Looking at the major scientific discoveries, it is often because of the invention of new observation methods. Taking the physics Nobel Prize winner as an example, 50% of the work is thanks to the invention of a new instrument or test method. Instrumentation is also an indispensable tool for obtaining, transforming, storing, processing, and revealing material movements. The level of instrumentation and equipment reflects to a large extent the productivity development and modernization level of a country.
First, the development of instrumentation
In the early 1950s, major breakthroughs were made in instrumentation. The emergence of digital technology enabled the introduction of various digital instruments, which improved the precision, resolution, and measurement speed of analog instruments by several orders of magnitude, laying a good foundation for realizing test automation. .
In the mid-1960s, measurement technology made another progress. With the introduction of computers, the functions of the instrument have undergone a qualitative change. From the measurement of individual quantities of electricity to the measurement of characteristic parameters of the entire system, from simple reception and display to control, Analyze, process, calculate, and display output, from measuring with a single instrument to measuring with a measuring system.
In the 1970s, the further penetration of computer technology in instrumentation made electronic instruments outside the traditional time domain and frequency domain, and data domain tests emerged.
In the 80's, because the microprocessor was used in the instrument, the front panel of the instrument began to develop in the direction of the keyboard. In the past, an intuitive rotary dial for adjusting the time base or amplitude, the voltage switch, the sliding switch of the equal range or function, and the like were selected. The disconnect key has disappeared. The main mode of the measurement system is to use the form of a cabinet, all sent to a controller through the IEEE-488 bus. When testing, a rich BASIC language program can be used for high-speed testing. Personal instruments that are different from the traditional independent instrument models have been developed.
In the 1990s, instrumentation and measurement science made further major breakthroughs. The main sign of this progress is the improvement of the degree of intelligence in instrumentation. Outstanding performance in the following areas.
1. Advances in microelectronics technology will have a deeper impact on the design of instrumentation;
2. With the advent of a large number of DSP chips, digital signal processing functions of instrumentation have been greatly enhanced;
3. The development of microcomputers has enabled instrumentation to have stronger data processing capabilities;
4. The increase in image processing capabilities is widespread;
5. VXI bus has been widely used.
Second, the characteristics of the development of foreign instruments
1. Application of new technology
At present, EDA (Electronic Design Automation), CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing), CAT (Computer Aided Testing), DSP (Digital Signal Processing), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and SMT (Surface Mount Technology) are widely used.
2. Product structure change
Focus on performance and price ratio. While attaching importance to the development of high-end equipment, we attach great importance to the development and production of high-tech and large-scale products.
Focusing on system integration, not only focused on stand-alone, but also focusing on systems and product softening. With various types of instruments equipped with CPUs, digitalization has resulted in huge human and financial investment in software. The future instruments are summarized into a simple formula: Instrument = AD/DA + CPU + software, AD chip will change the analog signal into a digital signal, and then use software to process the change and then use the DA output.
3. Product development guidelines have changed
From technology-driven to market-driven, from the blind pursuit of high precision to "just right." The criteria for developing a successful product is that the user has clear requirements; the market can be launched with the shortest development time; the functions and performance are just right; another change in the product development criteria is to shrink the direction and concentrate the advantages.
4. Production techniques focus on professional production, not big and all
The production process uses an automatic test system. At present, many GP-IB instruments are used to build automatic test systems. The production line is a large test cabinet, and the automatic test, statistics, analysis, and printout are quickly performed.
Third, the development trend of foreign instrumentation
1. The trend of automated instrumentation
Industrial automation control instruments mainly include transmitters, regulators, regulating valves and other equipment. Control instruments start from the base-type regulators (transmission, indication, and adjustment integrated instruments) and have experienced pneumatic and electric unit instrument clusters to the computer. Control system (DDC), up to today's distributed control system DCS. DCS has already passed the miles of more than 20 years. DCS is rapidly gaining advantages such as its high reliability, powerful and easy-to-expand functions, beautiful graphical interface, convenient configuration software, rich control algorithms, and open networking capabilities. The development has become the mainstream of computer industry control systems. With its advantages of compact structure, simple function, high speed, high reliability and low price, PLC has rapidly gained wide application and has become another mainstream industrial control system that is in parallel with DCS. At present, DCS based on PLC is developing rapidly. PLC and DCS infiltrate each other, merge with each other, and compete with each other, which has become the current development trend of industrial control systems.
(1) Openness
New and key technologies such as Open Sizing and customer service systems have entered the automation industry, and PC control systems corresponding to DCS have also emerged. The rapid development of PCs and related technologies in recent years will have a major impact on the future. The background of the open trend has the following two aspects:
a. Mass-produced PCs have been widely used as information devices in businesses and homes.
b. The scope of the control system is gradually expanding, users want to select equipment, and can easily connect them to each other for unified management.
(2) Provide new services
a. System Integration (SI) System Integrator
Openness Through the integration of multi-vendor technical equipment, the establishment of a system, which requires efficient operation of the control system integration business, according to the user object, familiar with the various automated instruments in the system, select the best equipment. The future trend is to replace the user-constituting system with a dedicated SI department.
b. System maintenance
With a control system consisting of general-purpose information processing equipment, it is very difficult to determine which equipment is faulty when a fault occurs. The instrument manufacturer must not only provide its own product, but also must provide a certain degree of general information processing equipment in the system. Comprehensive maintenance service.
DCS has experienced several development periods from start-up (1975-1980), maturity (1980-1985), and expansion (after 1985). It has made remarkable achievements in terms of complete control functions, information processing capabilities, speed, and configuration software. Has become the mainstream of computer control systems. Almost every developed country today produces its own DCS. There are more than 100 manufacturers and tens of thousands of units have been sold. Major manufacturers are concentrated in the United States, Japan, Germany and other companies, such as Honeywell, TDC300, TDC3000X, S9000; Foxboro, I/AS; Westing House, WDPF; ABB, MOD300; Yokogawa, Japan (Yokoyawa), CENUM, Îœxl; Hitachi HIACS 3000, 5000; Siemens (Siemens), TelenermM, SIPAOS200; BAILEY, N90, Canada.
At present, there are about 200 PLC manufacturers in the world, which currently account for 30% of the controlled market share. The main manufacturers include American AB, Modicom, GE, Siemens of Germany, Teleme Cangue of France, Omron of Japan and Mitsubishi Electric. PLC will integrate with IPC and DCS, and PLC will gradually become the largest market share of automation equipment and process control system. According to U.S. experts, PLC will account for more than 50% of the control market by the year 2000.
Fieldbus technology is a kind of network communication technology developed rapidly in the 1990s for various field automation equipment and its control system. It is used for various field instruments (including transmitters, actuators, recorders, and single instruments). A data communication system between a loop controller, a programmable controller, a process analyzer, etc.) and a computer-based control system. Some people predict that FCS (Fieidbus Control System) based on fieldbus will replace DCS as the protagonist of the control system, Internet and Intranet technology will also enter the control field, and the computer automation system will infiltrate every aspect of the enterprise from production to management to operation.
