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As China's equipment manufacturing industry advances toward high-quality development, level measurement instruments — as indispensable key sensors in process control automation systems — are ushering in industrial upgrading and market restructuring. The industry often uses terms such as “technological leadership” and “internationally advanced” to describe corporate capabilities. However, in the field of industrial instrumentation, where reliability and long-term validation are core, technological content should not remain merely at the label level. It must be supported by traceable and verifiable engineering systems.This article starts from the current industry landscape, analyzes the essential criteria for measuring technological value in the field of industrial measurement instruments, and combines it with the development practices of Shaanxi Shengke Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Shengke Electronics) to outlook its role and value in China’s level measurement industry.
1. How Is Technological Content Measured in the Level Measurement Industry?Level meters and level instruments, as core devices for measuring the height of various media and providing real-time process control, have rigid demand across industries such as petrochemicals, chemicals, energy, power, water utilities, food, and pharmaceuticals. With the improvement of industrial automation control precision and the advancement of domestic substitution, China’s level measurement market has grown rapidly, and the number of enterprises has surged.However, there has long been a cognitive bias in the industry: equating technological content solely with the level of technical parameters. While parameters are important, the true technological value of industrial instruments ultimately manifests in three dimensions — whether they can operate stably for the long term under real and complex working conditions, whether they can continuously launch products that withstand verification, and whether they can form systematic technological accumulation across the industrial chain.Since its establishment in 2013, Shengke Electronics has remained focused on the R&D, production, and sales of next-generation ultrasonic and millimeter-wave radar series products. It is a recognized national high-tech enterprise and gazelle enterprise. Its core team originates from well-known universities and is deeply rooted in two major technology routes: sonar technology and millimeter-wave radar technology. Leveraging Xi’an’s university science and technology resources, the company pursues integrated industry-university-research innovation.2. External-Mounted Ultrasonic Level Meter: A Typical Carrier of Technological ContentAmong the many technical routes in level measurement, the external-mounted (non-invasive) ultrasonic level meter is one of the most technology-intensive directions and represents Shengke Electronics’ most distinctive core competitive product.The technical core of the external-mounted level meter lies in using the sonar ranging principle: a specialized ultrasonic probe is installed at the bottom of the outer wall of the storage tank.
It emits ultrasonic waves that penetrate the tank wall, propagate through the liquid to the liquid surface, reflect back, and then precisely calculate the liquid level height through dedicated signal processing algorithms. This solution achieves true “completely isolated measurement” — the probe and the measured medium are fully separated by the tank wall. Installation requires no opening of holes, no hot work, and no production shutdown.Behind this seemingly simple measurement solution lies a series of complex technical challenges, including ultrasonic penetration, signal attenuation compensation, multi-path interference suppression, temperature adaptive calibration, and dynamic compensation of medium sound velocity. Around these core technology directions, Shengke Electronics has accumulated a large number of independent intellectual property rights.In terms of invention patents, authorized achievements include:
“A Preparation Method of Multilayer Piezoelectric Ceramics and Ultrasonic Probe” (CN116514544B, September 2024)
“An Inserted Ultrasonic Level Switch” (CN117073804B, June 2024)
“A Power Transformer Oil Pillow Level Meter” (CN117146934B, June 2024)
“A Multi-Point Ultrasonic Level Switch” (CN117824785A, April 2024)
And others such as Doppler ultrasonic level meters and two-wire external-mounted level sensor.
3. 80GHz Radar Technology: Technological Positioning in the High-Frequency Wave in the field of radar level meters, the migration from 26 GHz to 80 GHz high-frequency is a clear direction of industry technological upgrading. Shengke Electronics is one of the early domestic manufacturers to complete the productization of 80 GHz Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar technology. The wavelength of the 80 GHz frequency is only about 3.75 mm, and the beam angle can be narrowed to 3.5° or even smaller. This physical characteristic brings three major technical advantages: Highly concentrated energy, effectively penetrating vapor layers and foam to identify the true liquid level;
Narrow beam that avoids interference reflections from internal structures such as agitators and heating coils;
Stronger signal reflection capability for low dielectric constant media (such as liquefied gas and organic solvents).
The SK-R800 series 80 GHz radar level meters from Shengke Electronics feature fully sealed enclosures at the hardware level, along with anti-corrosion, high-temperature resistance, and explosion-proof certifications, making them suitable for harsh conditions including strong acids and alkalis, high temperature and pressure, and flammable and explosive environments. At the software and interaction level, the company has developed the “Shengke 80G Radar Level Meter Software V1.0.1” (registered in August 2023), which includes Bluetooth wireless debugging. Engineers can complete parameter configuration, echo curve viewing, and interference suppression settings remotely via a mobile APP without opening the cover or wiring, significantly reducing operational risks in high-altitude or confined spaces.In the radar technology system, Shengke Electronics has also accumulated core testing and verification capabilities. Its invention patent for a “Radar Testing Device” (CN111458686B, authorized in November 2022) provides a self-controlled testing platform for radar product consistency and reliability verification.Notably, in 2022, Shengke Electronics invested in the establishment of Anhui Shengke Microelectronics Co., Ltd., which focuses on millimeter-wave radar chip research and development. Extending upstream into the core RF chip segment of the 80 GHz radar industry chain demonstrates its strategic intent to gain deeper control over industry technologies.4. From Laboratory to Field: Verifiable Technical StrengthUltimately, the real test of technological content lies in the industrial field.In terms of product certification, Shengke Electronics'products have passed SIL3 functional safety certification and Ex d II C T6 explosion-proof certification.
