Mass Flowmeter
Endress+Hauser factory tour series: Finer points of MFM design, explained by R&D
Manifold Times visits Endress+Hauser Flow’s factory at Reinach close to Basel, Switzerland to find out what it takes to develop and produce custody transfer MFMs widely used by the Singapore bunkering market.
Manifold Times gained exclusive access into the mass flowmeter (MFM) production factory of Reinach-based Endress+Hauser Flow in Switzerland during February. This will be the first in a series of five articles produced offering behind-the-scenes glimpses of the intricate process on what goes into perfecting MFMs.
The following are key takeaways from the tour to understand more about MFM design and production:
Singapore’s bunkering sector, under the purview of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), has depended on mass flowmeters (MFMs) to create a level playing field for marine refuelling operations since its gradual implementation from 2012.
By the end of 2023, approximately more than 340 million metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel would have flowed through MFMs installed onboard Singapore bunker tankers.
Arguably, the enhanced transparency and integrity brought by MFM technology have cemented Singapore’s position as the premier bunkering port of the world.
This development has led Manifold Times to Reinach, Switzerland to learn more about MFM technology manufactured by Endress+Hauser Flow – the dominate MFM vendor chosen by Singapore’s bunkering sector.
A physicist by training, Martin Anklin, Head of Department Coriolis Sensors, Endress+Hauser Flow, who has been working for the company for over 20 years welcomed the Singapore bunkering publication at its Reinach factory. He believes people to be the foundation behind every quality Swiss product produced by the company.
“I’m deeply convinced that when you want to get to the bottom of what’s doable with the Coriolis measuring principle, you need good and motivated people with a lot of experience.” he said.
Research & Development – The ‘bend’ of bunkering MFMs
Anklin shared MFMs used for bunkering, such as the Proline Promass F Coriolis flowmeter widely installed on Singapore bunker tankers, starts with the product idea driven by market demand.
It has taken several years of predevelopment and industrialisation while taking into consideration factors such as measurement uncertainty, environmental conditions, required flow rate, application conditions, industry standards and safety.
It is highly important for bunkering MFMs to use Coriolis technology as it is less affected by aeration compared to other measuring technologies while offering long-term stability when compared to mechanical meters.
A challenge faced by MFM designers is balancing the amount of bend and number of oscillating flow tubes to introduce within the device.
“Generally speaking, multi-tube measuring systems lead to a better balanced MFM compared to single tube MFM. This results in higher repeatability and zero-point stability. A single-tube design would not deliver the repeatability and zero-point stability required for the variety of fuel oils,” Anklin explained.
“The more bent, the more Coriolis force is available for the measurement. However, large bends tend to trap air which results in bad measuring performance. Further, the more bent the bulkier the MFM becomes, which takes up more space onboard a bunker tanker while introducing additional costs for piping.
“With the Promass F we have found a compact solution which has a slight bend while having two oscillating flow tubes for precision. This makes it a very well balanced MFM having a compact footprint.”
In-house Swiss quality checks – Testing rigs galore
Manifold Times was next taken to the basement of the Reinach production plant and was surprised to find approximately 100 hardware testing rigs specially designed for abusing MFM protypes in the location.
“We do have numerous rigs to do qualification, where we really aim to rigorously test the meters before they are put out into the market,” revealed Anklin.
Prototypes are pressure tested to the stage of deformity to see how long performance is maintained during operation even far beyond specs. Engineers also test units for temperature shock, saltwater resistance, vibration, humidity, and more.
“Bunkering presents a challenging application for MFMs. Equipment which is installed on bunker tankers are exposed to high humidity, aggressive salty atmosphere, and vibration. Safety is a key aspect on bunker tankers. Therefore, the mechanical integrity of a MFM plays a major role,” he says.
“The MFM is designed and tested according to marine class standards to confirm its suitability for this harsh environment. Performance of the custody flowmeter must be good and installation effects must be diminished close to zero.”
Verifying the in-house MFM bunkering algorithm
Anklin highlighted bunkering as being known for its challenge of dealing with aerated fuel oil. As such, Endress+Hauser Flow has developed an intelligent algorithm which measures aerated fuel with custody transfer accuracy.
“It was a challenge developing bunkering algorithms being able to produce repeatable results based on the theory and physics behind aerated conditions with actual real-world conditions. This was also the reason why Endress+Hauser cooperated with a bunker tanker operator at Singapore port to test out the algorithm prior to commercial deployment,” he shared.
“We had to test the algorithm on all sides which includes field tests on the bunker tanker to see how the meter with the algorithm performs in various situations.