(3) The market demand for automation products will grow rapidly
The global sales forecast for the automation product market is as follows: The worldwide sales of process automation products reached US$46.1 billion in 1996, and will grow to US$55.9 billion in half in 2001 and is expected to reach US$70 billion in 2006. The average annual growth rate from 1996 to 2001 is 3.9%, while the average annual growth rate from 2001 to 2006 will reach 4.6%. At constant prices, the 2006 sales will be $76.1 billion. Mainly used in glass, ceramics, steel and non-ferrous metals industry, rolling and aluminum sheet industry, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industry, petrochemical industry, pulp and paper industry, environmental protection, mining, petroleum and natural gas industries.
Of the $46.1 billion in automated products, systems, and maintenance in 1996, $40.6 billion was in automation projects and $5.4 billion in operations. As a new investment in measurement and automation technology, it will increase 2-3 times in modern plant investment. By 2006, the market demand for global process automation products was: $7 billion for the mining industry, $9 billion for the raw materials industry, $36 billion for the process industry, $11 billion for the power station, and $7 billion for the environmental protection industry. In terms of global regions, North America accounted for 27.2%, Western Europe accounted for 26%, Asia and Africa (excluding Japan) accounted for 21.1%, Japan accounted for 12.3%, Eastern Europe accounted for 4.7%, South America accounted for 4.9%, other regions accounted for 3.7%, from which The Asian-African market has the best development prospects.
2. Scientific Instruments
Scientific instruments including optical instruments and analyzers
A. Optical Instruments
Optical instruments are indispensable for observation, testing, analysis, control, recording, transmission, and tools in industrial and agricultural production, resource exploration, space exploration, scientific experiments, national defense construction, and social life. In particular, the function of modern optical instruments has become an extension and extension of human brain function.
40% of the manufacturing equipment used in IC production and 60% of the equipment are optical devices, and the proportion of inspection equipment is even greater. About 90% of the measurement work is a geometric dimension measurement, which is mainly accomplished with optical metrology equipment. It took several hours to measure a cam in the measuring chamber in the past; now it takes only 10 minutes to measure with a computer-controlled CMM at the shop floor. Rolling steel production site conditions are extremely harsh, and the temperature of the tested parts exceeds 1000°C. The movement speed is several meters per second, accompanied by vibration, high temperature, oxide layer splashing, diffused cooling water mist and strong electromagnetic interference, but the use of CCD photoelectric online diameter measuring system in the steel rolling production online size detection, control of the production process, Can guarantee high quality products and production efficiency.
Optical remote sensing instruments help humans solve major problems in energy, food, weather forecasting, and environmental monitoring. There are nearly ten optical remote sensing instruments loaded on the No. 15 Apollo spacecraft. In the 1970s, the United States launched three terrestrial satellites with a cost of 250 million U.S. dollars. However, the obtained economic benefits are much greater. Among them, only remote sensing instruments are used to monitor floods, detect crop pests and diseases, improve oil exploration, and estimate grain production, etc. The economic benefits are estimated to be more than $1.5 billion.
As the photoelectric system has both optical and electronic technical advantages, it can meet the automatic monitoring and image analysis, precision measurement, information processing and Wei-transfusion, microscopic observation, recording, display, transmission and storage in the production process; use of photoelectric conversion It can work normally in various special environments such as space, deep water, high temperature, toxic and harmful gases, and nuclear radiation. Therefore, the use of modern optical instruments or optoelectronic instruments for optical-mechanical-electrical integration is very extensive.
The development trend of modern optical instruments
With the global adjustment of the industrial structure of optical instruments, the major industrial countries have been competing to develop high-tech products, which has transformed traditional optical instruments into modern optical instruments. In order to develop a modern optical instrument industry, the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries vigorously develop and apply various new technologies, new devices, new materials, and new principles, systematically apply integrated optical and electromechanical computing technologies, and develop novel high-level add-ons at the earliest possible speed. Value products are put into the market. Optical instruments will be developed in the direction of high-tech industrialization, high value-added and intelligent products, corporate grouping and internationalization, and flexible manufacturing technology.
The characteristics of modern optical instruments
(1) Modern optical instruments have broken the shackles of traditional presentism (based on geometrical optics or physical optics), and optical technology has continuously melted and infiltrated with other disciplines and technologies, resulting in new branches of disciplines and forming many areas of cross-development. Break the long-term traditional application of optics. For example, various Fourier transform spectrometers based on the principle of Fourier transform; laser photoacoustic spectrometers based on photoacoustic effect; use of lasers to develop new measurement principles and methods, enabling numerous laser metrology and detection instruments, laser technology and The combination of traditional microscopes has led to the development of a series of laser scanning microscopes; a large number of novel optoelectronic instruments have been produced using photoelectric conversion principles. Many new technologies such as laser, infrared, fiber optics, optical information processing, micro-optics, etc. have been developed and applied.
(2) The basic framework of optics and mechanics was broken in the structure, integrating optics, mechanics, electronics, and computers. Electronic technology, computers, and its software became an integral part of the instrument.
(3) The classical model of manipulating and observing human beings can not be separated from the traditional optical instruments. The automation, operation, detection, data processing and information transfer are realized. The work efficiency, diploma and reliability are unmatched by traditional optical instruments.
(4) Computer-aided design, optimization design, and "three-in-one" design are increasingly used in design methods. The components of the entire series are highly versatile, have a high degree of standardization, and have many standard parts, thus reducing the cost of the instrument and improving the quality.
(5) The quality evaluation standards for modern optical instruments are more comprehensive and more rigorous. In the past, the evaluation of the quality of traditional optical instruments focused primarily on functional indicators, namely, the range of use, accuracy, sensitivity, repeatability, stability, and structural characteristics of the instrument. Today, we objectively evaluate eight aspects of modern optical instruments: quality indicators, reliability, technology, economy, ergonomics, aesthetics, standardization, and patent rights.
development trend
The key to transforming modern optical instruments from traditional optical instruments lies in computerization, and microelectronics technology is the foundation. Spectrometer instruments have developed rapidly. In the 1980s, developed countries have realized micro-computerization, and now they have developed integrated technologies, full automation (such as built-in robots and other robotic systems to realize unmanned operation), and automated and intelligentized laboratory information management systems. The optical metrology equipments have been computerized and photoelectricized from large-scale precision instruments - coordinate measuring machines to traditional autocollimators and projectors; the combination of laser technology and the introduction of CCD and other optoelectronic devices have become faster and more accurate. Reliable online detection and monitoring create the conditions.
In the next 10 years, due to the development and application of high technology, optical instruments will be further promoted to realize the integration and intelligence of optical, electrical and mechanical calculations. Today's smart instruments should be more accurately called "microcomputerized" instruments. The higher level of intelligence is the highest level of information technology. It should include a series of functions such as understanding, reasoning, judgment and analysis. It is the result of comprehensive analysis of numerical values, logic, and knowledge. The sign of intelligence is the expression and application of knowledge. The continuous development of electronic technology, computer technology, and optoelectronic devices and the improvement of functions have created conditions for the development of the instrument to higher-grade intelligence.
