Chengdu Mikenson: Experts in "Humanized" Actuator Solutions

What are the criteria for identifying an outstanding actuator solution? Chengdu Mikenson provides the answer: "Human-centered." Founder and Chairman Wang Zhengquan has been deeply involved in the actuator industry for over three decades, half of which he dedicated to commissioning, maintenance, and repair services. Through his extensive experience working with leading international brands, he gained profound insights into the unique requirements and persistent challenges that arise when actuators are applied across diverse operational conditions. It’s this deep understanding that inspired him to spend the other half of his career building Chengdu Mikenson—a national high-tech enterprise that breaks conventional thinking, relentlessly addresses customer needs, and specializes in the R&D, design, manufacturing, sales, and comprehensive technical services of pipeline valve actuators, particularly those featuring pneumatic-hydraulic linkage technology.

Regarding "human-centered design," General Manager Wang stated: "The purpose of the solution is to solve problems—but an outstanding solution doesn’t just address a single issue. Instead, it optimizes every step of the process, from manufacturing and assembly all the way through usage, maintenance, and repairs, ultimately bringing convenience to everyone involved and ensuring that our products are safely integrated into every one of our customers' pipelines!"

Chengdu Mikenson Flow Controls Mfg. Co., Ltd. was established in September 2011. Its main products include pneumatic-hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, pneumatic, and hydraulic actuators. The company is headquartered in the Southwest Aviation Free Trade Zone of Shuangliu District, Chengdu, and in Dongpo District, Meishan City, with a combined production facility and office space totaling 5,800 square meters. Mikenson is recognized as the drafting unit for actuator standards and a member of the Standards Committee, as well as a demonstration unit for the National Torch Program. In 2020, the company was awarded the Second Prize in the Technical Invention category of the "China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award." Currently, three of Mikenson's products have passed the evaluation by the China Machinery Industry Federation: the 600,000 Nm pneumatic-hydraulic actuator, the 600,000 Nm electro-hydraulic actuator, and the hydraulic actuator designed specifically for tank root valves. Today, Mikenson’s DG series of dual-guidance actuators encompasses four types—pneumatic-hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, pneumatic, and hydraulic—spanning six different models and 24 specifications, offering over 200 varieties in total. These actuators deliver output torques ranging from 20 Nm to 600 kNm, with air supply pressures varying between 0.5 MPa and 16 MPa. Mikenson’s products are widely used across various industries, including natural gas, shipping, defense, chemical processing, oil storage facilities, and power generation—covering markets from east to west and south to north throughout China. Notably, its products have been integrated into major national pipeline networks, as well as key projects involving oil and gas infrastructure under companies like China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), CNOOC, Southwest Pipeline Company, Western Pipeline Company, Southwest Oil & Gas Field, West-to-East Gas Pipeline Project, Sichuan-to-East Gas Transmission Project, Kunlun Gas, China Gas Holdings, Huayou Natural Gas, ENN Group, Towngas, and CR Gas, among many other local pipeline enterprises. Additionally, Mikenson’s products have achieved remarkable success in international markets as well.

• Discover a problem, solve a class of challenges.

“Solving problems” was the original intention behind Michaelson’s establishment. This is closely tied to the founder, Wang Zhengquan’s, early experiences.

Back in the early 1990s, his career began at a valve factory. In 2000, he joined the team of a renowned international brand, where he served customers across various industries—primarily those relying on natural gas—by addressing the diverse challenges they encountered during operation. This experience has since been regarded by General Manager Wang as the greatest asset of his professional journey. It was precisely through this role that he gained firsthand exposure to a wide range of valve actuators and the real-world issues and obstacles that can arise in their practical application, enabling him to build deep expertise and insight. Meanwhile, as he continuously tackled customer problems and refined his skills along the way, his passion for product development and expanding applications only grew stronger—driving him to immerse himself fully in this dynamic field.

