of Things instruments, it has successively introduced ultrasonic heat meters, ultrasonic water meters and ultrasonic gas meters.

First to complete ultrasonic metrology

technological breakthrough

Qingdao Jicheng was established in 2001. This year, Qingdao Jicheng invented the photoelectric direct reading meter reading technology, and won a "good start" for itself by virtue of the technology ".

After that, Qingdao Jicheng successfully entered the metering instrument industry and successively developed direct-reading remote water meters and direct-reading remote gas meters. With the deepening of product research and development, the company has participated in the formulation of a number of relevant domestic standards, and gradually developed and expanded, realizing the industrialization development of the enterprise.
The principle of flow measurement of water meters and gas meters has always been a mechanical principle, and the emergence of all-electronic measurement technology represented by ultrasonic technology has pushed the flow meter into the 2.0 era. Qingdao Jicheng started the research and exploration of ultrasonic flow measurement technology as early as 10 years ago, and has achieved good results.

Qingdao Jicheng was established in 2001. This year, Qingdao Jicheng invented the photoelectric direct reading meter reading technology, and won a "good start" for itself by virtue of the technology ".

After that, Qingdao Jicheng successfully entered the metering instrument industry and successively developed direct-reading remote water meters and direct-reading remote gas meters. With the deepening of product research and development, the company has participated in the formulation of a number of relevant domestic standards, and gradually developed and expanded, realizing the industrialization development of the enterprise.

The principle of flow measurement of water meters and gas meters has always been a mechanical principle, and the emergence of all-electronic measurement technology represented by ultrasonic technology has pushed the flow meter into the 2.0 era. Qingdao Jicheng started the research and exploration of ultrasonic flow measurement technology as early as 10 years ago, and has achieved good results.

The company around the industrial "four-base" field, in the ultrasonic flow measurement core algorithm and chip firmware, ultrasonic flow measurement modeling tools and automated verification equipment to fill the gap in the industry. In 2020, Qingdao Jicheng was awarded the title of "Little Giant" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for its technical and product achievements in the field of ultrasonic flow metering.

At present, the company's main business has included the development, production, integration and technical services of smart water and smart gas smart meters and systems. Qingdao Jicheng has developed into an "all-round player" in the instrument manufacturing industry ".
More than 8% R & D investment
Industry at the upstream level

Talents are born in the ordinary, at the beginning of its establishment, Qingdao is not all-powerful. But sweat can cast extraordinary. For Qingdao Jicheng, which started with technology, the company's hard work in technology is the "sweat" that the company has shed to achieve "extraordinary".

"In the process of the company's development, it is impossible to say that there are no difficulties. We have personally experienced the process of replacing mechanical energy meters with all-electronic energy meters, and we have also witnessed the elimination of traditional functional machines by smartphones, a process that is exciting and bloody. In the process of fully electronic flow meters, it is necessary to pay a hundredfold effort not to fall behind or even achieve anti-overtaking." Han Feizhou, general manager of Qingdao Jicheng, told reporters that as a technology-driven enterprise, the company is facing a lot of difficulties in the development process in terms of technological innovation itself and the matching of technological innovation with market demand.

Ultrasonic flow meter research is a collection of electronics, acoustics, fluid mechanics, machinery, data models, information systems software and other multidisciplinary integrated project. Since ultrasonic water meters are a new generation of high-end products in the industry, there are no mature tooling equipment and calibration devices in the industry to learn from, and there are no cases of intelligent and automated production lines. In order to achieve the purpose of large-scale production, equipment, production lines and factories can only rely on independent research and development to fill in the blank areas.

"In terms of input and output, the company's initial investment in ultrasonic flow meter products can be described as 'making ends meet. 'It can be said that in order to win the first opportunity in the new track, Qingdao Jicheng has poured a lot of cost and energy without hesitation." Han Feizhou told reporters.

The financial report shows that in recent years, Qingdao Jicheng's R & D expense rate has remained above 8%, which is at the upstream level in the industry and is generally higher than the average level of comparable companies in the same industry.

At present, in terms of ultrasonic water meter product indicators, the company has already realized the temperature grade T30, range ratio R250 products mass production, and further research to achieve temperature grade T50/T70, range ratio R400/R500 product mass production, so that the product to achieve a higher range ratio and measurement accuracy level.

Can endure the cold winter, can wait until the flowers bloom. Today, Qingdao's ultrasonic flow metering products have entered the stage of achievement transformation and rapid growth, and their market share in the field of intelligent water meters has increased year by year, entering the first echelon of the industry. The company's ultrasonic water meters have been sold to developed countries in Europe, and have started the export of complete sets of manufacturing capabilities in the Middle East and countries along the "Belt and Road". The comprehensive technical level and competitiveness of the products have reached the international first-class level. Don't fall behind in the competition.

"The next step, the company will continue to develop in the two directions of smart municipal and smart meters, the current focus on the development of the second generation of ultrasonic gas meters. At present, the core technology of ultrasonic gas meters in the Chinese market mainly comes from Japan, and Japanese technology is in an absolute monopoly position. Qingdao's fully-made autonomous controllable ultrasonic gas meters are among the few domestic products that are most promising to break foreign monopolies and solve the problem of stuck necks." Han Feizhou said.

Promote identification, establishment

"Ultrasonic Flow Meter Industry Chain"

The real economy is the foundation for promoting high-quality development, while industry is an important support for promoting high-quality development.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to accelerate the construction of a new development pattern and focus on promoting high-quality development. Promote coordinated regional development, adhere to the people's city and people's city for the people, improve the level of urban planning, construction, and governance, accelerate the transformation of the development mode of mega-cities, implement urban renewal actions, strengthen urban infrastructure construction, and create livable and resilient, Smart city.

As a member of the city, enterprise development and urban construction complement each other. In the process of promoting high-quality development, Qingdao has also played a role.

Today, Qingdao has developed into an "all-round player" in the instrument and meter manufacturing industry, driven by technological upgrading ".

"From the perspective of the development of the ultrasonic meter metering industry, Shandong Province has considerable advantages in the upper, middle and lower reaches. It has all the elements of the ultrasonic flow meter industry chain and has the feasibility of forming a national industry leader." Han Feizhou said.

With the upgrading of technology, intelligent metering instruments are currently in the historical opportunity period of upgrading from mechanical metering to full electronic metering, the market growth space is huge, ultrasonic meter metering industry is in the wind.

"Qingdao Jicheng has not only complete machine products, but also core components such as metering modules and sensors, as well as key calibration equipment and intelligent complete sets of equipment, which can promote the identification and establishment of the entire industry chain. At present, the company has made suggestions to the industry authorities and received positive feedback." Han Feizhou said.

This year, the "Shandong Engineering Research Center for Ultrasonic Flow Meter" jointly declared by Qingdao Jicheng and Shandong Institute of Metrology was recognized by the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. In the next step, Qingdao Jicheng will use this as a platform to promote the construction and upgrading of the industrial chain of ultrasonic flow meters in Shandong Province.

It is understood that the engineering research center will carry out technical research around the industrialization of ultrasonic meters, focus on improving the level of ultrasonic metering technology, accelerate the development and localization of ultrasonic flow meters, and lead the common progress of industry technology.

For this important moment that the company is about to usher in, Han Feizhou said that the inauguration of the research center is of great significance. "This marks the further acceleration of the research and development and localization of ultrasonic flow meters, and also marks the further improvement of the innovation system in Shandong Province. It is a win-win situation for the development of enterprises and industries."