In the next 10 years, the penetration of light and electricity will be further strengthened, and more new technologies and new devices will be promoted and applied. Therefore, based on the integration of optical and electromechanical calculations, different principles will be embedded and new products will be derived to meet various fields. Growing demand. The opening and application of photovoltaic devices and functional materials with excellent performance will accelerate the development of modern optical instruments. Manufacturing technologies such as CCD devices, semiconductor lasers, and optical fiber sensors tend to be mature, and practical applications have achieved breakthroughs, showing a wide range of application prospects. It is bound to make important changes in the field of optical instruments, and promote the development of products to miniaturization, high resolution, photoelectricity and automation.
Optical measuring instruments
· Future optical metrology instrumentation must simplify design, compress a large number of components, improve intelligence and ease of operation, and develop online measurement instrumentation
·Using new physics effects and high-tech and their achievements to develop new types of metering instrumentation and new types of new sensor technologies with high sensitivity, high stability, and strong anti-interference capabilities such as:
——Utilize high-temperature superconducting quantum interference device (SGUID) to develop metrological test instruments, physics test instruments, geoscience and geology instruments, chemical analysis instruments, and medical instruments to help non-destructive materials test instruments.
-- It is well-known that ellipsometry is used to detect optical fibers, optical glasses, etc. However, combined with near-field optics, it can not only measure the surface fine structure, but also can distinguish the material of the measured object according to the near-field optical reflection polarization information. This is a new exploration of experimental research.
——The technology of tunable constant-frequency laser spectrometer is used for the measurement of high-precision geometric quantities and mechanical quantities and various non-formal quantities, such as: high-precision refractive index measurement, measurement of light wave front, ultrathin layer thickness The measurement and so on.
Develop a new generation of miniature fiber-optic transmission laser interferometers that can measure from nanometers to a few meters or more. Resolution up to 10nm. And overcome the shortcomings of the HP laser interferometer, but it has all the features of the HP laser interferometer. In addition, it can also be used for weighing, development of new electronic balances, high-precision electronic belts, high-resolution pressure gauges.
-- Develop nanometer measurement technology and establish nanometric measurement standards. This is a very active topic in the measurement and measurement technology research.
· Develop measurement robots. Similar measuring instruments have appeared. This is the Zeiss Scan Max coordinate measuring machine.
——The operation is very convenient. The worker can use it after learning 5-10 minutes.
——Can be used in the workshop to automatically correct outside interference that affects the measurement accuracy;
——The current measurement accuracy is 3-5μm.
It is the use of intelligent robot technology, but it is a very complicated theoretical and technical problem to ensure the correctness of measurement values. There has been a preliminary solution.
· The development and progress of environmental protection scientific instrumentation will be the key research areas in the present and the 21st century. The detection of environmental protection scientific instrumentation and related instrumentation and metering related to this are still lacking.
· Scientific instruments and meters used for production safety and protection also need to be developed and developed vigorously. It will become a new branch of the instrumentation industry.
B. Analytical Instruments
Analytical instruments are high-tech products that integrate optical, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, and other multidisciplinary technologies. They are promoted by the development of computer technology, microelectronic technology, modern digital methods, information processing theory, digital image technology, and artificial intelligence technology. Underlying instrumentation Instrumentation The development of intelligence in the direction of intelligentization includes a series of functions such as understanding, reasoning, judgment, and analysis. It is the result of a comprehensive analysis of numerical values, logic, and knowledge. “Intelligent†is the expression and application of knowledge.
The main manifestations of the intelligent development trend of analytical instruments are:
The automation of analytical instruments is realized based on the application of microelectronic technology and computer technology. Data acquisition, calculation, statistics, analysis and processing are performed by computer controllers and digital models to improve the analytical instrument data processing capabilities. The digital image processing system realizes the analysis instrument digital images. The development of processing functions; the combination of analytical instruments and the widespread use of artificial intelligence. These have led to ultra-high speeds in modern analytical testing, ultra-miniaturization of analytical specimens, and the development trend of ultra-miniaturization of analytical instruments.
World Analytical Instrument Business Continued to Develop Rapidly
Can be viewed from two perspectives:
From the perspective of technological development, the world's analytical instrumentation technology at the turn of the century can be said to be undergoing a revolutionary change. The traditional optical, thermal, electrochemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic analysis technologies have all come from the classic chemical precision mechanical electronics. The structure of the laboratory and the application of manual operation modes in laboratories are converted into light, machine, electricity, and computer (computer) integration and automation structures, and the development of intelligent systems is being renamed as true (self-diagnosis self-control, self-adjustment, self-determination Decision-making contour intelligent functions, a comprehensive analysis management system (LIMS) that can be combined with multiple instruments and multiple laboratories has been promoted and applied: the instrument computer has a built-in modem so that it can be accessed online, and the manufacturer can be used with global users. Real-time information exchange between users or users (for example, the manufacturer conducts remote diagnosis, guides the correct use, or provides maintenance instructions for the instruments the user is using, and users of similar instruments or users of the same analysis work directly exchange data, share information, etc.). It is not the direction of research and development. Proposed application has also just around the corner.
From the perspective of the sales growth of the world's analytical instruments, the rapid growth of global demand in the areas of agriculture, energy, information, environment, materials, biology, and medicine stimulated the growth of the world's analytical instruments, coupled with the upgrading of analytical instruments driven by the development of analytical instrument technology. The annual growth rate of the world's analytical instrument market, which has been continuously shortened and maintained for many years, is about 10% or even higher. This shows that the analytical instrument industry is not a “sunset industry†but can constantly update and maintain its vitality.
The world’s analytical instrument technology is rapidly updated and its high-tech content is growing rapidly.
In order to adapt to the rapid development of modern high-tech research and industry, as the source technology of information acquisition-processing-transmission chain in the information age, the development of analytical instrument technology is inevitable. Without new analytical methods, analytical techniques and corresponding new analytical instruments, it is impossible to obtain higher-level, more comprehensive, more sensitive, more reliable, and more convenient access to comprehensive analysis and detection information in research, production, social, environmental, and other fields. 21 The information age of the century cannot be discussed. This is a feature of the new situation that we face during the turn of the century. It is also the reason why new technologies, new components, and new products of analytical instruments will continue to emerge, and the high-tech content will increase. From another perspective, it is also the result of the development of the world's science and technology, industry, and the development of the human society. It is the result of the development of analytical instrument technology to adapt to the development of the big situation.
Increasing use of analytical and analytical instruments
In the early years of the 20th century, classic analytical techniques and analytical instruments were mainly used for modern industrial production. They were mainly developed to meet the needs of analysis, monitoring of industrial and agricultural production, guaranteeing product quality, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of large production processes. At the turn of the century, the "useful place" of analytical techniques and analytical instruments has been greatly expanded. The most striking is the rapid application of modern high-tech in the fields of biology, environmental protection, medicine, and other related people's survival and development. The development has also promoted the application of analytical techniques and analytical instruments (eg, high-speed, sensitive and accurate on-site poison detection in biological weapons and chemical weapons warfare, and life support tasks have also greatly expanded the application fields of analytical instruments).
