The same is stuck in the neck, sensors and instruments, is the relationship between sheep and wolves?

Today, let's talk about these two stiff necks.

In 2015, China imported 50 billion US dollars of instruments and meters, all of which are high-end products, which are almost impossible to make in China.For example, Thermo Fisher of the United States (US$6 billion), Danaher of the United States, and Shimadzu of Japan are all single-family households, and there are no domestic competitors. This is especially true in laboratories, where most analytical instruments can only be imported.

The sensor is also a super short board. China's trillion-level instrumentation industry, but under the seemingly grand palace, many foreign sensors are used as the cornerstone.In peacetime, it was nothing; and now, in the complex Sino-US technological war, these ubiquitous and almost invisible sensors have become an unsettling dark thorn.For sensors, it is difficult for small companies to survive and expand.The automation requirements are very high, and it requires a large factory, which is very high-end, like hand-made. It is also difficult for independent sensors to exist for a long time. For example, the British Shore dew point analyzer, which pioneered the aluminum oxide thin film capacitive sensor, created this market with the founder scientist Sean himself. After his death, it was only by the control of his wife that he could survive. It's been 60 years and the product is almost unmodified.

In this field, it is really backward to say that it is backward, and the product update speed is actually very slow.But if Mrs. is not in power, its future may be bleak; and the British Michell dew point analyzer, which bypasses Shaw's alumina and adopts the ceramic capacitor method, is also unique and has been leading the way for 50 years. However, after the creators retired, all talents left. After 2012, the company was acquired by the British PST sensor company.

Japan's Omron and Keyence developed sensors and instrumentation systems together. And fighting alone is laborious.Such as the Figaro gas sensor in Japan, although it is fine, it is still difficult to survive alone. At present, the products are produced in Vietnam and the Philippines in order to reduce costs. But there is only Germany in the world. Sensors are a very different market and are supported independently. There are not only companies like Sick Optoelectronics that focus on sensors over 1 billion euros, but also many small sensor companies such as Balluff and AFM IFM. This is closely related to its ecological layout.

So how do sensors get bigger?

It is actually quite difficult to develop in the direction of instrumentation.The oxygen sensor of AII in the United States is very powerful, but the analytical instrument is not good. In the end, it can only sell itself to survive.

Since sensors tend to be modular, they are sold to instrument integrators. This game of lamb for the big wolf often doesn't last long. It is also normal for small companies with strong and fat instruments to eat these sensors in one bite. Large instrument companies often have an independent sensor in their mouths.

It is very common in foreign countries. For example, TE in the United States is not only a giant of connectors, but also a large company of sensors. The newly acquired German FirstSensor sensor will bring great potential trouble to China's sensor supply.

The same is true in the country. For example, Zhengzhou Nuowei started with gas sensors, and started to make layouts after the listed company. The parent company made big money by doing big projects, and its subsidiaries, such as Weisheng, specialized in gas sensors and made small money; . It's all this way. Qingdao Laoying, a leader in domestic atmospheric smoke detection instruments, has also set up sensors to supply externally.

In this way, the way out for sensors is really to fatten themselves and then enshrine them to instrumentation companies? Can this industry be completely independent?

I'll have to do some more research, I'll talk about it next time

The author of the above content is Nanshan Lin Xueping, and the following are some of the comments made by netizens on Toutiao today. (To respect privacy, the names of netizens are coded)

@Xu***u：

Not all industries need to be stuck. Instruments and meters are relatively substitutable. There are no American products, and there are also European and Japanese countries that can be used as backup suppliers. Not a fatal blow to China.

@Feng***7：

Practice has proved that it is not feasible to vigorously advocate internationalization. It should also be based on self-reliance and domestic production and research and development.

@Jiang***turtle：

Except for specific high-end applications (the market size is very small), it is difficult for the sensor to grow independently. Even if the technology is excellent, if you do not rely on integrated equipment to be a concubine, people will not use yours, and Party A basically has no right to speak. , If you want to live nourished, you basically have to be nurtured as a mistress.

@Pan***1：

In addition to the key parts of key equipment that need to be fully autonomous, others still need to be globalized. China is already close to "all-round", and all industrial branches have it; but it is very dangerous to insist on being "all-round champion" or even "all individual champions". At that time, it will not be boycotted by the United States, and the global boycott will rob everyone. Try not to do anything about your job. Unless you are so powerful.

@use***7:

I want to make money fast and don't work hard. At this time, I want to plagiarize and take the shortcut and call others to be stuck in the neck, but if anyone knows how to do it, I will make this business rotten and sell the cabbage price. Everyone is afraid.

@s***xi:

The rapid development of our reform and opening up over the years is a castle in the air that is quickly built on the basis that others have laid a solid foundation. Once the ladder was pulled, all that was left was staring. The road of the Chinese people is long and heavy~ (tears)

@Shadow***6:

In the past, under the influence of buying and renting, it was the passive situation that resulted in today's passive situation. Now people suddenly don't sell it. What should I do? The key technology should still be in your own hands. Let's work hard, China.

@big***9:

The common problem of the entire Chinese industry, the more basic level, the more extremely refined things, the more backward and even blank. On the other hand, the mid-to-low-end street goods can rely on market advantages to achieve the price of cabbage, and the shopping cost station leads the market. As a result, China's industrial foundation is not strong, and it feels a bit like a giant with mud feet.

@A***a：

Nowadays, some industries are gradually breaking through and becoming world leaders. The industrial development of a country must have a process. Think about what it was like 30 years ago.

@big***9:

Although the pace of climbing is heavy, as long as you persevere, there will eventually be a glimpse of the mountains.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is selected from Toutiao, which is the author's personal opinion and does not represent the opinion or position of Sensor Expert Network. For more opinions, please leave a comment.

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