Undeniably, in the early stages of development, high-end actuator products were monopolized by foreign brands. Against this historical backdrop and drawing from years of practical experience, CEO Wang keenly identified the industry's weaknesses as well as the direction for China's domestic manufacturing sector to move forward. First of all, this "monopoly" has largely led to service shortcomings among foreign brands. Moreover, the inherent pain points of traditional products have persistently remained unresolved, not only causing growing frustration among customers and hindering industry growth, but also severely limiting companies' competitive edge. Recognizing the root causes of these issues is one of the key strengths of CEO Wang’s team at Mikenson—indeed, it’s often even more critical than simply solving problems. Precisely because the team possesses an exhaustive understanding of the industry, products, and application markets, they consistently pinpoint the true factors driving these challenges. As a result, they can not only craft effective solutions but also deliver optimal approaches when supporting new projects, ensuring the smooth operation of clients’ equipment and providing reliable protection every step of the way.

Of course, the Mikeson team also boasts mature, comprehensive problem-solving capabilities—quick yet highly efficient—and their strength in product development is particularly impressive. As early as before 2007, the company began R&D and manufacturing of pneumatic-hydraulic actuator mechanisms. By 2012, they had invented the industry-leading DG series of parallel/double-guided fork-type pneumatic-hydraulic actuators. The core transmission structure features an advanced dual-guided stabilization design, making it an upgraded version of conventional fork-type actuators. In April 2021, Chengdu Mikeson Fluid Control Equipment Co., Ltd. hosted a product appraisal meeting in Chengdu for its "hydraulic actuator for tank root valves, along with the 600 kN•m electro-hydraulic actuator and the 600 kN•m pneumatic-hydraulic actuator." After thorough evaluation, the committee unanimously concluded that the "hydraulic actuator for tank root valves" and the "600 kN•m electro-hydraulic actuator," independently developed by Chengdu Mikeson Fluid Control Equipment Co., Ltd., not only fill a significant domestic gap but also reach internationally advanced standards. To date, the company has accumulated more than 70 patents and has earned widespread recognition and certification across the board.

Putting people first, creating new value in the executive agency sector

• Support employees, respect peers, and hold competitors in awe

When discussing the company’s core strengths, General Manager Wang emphasized that it lies in “people.” Michaelson boasts a highly professional, efficient, and motivated team—its members possess specialized knowledge and skills in their respective fields, enabling them to leverage their unique strengths and expertise from multiple perspectives simultaneously. This collaborative approach not only boosts the team’s overall productivity but also elevates the quality of their deliverables. The company is fortunate to have many employees who have been with us for over a decade; these individuals work closely together, fostering strong bonds of unity and cooperation—a vital safeguard that ensures top-notch quality and helps us meet even the tightest deadlines. For General Manager Wang and the entire Michaelson team, however, the “people” at the heart of their success extend beyond just their own staff—they also include industry peers and competitors. Wang believes: “We should never shy away from our rivals; instead, we should embrace the pressure they bring as a powerful source of innovation and a driving force for growth. By comparing ourselves with and learning from our competitors, we gain deeper insights into both our own strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness empowers us to refine our methods and strategies, ultimately enhancing our capabilities and sharpening our competitive edge. After all, it’s precisely through facing countless challenges that Michaelson has achieved the remarkable success it enjoys today.”

• Domestic Substitution

In fact, under the current global economic landscape, high-end manufacturing has become the focal point of competition. Yet as early as twenty years ago, the Michaelson team was already firmly convinced of this very fact. Back then, pneumatic-hydraulic actuators were still regarded as a rather "mysterious" product—because they were directly connected to pipeline mains, even minor errors could lead to catastrophic accidents. As a result, many industry professionals not only hesitated to engage with these products but often chose to steer clear altogether. In response, Mr. Wang remarked: "Although pneumatic-hydraulic actuators remain a highly niche market segment, truly excelling in this field requires mastering and seamlessly integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines—such as mechanical engineering, electrical systems, hydraulics, pressure vessel design, welding, and electromagnetism. Only by combining expertise across these diverse areas can we create products that are both more competitive and better aligned with user needs. At the same time, continuous learning and staying updated with emerging technologies are essential to keep pace with rapid advancements and evolving industry demands." Leveraging cutting-edge insights and robust capabilities, Michaelson has successfully broken through foreign technological barriers. Its unique parallel dual-guidance design and advanced large-torque cylinder drive technology enable the company to significantly enhance actuator torque capacity—while maintaining superior performance—without compromising on size, space efficiency, overall weight, or transmission accuracy. These innovations have resulted in an exceptional product architecture that has earned widespread acclaim within the industry, positioning Michaelson as a standout player in the ongoing drive toward domesticating this critical technology.