It can be affirmed that after the arrival of the new century, the application of analytical techniques and analytical instruments will be more pronounced from the "material" to "human" trend. We must look to this development trend and position and choose the direction in the development of analytical instrumentation.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the annual increase in sales of the world's analytical instrument market was 8-10%. In 2000, the world market will reach 30 billion U.S. dollars, the largest market for the world's analytical instruments is the United States, which accounts for about 40% of total sales, followed by Europe with about 27%, and the third with Japan, accounting for about 20%. China imports analytical instruments. Only 1.4% of world sales.
Scientific Instrument World Market
Scientific Instruments As the world economy grows, market demand is expected to grow at a rate of 3-6% annually. The industry sectors with the greatest demand potential are: communications, power, information, biology, biotechnology, medicine, and environmental protection. The countries and regions with the best market prospects are East Asia and Mexico.
The market size of global scientific instruments is approximately US$20 billion, and the major markets are industrial developed countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Britain, and Italy. The main producing and exporting countries are the United States, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Japan and Italy. In recent years, the demand for scientific instruments in some developing countries has grown rapidly. These countries (regions) include Chile, Czech Republic, Honduras, India, Taiwan Province, Ecuador, and Egypt. Their imports of scientific instruments are averaging 15-30% annually. The speed of growth.
Due to the continuous opening of the Latin American market, domestic industries are facing a lot of competition in imported products. The opening of the market led to the reduction of the import tariff rates for scientific instruments and the relaxation of foreign exchange control. For example, Costa Rica not only slowed down tariffs, made it possible for importers to provide foreign exchange in a timely manner, but also allowed importers to obtain foreign exchange from any local bank without the approval of the central bank. The competition of local products has forced local companies to strengthen quality management, improve product quality, and increase the import of various testing instruments used in quality management. Most countries in Latin America do not have the capacity to produce scientific instruments. Although a few countries, such as Brazil, have certain manufacturing capabilities, they cannot supply sophisticated high-level instruments. Some countries that have carried out economic reforms, especially the acceleration of privatization of enterprises, such as Mexican companies, have paid more attention to research and development projects in Vietnam in order to increase their competitiveness, which is conducive to the growth of demand for various physical and chemical analytical instruments for scientific research. In addition, environmental protection has also received more attention from the government, and the demand for gas analysis instruments is increasing. The United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan are the main suppliers of scientific equipment in Latin America, and Brazil has a market because of its geographical advantages. The market requires that the product price is reasonable, excellent quality, timely delivery and strong durability.
The eye-catching markets in Eastern Europe are the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. With public health care cancelled and large-scale environmental protection projects planned, the Czech Republic has a strong demand for instrumentation. Poland is the largest instrument market in Eastern Europe, with limited domestic production, small import barriers, and exemption of tariffs on equipment used for scientific research. The Hungarian medical system is also changing, but it is bound by the budget to purchase. The main demand sectors in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries are also research and educational institutions, which have limited purchasing power. Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine are proficient in the production of various analytical and measuring instruments, but they are inferior to Western countries in the production of automatic control instruments, edge equipment and software.
In Africa, Egypt and Morocco are important instrumentation markets. According to Egypt's five-year plan from 1992 to 1997, the government allocated 400 million U.S. dollars to transform the equipment of scientific research institutions. Due to the small national production, almost all of them rely on imports, among which imported products include chemical analysis instruments, optical instruments, and inspections. instrument. In addition, Nigeria is also very eye-catching. There is little demand for scientific instruments in this country, but the national standards for food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics are very strict, forcing companies to purchase testing instruments in large quantities.
In East Asia, Asia’s “four smallâ€, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Thailand have a strong demand for instrumentation. Asia’s “four small†faces the upgrading of industrial structure and attaches great importance to scientific research and development. The Singapore government has special financial support for the research and development of industrial enterprises. Hong Kong has also increased investment in scientific research and development for the transition of industries. Taiwan provincial authorities not only increased financial expenditures for basic research and development, but also granted tax concessions for private enterprise research and development. These countries and regions have great demand for high value-added chemical analysis instruments, physical analysis instruments, and electronic measurement instruments. India's instrumentation market has continued to rise, due to the government's emphasis on improving efficiency and competitiveness, coupled with energy, electricity, steel, fertilizer, textile, paper, petroleum, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food processing and other departments The investment plan, and as Indian manufacturers and exporters increasingly implement the ISO9000 series quality standard certification system, the expenditure on the acquisition of instrumentation is increasing. There are also a large number of research institutes and universities in India engaged in high-tech research and quality control, these departments are also pushing up the demand for high-tech scientific experimental equipment.
Thailand is the country with the highest expenditure on health and epidemic prevention in Southeast Asian countries. The demand for spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs is rapidly expanding. Japan’s products occupy the top spot in this market. Indonesia is improving the competitiveness of its products globally. There are strict standards in quality control and advanced experimental experiments with quality control are needed. Malaysia has increasingly emphasized the strengthening of research and development in various industries, and sales of scientific experimental equipment are increasing. The chemical industry in the Philippines is the largest demand, followed by the metallurgical industry, and the demand for chemical analysis instruments is also growing.
3. Electric meters, power meters
The opening up of electric utilities in Western markets and emerging Asian markets will rejuvenate the electric meter market for a century. With the development of chip technology, the old-fashioned electromechanical meters are gradually being converted into new types of chip-type electricity. The replacement of the table also created opportunities for semiconductor chips to enter the electricity metering of every household in the world.
Digital chip power meter manufacturers, Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices all believe that the opening of the US and European power markets will drive the transition from electromechanical to electronic power meters.
According to Cirrus Logic's forecast, the opening up of the electricity market and the expansion of customer service business have promoted the continuous growth of the market demand for electronic power meters.
In the open market in the future, electronic power meters will record more extensive power consumption information than their single-generation products. In addition to recording the accumulated electricity consumption figures, this new type of electricity meter can also determine the user's high and low peak electricity consumption time, prevent users from providing electricity quality control to limit the loss of electricity meters, and limit the information of power loss in the grid. Uncertain electricity bills can play an important role. At the same time, it also has a remote monitoring function, which enables remote monitoring and meter reading through a wireless network or a modem, eliminating the tedious work of the meter reading engineer.
Statistics from electric meter suppliers such as General Electric, Siemens, ABB, and Schleng are showing that the annual output of civil utility meters is close to 70 million units. Cirrus Logic expects the sales of electricity meters in Europe will reach 4 million units in 1999, and Japan and the United States will each sell 3 million units, while China's sales will be close to 35 million units. Although within 5 years from now, the proportion will increase to 33%, this is only in the market growth of electricity meters, and the total electricity meter market growth should also include higher costs for industrial applications, intelligence Vending machines and electronic systems for remote diagnostic equipment, as well as the sales of electronic power meters for many new products that are not expected.
At present, the opening of the U.S. electricity market is not as fast as forecasted by industrial analysts, and many manufacturers of electronic power meters have ethically entered the Asian market. In developing countries, electronic power meters have almost become replacement products. For the first time, China is preparing to use this technology for civilian power meters. Chip makers predict that China will leap over the old-fashioned meter and introduce low-cost electronic energy meters directly. By the year 2000, China's electronic power meter sales will reach 20 million units, which is even more optimistic than Cirrus Logic's forecast.
