Electronic calculator for industrial systems, a bit of history

From time to time, it is useful to look back at the history of companies and their products. This gives us a proper perspective on where we have come from, where we are and where we are going.

On this occasion, it is worthwhile to take a look back at the development of electronic calculators for industrial systems over the years in our company.

At the end of the last century, the idea of transforming mechanical meters into electronic ones appeared. At Cetil, after many years of using electronics developed by third parties, the decision was taken to opt for our own electronic design that would allow us to control the product and acquire the necessary leadership to be able to respond to the needs of our customers.

It was the current CEO of the company (José Sánchez del Pozo), an Industrial Engineer specialised in the field of Computer Science, Electronics and Automation, who began to develop our first electronic equipment entirely "made in Cetil": the ME2000. This model, of which approximately 2000 units were marketed between 2000 and 2010, was mainly used on volumetric measuring chambers, mainly to supply diesel, but also for petrol, paraffin, LPG, oils, etc... This decision soon proved to be the right one, as in a few years practically all the national players in this market were demanding electronic equipment of our brand due to its versatility, robustness and the added value it brought to their business based on new features such as volume compensation in temperature or the automation of the refuelling process.

Later, in 2010, two new electronic calculator models were launched almost simultaneously:

• The ME1500, designed specifically for tanker trucks, a little more limited than its predecessor in terms of functionalities, and a natural replacement, due to its reduced size, of the mechanical counters that were still on the market.
• The ME3000, more focused on tanker loading plants, with new features such as the possibility of mixing products, the simultaneous control of 2 measuring chambers or the use of mass meters and with a very similar appearance to its predecessor in terms of dimensions, appearance and handling.

Between 2010 and 2020, about 1400 units of the former and 850 units of the latter were marketed.

After 25 years and a little over 4,000 units sold to all hydrocarbon tanker manufacturers and to the vast majority of loading plant installers, Cetil enjoys a very large market share and the trust of thousands of satisfied customers, both in Spain and abroad.

With the new model, the ME4000, which saw the light at the end of 2021, Cetil has given a new twist to the product, making a modular electronics, fully configurable, with several ports of ModBus communications, colour display, etc.. There are already more than 250 units running in different applications and the reception from customers is very satisfactory.

Currently, the ME4000 is being prepared not only to be the calculator of the present, but also of the future. To this end, we are working with determination to increase its range and to meet new market needs, such as the industrial supply of compressed gaseous hydrogen gas, the loading or unloading of tube trailers or the refuelling of large quantities of hydrogen into large vehicles.