“And this also means much cooperation and communication, since the people conducting the measurement on the land are not the same as the people doing the testing on the waterfront. Further, both are not the same as the people that do the physics and analytical calculations.
“It is essential for the group to develop an excellent cooperation and build up upon the knowledge create a fully working product for the bunkering sector.”
Photo credit: Endress+Hauser
Published: 15 July 2024
Mass Flowmeter
Hong Kong backs MFM adoption with voluntary scheme to boost bunkering competitiveness
Hong Kong’s Marine Department launched the Quality Bunker Operator Scheme to encourage bunker operators to install and use mass flow meter systems on their bunker vessels.
Technology
Endress+Hauser launches new TECH Centre in Singapore
Centre will serve as a platform for application development and solution validation, supporting customers with calibration, application support and process training for industries including oil and gas and marine.
Bunker Fuel
China: Zhoushan port records 8 million mt annual bunker volume for 2025
This marked a year-on-year increase of 10.6% from 7.26 million mt in 2024 and the first time the port has hit the 8 million mt mark for the first time, says Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee.
Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee on Wednesday (7 January) said Zhoushan recorded a bonded bunkering volume of 8.03 million metric tonnes (mt) in 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 10.6%.
The committee said this is the first time the port has hit the 8 million mt mark for the first time, potentially ranking among the top three bunkering ports globally.
Manifold Times previously reported Zhoushan delivering 7.26 million mt of marine fuel in 2024.
The committee highlighted the efforts to improve service, cost, and efficiency, while implementing 41 targeted measures in 2025.
Efforts were made in key areas such as accelerating green transformation, optimising digital supervision, facilitating anchorage bunkering, and consolidating cost advantages, driving comprehensive improvement in the quality and efficiency of industrial development.
In line with the global trend of green transformation of marine fuel, the city has introduced management measures for green bunkering operations, a joint supervision mechanism for bunkering vessels, and an action plan for green transformation of bunkering, thus improving the regulatory and service system.
The city achieved nearly 120,000 mt of biofuel bunkering. Zhoushan also put into operation an LNG bonded warehouse, commenced construction of the first methanol bunkering vessel, and established the first liquid ammonia bunkering company, accelerating the development of alternative bunker fuels such as LNG, methanol, and ammonia.
The city has continuously explored reforms and innovations in a bunker measurement system, releasing the first provincial standard for mass flow meters in China.
It has conducted compliance inspections, statutory verifications, and pilot certifications for the installation and use of mass flow meters on barges, and implemented an online e-BDN system, successfully completing trials and entering routine operation.
This has significantly simplified the processes of metering, handover, and verification, making the city the first in the country to achieve fully digital handover of the bonded fuel bunkering process.
In July 2025, Zhoushan became the first port in China and third in the world to implement electronic bunker delivery notes (e-BDN) after issuing its first.
A series of convenient anchorage measures were implemented. Provincial and municipal customs, maritime, and border inspection departments issued a package of facilitation support measures.
They assessed and optimised nighttime supply conditions, added priority anchorages for bunkering, expanded the number of night time supply barges, and innovatively implemented a “one-window” service for refuelling vessels throughout the customs area, separate supervision and verification for large and small vessels, and simultaneous bunkering and cargo operations (SIMOPS).
These measures further simplified customs clearance procedures at Zhoushan Port and effectively improved anchorage turnover efficiency and carrying capacity.
With that, the bunker volume at Zhoushan anchorage reached 2.85 million mt in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 19.1%, becoming the core driving force for market growth. Among them, the bunker volume at Xiushan East anchorage reached 1.48 million mt, a year-on-year increase of 33.45%.
As for infrastructure, the city has accelerated storage and transportation projects for commissioning and expansion, adding 2.53 million cubic metres (m3) of oil and gas storage capacity.
The committee added that specialised policies, such as the “Implementation Opinions on Supporting the High-Quality Development of Zhoushan’s Bonded Marine Fuel Bunkering Industry,” was also introduced to drive cost reduction and efficiency improvement for enterprises.
Related: China: Zhoushan Port achieves 7.26 million mt annual bunker volume for 2024
Related: IPEC 2025: Zhoushan moves digital bunkering initiative to full-scale implementation
Related: Zhoushan becomes first port in China, third in world to implement e-BDN bunker ops
Related: IPEC 2025: Chinese stakeholders inked deals on alternative bunker fuels and e-BDN
Related: China: First LNG bonded bunker warehouse in Zhoushan begins operation
Photo credit: Zhoushan Hi-Tech Zone Administrative Committee
Published: 8 January, 2026
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