First, the development of instrumentation
In the early 1950s, major breakthroughs were made in instrumentation. The emergence of digital technology enabled the introduction of various digital instruments, which improved the precision, resolution, and measurement speed of analog instruments by several orders of magnitude, laying a good foundation for realizing test automation. .
In the mid-1960s, measurement technology made another progress. With the introduction of computers, the functions of the instrument have undergone a qualitative change. From the measurement of individual quantities of electricity to the measurement of characteristic parameters of the entire system, from simple reception and display to control, Analyze, process, calculate, and display output, from measuring with a single instrument to measuring with a measuring system.
In the 1970s, the further penetration of computer technology in instrumentation made electronic instruments outside the traditional time domain and frequency domain, and data domain tests emerged.
In the 80's, because the microprocessor was used in the instrument, the front panel of the instrument began to develop in the direction of the keyboard. In the past, an intuitive rotary dial for adjusting the time base or amplitude, the voltage switch, the sliding switch of the equal range or function, and the like were selected. The disconnect key has disappeared. The main mode of the measurement system is to use the form of a cabinet, all sent to a controller through the IEEE-488 bus. When testing, a rich BASIC language program can be used for high-speed testing. Personal instruments that are different from the traditional independent instrument models have been developed.
In the 1990s, instrumentation and measurement science made further major breakthroughs. The main sign of this progress is the improvement of the degree of intelligence in instrumentation. Outstanding performance in the following areas.
1. Advances in microelectronics technology will have a deeper impact on the design of instrumentation;
2. With the advent of a large number of DSP chips, digital signal processing functions of instrumentation have been greatly enhanced;
3. The development of microcomputers has enabled instrumentation to have stronger data processing capabilities;
4. The increase in image processing capabilities is widespread;
5. VXI bus has been widely used.
Second, the characteristics of the development of foreign instruments
1. Application of new technology
At present, EDA (Electronic Design Automation), CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing), CAT (Computer Aided Testing), DSP (Digital Signal Processing), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and SMT (Surface Mount Technology) are widely used.
2. Product structure change
Focus on performance and price ratio. While attaching importance to the development of high-end equipment, we attach great importance to the development and production of high-tech and large-scale products.
Focusing on system integration, not only focused on stand-alone, but also focusing on systems and product softening. With various types of instruments equipped with CPUs, digitalization has resulted in huge human and financial investment in software. The future instruments are summarized into a simple formula: Instrument = AD/DA + CPU + software, AD chip will change the analog signal into a digital signal, and then use software to process the change and then use the DA output.
3. Product development guidelines have changed
From technology-driven to market-driven, from the blind pursuit of high precision to "just right." The criteria for developing a successful product is that the user has clear requirements; the market can be launched with the shortest development time; the functions and performance are just right; another change in the product development criteria is to shrink the direction and concentrate the advantages.
4. Production techniques focus on professional production, not big and all
The production process uses an automatic test system. At present, many GP-IB instruments are used to build automatic test systems. The production line is a large test cabinet, and the automatic test, statistics, analysis, and printout are quickly performed.
Third, the development trend of foreign instrumentation
1. The trend of automated instrumentation
Industrial automation control instruments mainly include transmitters, regulators, regulating valves and other equipment. Control instruments start from the base-type regulators (transmission, indication, and adjustment integrated instruments) and have experienced pneumatic and electric unit instrument clusters to the computer. Control system (DDC), up to today's distributed control system DCS. DCS has already passed the miles of more than 20 years. DCS is rapidly gaining advantages such as its high reliability, powerful and easy-to-expand functions, beautiful graphical interface, convenient configuration software, rich control algorithms, and open networking capabilities. The development has become the mainstream of computer industry control systems. With its advantages of compact structure, simple function, high speed, high reliability and low price, PLC has rapidly gained wide application and has become another mainstream industrial control system that is in parallel with DCS. At present, DCS based on PLC is developing rapidly. PLC and DCS infiltrate each other, merge with each other, and compete with each other, which has become the current development trend of industrial control systems.
(1) Openness
New and key technologies such as Open Sizing and customer service systems have entered the automation industry, and PC control systems corresponding to DCS have also emerged. The rapid development of PCs and related technologies in recent years will have a major impact on the future. The background of the open trend has the following two aspects:
a. Mass-produced PCs have been widely used as information devices in businesses and homes.
b. The scope of the control system is gradually expanding, users want to select equipment, and can easily connect them to each other for unified management.
(2) Provide new services
a. System Integration (SI) System Integrator
Openness Through the integration of multi-vendor technical equipment, the establishment of a system, which requires efficient operation of the control system integration business, according to the user object, familiar with the various automated instruments in the system, select the best equipment. The future trend is to replace the user-constituting system with a dedicated SI department.
b. System maintenance
With a control system consisting of general-purpose information processing equipment, it is very difficult to determine which equipment is faulty when a fault occurs. The instrument manufacturer must not only provide its own product, but also must provide a certain degree of general information processing equipment in the system. Comprehensive maintenance service.
DCS has experienced several development periods from start-up (1975-1980), maturity (1980-1985), and expansion (after 1985). It has made remarkable achievements in terms of complete control functions, information processing capabilities, speed, and configuration software. Has become the mainstream of computer control systems. Almost every developed country today produces its own DCS. There are more than 100 manufacturers and tens of thousands of units have been sold. Major manufacturers are concentrated in the United States, Japan, Germany and other companies, such as Honeywell, TDC300, TDC3000X, S9000; Foxboro, I/AS; Westing House, WDPF; ABB, MOD300; Yokogawa, Japan (Yokoyawa), CENUM, Îœxl; Hitachi HIACS 3000, 5000; Siemens (Siemens), TelenermM, SIPAOS200; BAILEY, N90, Canada.
At present, there are about 200 PLC manufacturers in the world, which currently account for 30% of the controlled market share. The main manufacturers include American AB, Modicom, GE, Siemens of Germany, Teleme Cangue of France, Omron of Japan and Mitsubishi Electric. PLC will integrate with IPC and DCS, and PLC will gradually become the largest market share of automation equipment and process control system. According to U.S. experts, PLC will account for more than 50% of the control market by the year 2000.
Fieldbus technology is a kind of network communication technology developed rapidly in the 1990s for various field automation equipment and its control system. It is used for various field instruments (including transmitters, actuators, recorders, and single instruments). A data communication system between a loop controller, a programmable controller, a process analyzer, etc.) and a computer-based control system. Some people predict that FCS (Fieidbus Control System) based on fieldbus will replace DCS as the protagonist of the control system, Internet and Intranet technology will also enter the control field, and the computer automation system will infiltrate every aspect of the enterprise from production to management to operation.