The DG series features an innovatively developed fork-type transmission housing, incorporating a parallel, dual-guided transmission structure design that is protected by an international invention patent (Patent Title: A Fork-Type Transmission Housing with Dual Guiding Shafts; Patent Type: PCT; Patent No.: CN2013/081729). This groundbreaking design precisely controls the movement trajectory of the transmission slider, eliminating motion deformation in the piston shaft, significantly reducing heat and vibration generation, and preventing transmission losses as well as lateral forces. Theoretically, it enables 100% loss-free transfer of cylinder (pneumatic or spring cylinder) thrust. As a result, both transmission efficiency and operational smoothness are dramatically enhanced.

• Innovating through inheritance

The importance of innovation for manufacturing enterprises is self-evident. On this point, Mr. Wang believes: "Overly aggressive or blindly pursuing innovation is definitely not advisable—let alone simply copying others' approaches outright. True innovation lies in building upon existing foundations; without solid inheritance, the supporting upstream and downstream resources and operational processes cannot be sustained. As a result, innovation loses its very roots and ultimately fails to deliver genuine breakthroughs. Only by deeply understanding and studying traditional products can we uncover the shortcomings and flaws left by predecessors, paving the way for fresh ideas and methodologies that drive progress and advancement in our field. Many people struggle to spot business opportunities within ordinary products or fail to identify innovative entry points. Yet at Mikenson, we thrive precisely because every time we encounter a challenge—whether in production or usage—we feel keenly that another chance for innovation has arrived, pointing us toward our next big breakthrough! In fact, achieving technological breakthroughs often hinges on our team's comprehensive grasp of every step across the entire value chain. That’s why so many of our innovations and solutions emerge from our persistent habit of questioning, analyzing, and tackling problems head-on. For instance, in 2019, when Mikenson developed its first 600,000-newton-meter gas-liquid联动 actuator, we broke away from conventional practices by adopting a horizontal layout, effectively addressing longstanding issues plaguing this category of products—such as oil leakage, bulky designs, and excessive weight. This remarkable achievement is a direct testament to our unwavering commitment to embracing challenges, thinking critically about them, and finding creative, practical solutions."

• Service First

The Michaelson team places great importance on the issues raised—or encountered—by our customers, firmly believing that "no problem is too small." Whether it’s an unspoken industry tradition or a long-standing pain point that seems insurmountable, the Michaelson team never takes a dismissive "let it go" attitude. Instead, we always go above and beyond to resolve challenges effectively. Rather than engaging in pointless finger-pointing or shirking responsibility, our team members wholeheartedly embrace the principle of "service first," prioritizing problem-solving as our top priority. We’re committed to addressing users’ urgent needs promptly, ensuring their requirements are met while simultaneously enhancing the overall service experience. Moreover, our "service-first" mindset extends to pre-sales communication, where we proactively engage with customers to thoroughly understand their needs. By doing so, we minimize last-minute changes and rework during the product development process, ultimately boosting both efficiency and the quality of our deliverables.

Fourteenth anniversary, staying true to our original aspiration.

September 15, 2025, marks the 14th anniversary of the establishment of Chengdu Mikenson Flow Controls Mfg. Co., Ltd. When asked whether the company’s development philosophy has evolved over the past decade-plus, General Manager Wang confidently replied: "Absolutely not! Staying true to our original aspiration, we’ve committed ourselves to doing one thing—and doing it exceptionally well—for a lifetime. This unwavering dedication remains the core principle guiding every Mikenson employee. We cherish the present moment, believing that if we excel in today’s tasks, tomorrow will surely be brighter for everyone."

"Interest drives success" is the perfect description for Wang Zhengquan and the Michaelson team. This isn’t just their original entrepreneurial vision—it’s also the very force that keeps them moving forward and enables them to achieve breakthroughs. The entire team has found their ideal working rhythm when it comes to the execution of their series of products, which has, in turn, helped the brand carve out a unique competitive edge. Guided by principles of innovation, reliability, and steady growth, Michaelson Execution Systems ensures safe and seamless operation on every one of our clients’ pipelines!