China’s First Eddy Current Molten Steel Level Meter

The world’s most advanced foreign eddy current sensors at that time had a measuring range of only 150 mm, with a reliable control range typically limited to 50–80 mm.

Through Professor Tian Zhiheng’s independently developed sensor technology and signal analysis circuits, the measuring range was increased to 300 mm, while long-term stability was maintained within 2%.

This represented a major breakthrough in global eddy current detection technology.

In 1995, RAMON’s newly developed Eddy Current Molten Steel Level Meter was successfully tested at the Second Steelmaking Plant of Wuhan Iron and Steel Group.

Afterwards, President Tian Lu and engineer Wu Xiaowu brought the newly developed eddy current molten steel level meter to Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group for further promotion and application.

At every department they visited, they demonstrated to customers how this new product could achieve accurate molten steel level measurement.

One day, they arrived at the Technical Department and conducted a routine demonstration for the engineers there.

Director Chen carefully observed the demonstration for a long time and repeatedly tested the equipment himself.

After some time, he shook his head and said to President Tian Lu:

“This equipment may not be measuring accurately.”

President Tian did not immediately argue. Instead, he confidently promised:

“I will identify and solve the problem within three days.”

Three days later, President Tian fulfilled his promise.

The customer witnessed firsthand how RAMON improved the measurement accuracy of the Eddy Current Molten Steel Level Meter within only three days.

This experience demonstrated RAMON’s strong capability in technological innovation and further strengthened the customer’s confidence in RAMON.

However, securing the contract was far from easy.

At that time, China’s steel industry widely believed that imported equipment represented superior technology, and the use of foreign equipment had become a common trend.

Many people believed that overseas technologies were superior to domestic alternatives. Some steel plant leaders were also concerned that they might be held responsible if problems occurred after adopting domestic technology.

However, Li Maolin, then Technical Director of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group, made the decisive choice to adopt RAMON’s technology.

At that time, the senior management of Panzhihua Iron and Steel asked him:

“What if RAMON’s technology fails after implementation?”

Li Maolin firmly replied:

“I will guarantee it with my position. If RAMON’s product fails, I will resign!”

Eventually, RAMON’s Eddy Current Molten Steel Level Meter was successfully implemented at Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group.

Voices from Our Partners

Li Maolin

Deputy General Manager of Pancheng Steel

I remember in 1996, at a continuous casting conference held in Shanghai, President Tian Lu brought the newly developed Eddy Current Level Meter.

After seeing the prototype, I said to Tian Lu:

“After the conference, come back to Panzhihua with me. We are currently negotiating a contract with a Swedish company for an eddy current level meter, and the technical agreement has already been signed. But if China has developed this technology ourselves, we should use our own products. Why shouldn’t we support China’s own technological innovation?”

That was how we established our first cooperation.

The facts proved that RAMON lived up to our expectations.

I hope RAMON, as one of the representative companies of China’s original technological innovation, will continue to better serve China’s steel industry.