(3) The market demand for automation products will grow rapidly
The global sales forecast for the automation product market is as follows: The worldwide sales of process automation products reached US$46.1 billion in 1996, and will grow to US$55.9 billion in half in 2001 and is expected to reach US$70 billion in 2006. The average annual growth rate from 1996 to 2001 is 3.9%, while the average annual growth rate from 2001 to 2006 will reach 4.6%. At constant prices, the 2006 sales will be $76.1 billion. Mainly used in glass, ceramics, steel and non-ferrous metals industry, rolling and aluminum sheet industry, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industry, petrochemical industry, pulp and paper industry, environmental protection, mining, petroleum and natural gas industries.
Of the $46.1 billion in automated products, systems, and maintenance in 1996, $40.6 billion was in automation projects and $5.4 billion in operations. As a new investment in measurement and automation technology, it will increase 2-3 times in modern plant investment. By 2006, the market demand for global process automation products was: $7 billion for the mining industry, $9 billion for the raw materials industry, $36 billion for the process industry, $11 billion for the power station, and $7 billion for the environmental protection industry. In terms of global regions, North America accounted for 27.2%, Western Europe accounted for 26%, Asia and Africa (excluding Japan) accounted for 21.1%, Japan accounted for 12.3%, Eastern Europe accounted for 4.7%, South America accounted for 4.9%, other regions accounted for 3.7%, from which The Asian-African market has the best development prospects.
2. Scientific Instruments
Scientific instruments including optical instruments and analyzers
A. Optical Instruments
Optical instruments are indispensable for observation, testing, analysis, control, recording, transmission, and tools in industrial and agricultural production, resource exploration, space exploration, scientific experiments, national defense construction, and social life. In particular, the function of modern optical instruments has become an extension and extension of human brain function.
40% of the manufacturing equipment used in IC production and 60% of the equipment are optical devices, and the proportion of inspection equipment is even greater. About 90% of the measurement work is a geometric dimension measurement, which is mainly accomplished with optical metrology equipment. It took several hours to measure a cam in the measuring chamber in the past; now it takes only 10 minutes to measure with a computer-controlled CMM at the shop floor. Rolling steel production site conditions are extremely harsh, and the temperature of the tested parts exceeds 1000°C. The movement speed is several meters per second, accompanied by vibration, high temperature, oxide layer splashing, diffused cooling water mist and strong electromagnetic interference, but the use of CCD photoelectric online diameter measuring system in the steel rolling production online size detection, control of the production process, Can guarantee high quality products and production efficiency.
Optical remote sensing instruments help humans solve major problems in energy, food, weather forecasting, and environmental monitoring. There are nearly ten optical remote sensing instruments loaded on the No. 15 Apollo spacecraft. In the 1970s, the United States launched three terrestrial satellites with a cost of 250 million U.S. dollars. However, the obtained economic benefits are much greater. Among them, only remote sensing instruments are used to monitor floods, detect crop pests and diseases, improve oil exploration, and estimate grain production, etc. The economic benefits are estimated to be more than $1.5 billion.
As the photoelectric system has both optical and electronic technical advantages, it can meet the automatic monitoring and image analysis, precision measurement, information processing and Wei-transfusion, microscopic observation, recording, display, transmission and storage in the production process; use of photoelectric conversion It can work normally in various special environments such as space, deep water, high temperature, toxic and harmful gases, and nuclear radiation. Therefore, the use of modern optical instruments or optoelectronic instruments for optical-mechanical-electrical integration is very extensive.
The development trend of modern optical instruments
With the global adjustment of the industrial structure of optical instruments, the major industrial countries have been competing to develop high-tech products, which has transformed traditional optical instruments into modern optical instruments. In order to develop a modern optical instrument industry, the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries vigorously develop and apply various new technologies, new devices, new materials, and new principles, systematically apply integrated optical and electromechanical computing technologies, and develop novel high-level add-ons at the earliest possible speed. Value products are put into the market. Optical instruments will be developed in the direction of high-tech industrialization, high value-added and intelligent products, corporate grouping and internationalization, and flexible manufacturing technology.
The characteristics of modern optical instruments
(1) Modern optical instruments have broken the shackles of traditional presentism (based on geometrical optics or physical optics), and optical technology has continuously melted and infiltrated with other disciplines and technologies, resulting in new branches of disciplines and forming many areas of cross-development. Break the long-term traditional application of optics. For example, various Fourier transform spectrometers based on the principle of Fourier transform; laser photoacoustic spectrometers based on photoacoustic effect; use of lasers to develop new measurement principles and methods, enabling numerous laser metrology and detection instruments, laser technology and The combination of traditional microscopes has led to the development of a series of laser scanning microscopes; a large number of novel optoelectronic instruments have been produced using photoelectric conversion principles. Many new technologies such as laser, infrared, fiber optics, optical information processing, micro-optics, etc. have been developed and applied.
(2) The basic framework of optics and mechanics was broken in the structure, integrating optics, mechanics, electronics, and computers. Electronic technology, computers, and its software became an integral part of the instrument.
(3) The classical model of manipulating and observing human beings can not be separated from the traditional optical instruments. The automation, operation, detection, data processing and information transfer are realized. The work efficiency, diploma and reliability are unmatched by traditional optical instruments.
(4) Computer-aided design, optimization design, and "three-in-one" design are increasingly used in design methods. The components of the entire series are highly versatile, have a high degree of standardization, and have many standard parts, thus reducing the cost of the instrument and improving the quality.
(5) The quality evaluation standards for modern optical instruments are more comprehensive and more rigorous. In the past, the evaluation of the quality of traditional optical instruments focused primarily on functional indicators, namely, the range of use, accuracy, sensitivity, repeatability, stability, and structural characteristics of the instrument. Today, we objectively evaluate eight aspects of modern optical instruments: quality indicators, reliability, technology, economy, ergonomics, aesthetics, standardization, and patent rights.
development trend
The key to transforming modern optical instruments from traditional optical instruments lies in computerization, and microelectronics technology is the foundation. Spectrometer instruments have developed rapidly. In the 1980s, developed countries have realized micro-computerization, and now they have developed integrated technologies, full automation (such as built-in robots and other robotic systems to realize unmanned operation), and automated and intelligentized laboratory information management systems. The optical metrology equipments have been computerized and photoelectricized from large-scale precision instruments - coordinate measuring machines to traditional autocollimators and projectors; the combination of laser technology and the introduction of CCD and other optoelectronic devices have become faster and more accurate. Reliable online detection and monitoring create the conditions.
In the next 10 years, due to the development and application of high technology, optical instruments will be further promoted to realize the integration and intelligence of optical, electrical and mechanical calculations. Today's smart instruments should be more accurately called "microcomputerized" instruments. The higher level of intelligence is the highest level of information technology. It should include a series of functions such as understanding, reasoning, judgment and analysis. It is the result of comprehensive analysis of numerical values, logic, and knowledge. The sign of intelligence is the expression and application of knowledge. The continuous development of electronic technology, computer technology, and optoelectronic devices and the improvement of functions have created conditions for the development of the instrument to higher-grade intelligence.
