Inferior imitations hurt Chinese instrumentation market

Introduction: As we all know, the rise of China's modern instrumentation industry began with the introduction of foreign technology to imitate innovation, and imitation has greatly promoted the development of China's instrumentation manufacturing industry. However, in contrast, a vicious imitation also grows quietly, hurting the healthy growth of the instrumentation industry.

Automation instrumentation is an important auxiliary equipment widely used in various industries of the national economy, and it is also one of the important equipments for enterprises to realize production informatization and automation. The rapid development of China’s economic construction has brought strong demand to the instrument industry. Relevant data show that the growth of automation instrument demand is generally 2 to 2.5 times higher than the GDP of the year. In the past ten years, China's GDP has increased by nearly three times. It is estimated that the automation instrument industry has increased nearly 10 times. At the same time, most of the instrumentation companies are still at the stage of reference and imitation of foreign products, or between domestic counterparts.

As we all know, the rise of China's modern instrumentation industry began with the introduction of foreign technology to imitate innovation, and imitation has greatly promoted the development of China's instrumentation manufacturing industry. Taking the flow meter as the line, most of China's flow technologies are imported from foreign countries to imitate, thus forming a certain scale. This innovative imitation not only broke the monopoly of foreign technology, but also improved the level of instrument manufacturing in China. However, in contrast, a vicious imitation also grows quietly, hurting the healthy growth of the instrumentation industry.

We know that many famous overseas instrument brands have been plagued by illegal copying. For example, the well-known instrument giant Yokogawa Electric discovered in the Chinese market in March 2007 the imitation of a differential pressure/pressure transmitter without the company's permission to use the company's registered trademark [YOKOGAWAâ—†]. The imitation product does not meet the requirements in terms of performance, specifications and quality. In particular, various specifications such as the required explosion-proof specifications cannot meet the standards. Therefore, if the user installs and continues to use imitation products at the factory, there will be hidden dangers in the operation and safety of the production equipment, and the quality of the user's products will also be reduced.

With the strengthening of independent innovation capabilities of China's instrumentation companies, the malicious imitation of products among domestic counterparts has quietly become commonplace. For example, the China Instrument Network reporter learned that a well-known professional manufacturer of ancillary instrumentation for the production of industrial automation instruments in China, Changshu Changyi Instrument Co., Ltd. (formerly Changshu Instrument Factory) suffered such troubles. The company's Changyi QFHS series stainless steel air filter pressure reducing valve is independently developed by the company. The material is made of 304S or 316L stainless steel. It is firmer and reliable than the ordinary filter pressure reducing valve and can be used in harsh environments. In a corrosive environment, the product is used in Qinshan Nuclear Power Station and Lianyungang Nuclear Power Station. It has won favorable comments from customers in use and has even been favored by foreign customers. However, the company soon discovered that there are many imitation products in the market. Its performance is unstable and its price is low, causing some harm to users.

In recent years, China's industrial safety accidents have occurred frequently, and the instrumentation industry, which plays an important role in these fields, has received unprecedented attention. The confidence of users in domestic instrumentation products is still in the training period. Illegal and poor imitation products flood the market. The user’s scene is like burying a time bomb in these areas. It is very likely that ethnic enterprises will suffer a loss. Instruments and meters companies should strengthen self-discipline in the industry. Relevant units and industry associations should pay more attention and improve their alertness.