An indispensable tool for measuring voltage, current, resistance and other parameters, digital multimeters are used by professionals, in education and training, and in the industrial sector. To provide for such a diverse application base, they come in a range of configurations, from the basic to the more sophisticated and advanced types.
Globally, digital multimeters reached $1 billion in 2022 and are expected to increase further at more than 4.5 percent CAGR from 2023 to 2032, according to Global Market Insights. By the end of the period, they will have a market size exceeding $1.5 billion. Handheld versions will outperform mounted and benchtop types because they are the usual choice when it comes to portability, ease of use and affordability.
China is a major production base for this category and is expected to see a higher growth rate, with QY Research’s estimate predicting over 5 percent in the next two or three years. It leads in this respect over Europe and North America and has a 35 percent market share. The country has been steadily increasing overseas shipments, with the most notable rise seen in 2021 when its total export value rose by 34.43 percent over the previous year. China’s top export destinations include Germany, Japan, the US and Malaysia, with extensive shipments also sent to Brazil, India and Russia.
To keep market interest high, Chinese manufacturers of digital multimeters continue to keep abreast of trends and to push further on product precision and reliability. They are currently emphasizing wireless types, which have become popular in recent years. These devices can connect to smartphones and computers via Bluetooth, enabling checking and monitoring from afar and safe from possible arc flashes.
An example is the MS-WDMMD93 from Meet International, a supplier based in Hong Kong SAR, which connects wirelessly to a smartphone or tablet, allowing data viewing, screen capturing of data and information transmission to headquarters.
Other companies are increasing their production levels to keep up with demand. Shenzhen Everbest, which is a high-tech enterprise specializing in measuring instruments marketed under the CEM brand and a major digital multimeter manufacturer in China, built a factory in Huizhou in 2021. Scheduled to go into full operation within 2023, this facility will be able to realize a total sales value of $76.47 million.
Hundreds of suppliers
Digital multimeters can be sourced from hundreds of manufacturers in China, the majority of which are domestically owned small and midsize companies. There are also foreign suppliers with factories there. They include Fluke, Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, Hioki and Victor.
More than half of these manufacturers are found in Guangdong, specifically in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Shenzhen is the largest production base for this category in China. The city also ranks first globally in entry-level and midrange digital multimeters in terms of production value, according to Sohu News. In the coming years, Chinese companies will emphasize the development of more midrange and high-end products for greater market reach.
China-made digital multimeters
Chinese suppliers offer handheld, benchtop and pen-style digital multimeters, with the first type dominating their output. These devices usually measure voltage, current, resistance and capacitance, and have ±0.025 percent accuracy.
Versions covering more parameters, such as noncontact voltage (NCV), true-RMS (TRMS), temperature and frequency, are also available.
Products comply with industry safety standards such as UL, CE, TÜV and RoHS.
Companies generally accept customization requests, including specific ranges of parameters, as orders based on them account for a sizeable share of shipments. Manufacturers interviewed by Global Sources peg the ratio at 20 to as much as 60 percent.
Key components used in the production of digital multimeters include ICs, passive components and LCDs. Manufacturers source ICs from domestic and foreign providers, but usually turn to domestic sources for the rest.
Despite fluctuations in IC costs, most companies kept the prices of their products unchanged in the past 12 months, thanks to the stable cost of other materials. There is a possibility that outlay for ICs will become steady in the next 12 months.
The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in digital multimeters from Chinese makers.
Digital multimeter, 102x60x24mm, 64g
Company: Hangzhou Frankever Electronic Co. Ltd
This pocket-sized digital multimeter from Hangzhou Frankever, the DT83B, is 102x60x24mm and 64g. It has selectable parameters of voltage at 200 to 2,000mV and 20, 200 and 400V±5 percent in DC, 200 and 400V±1 percent in AC, current at 2,000µA, 20 and 200mA±1.8 percent in DC, and resistance at 200, 2,000ohms, and 20, 200 and 2,000kohms±1 percent. Its 35x14mm LCD screen displays a maximum of 1999 counts.
MOQ: 1,000 units
Lead time: 30 days
Digital multimeter, five parameters
Company: Kilter Electronic Institute Co. Ltd
The DT-9207 digital multimeter from Kilter has a knob for selecting voltages of 200mV, 2, 20, 200 and 1,000VDC, and 200mV, 2, 20, 200 and 750VAC. In measuring ampere in DC circuits, there are 2, 20, 200mA and 20A settings, and 20, 200mA, 20A in AC. The parameters in resistance are 200ohms, 2, 20 and 200kohms, 2, 20 and 200mohms, in capacitance 2, 20, 200nF, and 2 and 20µF, and in temperatures -40 to 1,000 C. Device dimensions are 168x88x42mm and weight is 400g.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 7 days
Digital multimeter, 1999 count display
Company: Qingdao Tlead International Co. Ltd
Qingdao Tlead’s AMT32 digital multimeter has 200mV to 2, 20, 200 and 1,000VDC±0.5 percent, 20, 200, 750VAC±1 percent, 20µA, 20 and 200mA, 20A±1.8 percent in DC, 200mA and 20A±2 percent in AC, 200ohms, 2, 20 and 200kohms, 2, 20and 200Mohms±1 percent, 2, 20 and 200nF, 2 and 20µF±4 percent, 2 and 200kHz±3 percent and -20 and 1,000 C±1 percent parameters. This 190x89x33mm unit, with a 67x32mm LCD, has a maximum count display of 1999.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 7 days
Digital multimeter, test pen-free measurement
Company: Shenzhen FNiRSi Technology Co. Ltd
Shenzhen FNiRSi’s 143x75x19mm digital multimeter, the FNIRSI-S1, automatically measures without a test pen. It has 10, 100 and 1,000VAC voltage parameters, 1, 100 and 1,000kohm and 100Mohm resistance, 10, 100 and 1,000nF, 10, 100 and 1,000µF, 10mF capacitance, 10, 100 and 1,000Hz, 10, 100 and 1,000kHz, and 10MHz frequency and -20 and 1,000 C temperature. This 135g unit has 9999 maximum count display and a CAT III 1,000V rating.
MOQ: 10 units
Lead time: 28 days