In the next 10 years, the penetration of light and electricity will be further strengthened, and more new technologies and new devices will be promoted and applied. Therefore, based on the integration of optical and electromechanical calculations, different principles will be embedded and new products will be derived to meet various fields. Growing demand. The opening and application of photovoltaic devices and functional materials with excellent performance will accelerate the development of modern optical instruments. Manufacturing technologies such as CCD devices, semiconductor lasers, and optical fiber sensors tend to be mature, and practical applications have achieved breakthroughs, showing a wide range of application prospects. It is bound to make important changes in the field of optical instruments, and promote the development of products to miniaturization, high resolution, photoelectricity and automation.
Optical measuring instruments
· Future optical metrology instrumentation must simplify design, compress a large number of components, improve intelligence and ease of operation, and develop online measurement instrumentation
·Using new physics effects and high-tech and their achievements to develop new types of metering instrumentation and new types of new sensor technologies with high sensitivity, high stability, and strong anti-interference capabilities such as:
——Utilize high-temperature superconducting quantum interference device (SGUID) to develop metrological test instruments, physics test instruments, geoscience and geology instruments, chemical analysis instruments, and medical instruments to help non-destructive materials test instruments.
-- It is well-known that ellipsometry is used to detect optical fibers, optical glasses, etc. However, combined with near-field optics, it can not only measure the surface fine structure, but also can distinguish the material of the measured object according to the near-field optical reflection polarization information. This is a new exploration of experimental research.
——The technology of tunable constant-frequency laser spectrometer is used for the measurement of high-precision geometric quantities and mechanical quantities and various non-formal quantities, such as: high-precision refractive index measurement, measurement of light wave front, ultrathin layer thickness The measurement and so on.
Develop a new generation of miniature fiber-optic transmission laser interferometers that can measure from nanometers to a few meters or more. Resolution up to 10nm. And overcome the shortcomings of the HP laser interferometer, but it has all the features of the HP laser interferometer. In addition, it can also be used for weighing, development of new electronic balances, high-precision electronic belts, high-resolution pressure gauges.
-- Develop nanometer measurement technology and establish nanometric measurement standards. This is a very active topic in the measurement and measurement technology research.
· Develop measurement robots. Similar measuring instruments have appeared. This is the Zeiss Scan Max coordinate measuring machine.
——The operation is very convenient. The worker can use it after learning 5-10 minutes.
——Can be used in the workshop to automatically correct outside interference that affects the measurement accuracy;
——The current measurement accuracy is 3-5μm.
It is the use of intelligent robot technology, but it is a very complicated theoretical and technical problem to ensure the correctness of measurement values. There has been a preliminary solution.
· The development and progress of environmental protection scientific instrumentation will be the key research areas in the present and the 21st century. The detection of environmental protection scientific instrumentation and related instrumentation and metering related to this are still lacking.
· Scientific instruments and meters used for production safety and protection also need to be developed and developed vigorously. It will become a new branch of the instrumentation industry.
B. Analytical Instruments
Analytical instruments are high-tech products that integrate optical, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, and other multidisciplinary technologies. They are promoted by the development of computer technology, microelectronic technology, modern digital methods, information processing theory, digital image technology, and artificial intelligence technology. Underlying instrumentation Instrumentation The development of intelligence in the direction of intelligentization includes a series of functions such as understanding, reasoning, judgment, and analysis. It is the result of a comprehensive analysis of numerical values, logic, and knowledge. “Intelligent†is the expression and application of knowledge.
The main manifestations of the intelligent development trend of analytical instruments are:
The automation of analytical instruments is realized based on the application of microelectronic technology and computer technology. Data acquisition, calculation, statistics, analysis and processing are performed by computer controllers and digital models to improve the analytical instrument data processing capabilities. The digital image processing system realizes the analysis instrument digital images. The development of processing functions; the combination of analytical instruments and the widespread use of artificial intelligence. These have led to ultra-high speeds in modern analytical testing, ultra-miniaturization of analytical specimens, and the development trend of ultra-miniaturization of analytical instruments.
World Analytical Instrument Business Continued to Develop Rapidly
Can be viewed from two perspectives:
From the perspective of technological development, the world's analytical instrumentation technology at the turn of the century can be said to be undergoing a revolutionary change. The traditional optical, thermal, electrochemical, chromatographic, and spectroscopic analysis technologies have all come from the classic chemical precision mechanical electronics. The structure of the laboratory and the application of manual operation modes in laboratories are converted into light, machine, electricity, and computer (computer) integration and automation structures, and the development of intelligent systems is being renamed as true (self-diagnosis self-control, self-adjustment, self-determination Decision-making contour intelligent functions, a comprehensive analysis management system (LIMS) that can be combined with multiple instruments and multiple laboratories has been promoted and applied: the instrument computer has a built-in modem so that it can be accessed online, and the manufacturer can be used with global users. Real-time information exchange between users or users (for example, the manufacturer conducts remote diagnosis, guides the correct use, or provides maintenance instructions for the instruments the user is using, and users of similar instruments or users of the same analysis work directly exchange data, share information, etc.). It is not the direction of research and development. Proposed application has also just around the corner.
From the perspective of the sales growth of the world's analytical instruments, the rapid growth of global demand in the areas of agriculture, energy, information, environment, materials, biology, and medicine stimulated the growth of the world's analytical instruments, coupled with the upgrading of analytical instruments driven by the development of analytical instrument technology. The annual growth rate of the world's analytical instrument market, which has been continuously shortened and maintained for many years, is about 10% or even higher. This shows that the analytical instrument industry is not a “sunset industry†but can constantly update and maintain its vitality.
The world’s analytical instrument technology is rapidly updated and its high-tech content is growing rapidly.
In order to adapt to the rapid development of modern high-tech research and industry, as the source technology of information acquisition-processing-transmission chain in the information age, the development of analytical instrument technology is inevitable. Without new analytical methods, analytical techniques and corresponding new analytical instruments, it is impossible to obtain higher-level, more comprehensive, more sensitive, more reliable, and more convenient access to comprehensive analysis and detection information in research, production, social, environmental, and other fields. 21 The information age of the century cannot be discussed. This is a feature of the new situation that we face during the turn of the century. It is also the reason why new technologies, new components, and new products of analytical instruments will continue to emerge, and the high-tech content will increase. From another perspective, it is also the result of the development of the world's science and technology, industry, and the development of the human society. It is the result of the development of analytical instrument technology to adapt to the development of the big situation.
Increasing use of analytical and analytical instruments
In the early years of the 20th century, classic analytical techniques and analytical instruments were mainly used for modern industrial production. They were mainly developed to meet the needs of analysis, monitoring of industrial and agricultural production, guaranteeing product quality, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of large production processes. At the turn of the century, the "useful place" of analytical techniques and analytical instruments has been greatly expanded. The most striking is the rapid application of modern high-tech in the fields of biology, environmental protection, medicine, and other related people's survival and development. The development has also promoted the application of analytical techniques and analytical instruments (eg, high-speed, sensitive and accurate on-site poison detection in biological weapons and chemical weapons warfare, and life support tasks have also greatly expanded the application fields of analytical instruments).
It can be affirmed that after the arrival of the new century, the application of analytical techniques and analytical instruments will be more pronounced from the "material" to "human" trend. We must look to this development trend and position and choose the direction in the development of analytical instrumentation.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the annual increase in sales of the world's analytical instrument market was 8-10%. In 2000, the world market will reach 30 billion U.S. dollars, the largest market for the world's analytical instruments is the United States, which accounts for about 40% of total sales, followed by Europe with about 27%, and the third with Japan, accounting for about 20%. China imports analytical instruments. Only 1.4% of world sales.
Scientific Instrument World Market
Scientific Instruments As the world economy grows, market demand is expected to grow at a rate of 3-6% annually. The industry sectors with the greatest demand potential are: communications, power, information, biology, biotechnology, medicine, and environmental protection. The countries and regions with the best market prospects are East Asia and Mexico.
The market size of global scientific instruments is approximately US$20 billion, and the major markets are industrial developed countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Britain, and Italy. The main producing and exporting countries are the United States, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Japan and Italy. In recent years, the demand for scientific instruments in some developing countries has grown rapidly. These countries (regions) include Chile, Czech Republic, Honduras, India, Taiwan Province, Ecuador, and Egypt. Their imports of scientific instruments are averaging 15-30% annually. The speed of growth.
Due to the continuous opening of the Latin American market, domestic industries are facing a lot of competition in imported products. The opening of the market led to the reduction of the import tariff rates for scientific instruments and the relaxation of foreign exchange control. For example, Costa Rica not only slowed down tariffs, made it possible for importers to provide foreign exchange in a timely manner, but also allowed importers to obtain foreign exchange from any local bank without the approval of the central bank. The competition of local products has forced local companies to strengthen quality management, improve product quality, and increase the import of various testing instruments used in quality management. Most countries in Latin America do not have the capacity to produce scientific instruments. Although a few countries, such as Brazil, have certain manufacturing capabilities, they cannot supply sophisticated high-level instruments. Some countries that have carried out economic reforms, especially the acceleration of privatization of enterprises, such as Mexican companies, have paid more attention to research and development projects in Vietnam in order to increase their competitiveness, which is conducive to the growth of demand for various physical and chemical analytical instruments for scientific research. In addition, environmental protection has also received more attention from the government, and the demand for gas analysis instruments is increasing. The United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan are the main suppliers of scientific equipment in Latin America, and Brazil has a market because of its geographical advantages. The market requires that the product price is reasonable, excellent quality, timely delivery and strong durability.
The eye-catching markets in Eastern Europe are the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. With public health care cancelled and large-scale environmental protection projects planned, the Czech Republic has a strong demand for instrumentation. Poland is the largest instrument market in Eastern Europe, with limited domestic production, small import barriers, and exemption of tariffs on equipment used for scientific research. The Hungarian medical system is also changing, but it is bound by the budget to purchase. The main demand sectors in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries are also research and educational institutions, which have limited purchasing power. Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine are proficient in the production of various analytical and measuring instruments, but they are inferior to Western countries in the production of automatic control instruments, edge equipment and software.
In Africa, Egypt and Morocco are important instrumentation markets. According to Egypt's five-year plan from 1992 to 1997, the government allocated 400 million U.S. dollars to transform the equipment of scientific research institutions. Due to the small national production, almost all of them rely on imports, among which imported products include chemical analysis instruments, optical instruments, and inspections. instrument. In addition, Nigeria is also very eye-catching. There is little demand for scientific instruments in this country, but the national standards for food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics are very strict, forcing companies to purchase testing instruments in large quantities.
In East Asia, Asia’s “four smallâ€, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Thailand have a strong demand for instrumentation. Asia’s “four small†faces the upgrading of industrial structure and attaches great importance to scientific research and development. The Singapore government has special financial support for the research and development of industrial enterprises. Hong Kong has also increased investment in scientific research and development for the transition of industries. Taiwan provincial authorities not only increased financial expenditures for basic research and development, but also granted tax concessions for private enterprise research and development. These countries and regions have great demand for high value-added chemical analysis instruments, physical analysis instruments, and electronic measurement instruments. India's instrumentation market has continued to rise, due to the government's emphasis on improving efficiency and competitiveness, coupled with energy, electricity, steel, fertilizer, textile, paper, petroleum, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food processing and other departments The investment plan, and as Indian manufacturers and exporters increasingly implement the ISO9000 series quality standard certification system, the expenditure on the acquisition of instrumentation is increasing. There are also a large number of research institutes and universities in India engaged in high-tech research and quality control, these departments are also pushing up the demand for high-tech scientific experimental equipment.
Thailand is the country with the highest expenditure on health and epidemic prevention in Southeast Asian countries. The demand for spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs is rapidly expanding. Japan’s products occupy the top spot in this market. Indonesia is improving the competitiveness of its products globally. There are strict standards in quality control and advanced experimental experiments with quality control are needed. Malaysia has increasingly emphasized the strengthening of research and development in various industries, and sales of scientific experimental equipment are increasing. The chemical industry in the Philippines is the largest demand, followed by the metallurgical industry, and the demand for chemical analysis instruments is also growing.
3. Electric meters, power meters
The opening up of electric utilities in Western markets and emerging Asian markets will rejuvenate the electric meter market for a century. With the development of chip technology, the old-fashioned electromechanical meters are gradually being converted into new types of chip-type electricity. The replacement of the table also created opportunities for semiconductor chips to enter the electricity metering of every household in the world.
Digital chip power meter manufacturers, Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices all believe that the opening of the US and European power markets will drive the transition from electromechanical to electronic power meters.
According to Cirrus Logic's forecast, the opening up of the electricity market and the expansion of customer service business have promoted the continuous growth of the market demand for electronic power meters.
In the open market in the future, electronic power meters will record more extensive power consumption information than their single-generation products. In addition to recording the accumulated electricity consumption figures, this new type of electricity meter can also determine the user's high and low peak electricity consumption time, prevent users from providing electricity quality control to limit the loss of electricity meters, and limit the information of power loss in the grid. Uncertain electricity bills can play an important role. At the same time, it also has a remote monitoring function, which enables remote monitoring and meter reading through a wireless network or a modem, eliminating the tedious work of the meter reading engineer.
Statistics from electric meter suppliers such as General Electric, Siemens, ABB, and Schleng are showing that the annual output of civil utility meters is close to 70 million units. Cirrus Logic expects the sales of electricity meters in Europe will reach 4 million units in 1999, and Japan and the United States will each sell 3 million units, while China's sales will be close to 35 million units. Although within 5 years from now, the proportion will increase to 33%, this is only in the market growth of electricity meters, and the total electricity meter market growth should also include higher costs for industrial applications, intelligence Vending machines and electronic systems for remote diagnostic equipment, as well as the sales of electronic power meters for many new products that are not expected.
At present, the opening of the U.S. electricity market is not as fast as forecasted by industrial analysts, and many manufacturers of electronic power meters have ethically entered the Asian market. In developing countries, electronic power meters have almost become replacement products. For the first time, China is preparing to use this technology for civilian power meters. Chip makers predict that China will leap over the old-fashioned meter and introduce low-cost electronic energy meters directly. By the year 2000, China's electronic power meter sales will reach 20 million units, which is even more optimistic than Cirrus Logic's forecast.