Dr. Hao Wu, Global President of GRAEFF, was interviewed by Jiaxing Daily. In the interview, he shared his inspiring journey of rising from a 16-year-old school dropout to a PhD and the helm of a multinational corporation, as well as the development story of GRAEFF putting down roots in Jiaxing and leading industry upgrading through technological innovation.

Frontline grit, dream great.

In 1999, 16-year-old Wu Hao dropped out of school in his hometown of Yueyang, Hunan, and traveled alone to Shanghai to enter the sensor industry, starting as an apprentice. With no academic degree and no personal connections, he dedicated himself to learning on the production line with unyielding determination.

Within just six months, his own master began consulting him on technical matters. After one year, his experience exceeded that of most workers with three years in the industry.“Hard work is the foundation. Dreams are not built in the air; they are forged by every screw and every adjustment.” Dr. Wu Hao recalled.

His hands-on experience on the front lines enabled him to master both technology and management. He later earned an MBA, led cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and founded his own factory. At the age of 28, he completed an international acquisition with Roper Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, growing into a senior expert and executive in the industry.

Rooted in Xiuzhou, Jiaxing, Pioneering China's Smart Manufacturing

In August 2020, Dr. Wu Hao was appointed President of GRAEFF China. After extensive research and evaluation, he finally located GRAEFF's China production base in Xiuzhou, Jiaxing.

The sound industrial chain support and favorable scientific research and business environment in the Yangtze River Delta have made Jiaxing the golden balance between technological innovation and industrial implementation. Here, Dr. Wu Hao built a team and production lines from scratch, leading Graeff (Jiaxing) Instrument Co., Ltd. to achieve rapid growth, with the factory’s annual output value exceeding 20 million yuan.

At present, GRAEFF has developed nearly 100 sensor products and obtained nearly 100 relevant national patents, becoming an innovation benchmark in the domestic intelligent sensing field.

Tackle Pain Points, Upgrade Industry with AI

As a tech-driven entrepreneur, Dr. Wu Hao has always regarded innovation as the core competitiveness of the enterprise. Faced with the industry challenge of accuracy degradation in traditional melt pressure sensors under extreme working conditions, he led the R&D team to tackle key problems.

Development began in late 2022. Despite an initial product pass rate of only 20%–30%, the team stayed dedicated to the laboratory, repeatedly testing materials, optimizing AI algorithms, and refining manufacturing processes. After one year of intensive efforts, the product pass rate rose to 80%, and mass production was successfully achieved.

This world’s first AI intelligent melt pressure sensor can perform real-time zero-drift correction in extreme environments, ensuring measurement consistency across multiple devices working in coordination. It completely solves the temperature drift pain point of traditional products, greatly improves measurement accuracy and stability, and drives the industry toward intelligentization and high precision.

“There is no smooth path to innovation. Once the principle is sound, we must push through no matter how difficult the road is.”Dr. Wu Hao stated that the company will continue to support key customers in completing testing and verification, prove product value with data, and help customers reduce costs and improve efficiency through technological innovation.

Craftsmanship • China Sensing • Global Stage

From a frontline worker to a PhD CEO, from an apprentice to the global president of a multinational enterprise, Dr. Wu Hao has stayed committed to his belief for more than 20 years: “Work steadily, behave earnestly.”

In the vibrant entrepreneurial land of Jiaxing, he leads GRAEFF to continuously deepen sensing technologies and promote the deep integration of AI, IoT, and traditional sensors. Its products are widely used in plastics, chemical fibers, petrochemicals, new energy, and other fields. He is committed to enhancing the international competitiveness of Chinese sensor enterprises and enabling “Smart Manufacturing in China” to stand on the world stage.

About Dr. Wu Hao

Dr. Wu Hao, born in 1983 in Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province, currently serves as President of Hogo Group and Global President of GRAEFF. As a Senior Engineer and expert in pressure metrology, he is recognized as a reserve leading talent in Shanghai and a Chief Technician of Songjiang District, Shanghai. His social appointments include Member of the 7th CPPCC Yueyang Municipal Committee of Hunan Province, Member of the 10th Committee of the Hunan Youth Federation, WTO/TBT Review Expert, Member of the National Pressure Metrology Technical Committee, and Chairman of the On-site Testing Professional Committee of the Shanghai Metrology & Testing Society.

Education Background

2009: Master of Business Administration (MBA), PSU University, USA

2019: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), IPAG Business School, France

2026: Postdoctoral Research at Yonsei University, South Korea

Professional Experience

1999: At the age of 16, he left school early to start his career and officially entered the sensor industry, beginning with frontline production work.

2002: At the age of 19, he was awarded the title of “Outstanding Employee” by the Yangpu District Federation of Trade Unions, Shanghai.

2004: At the age of 21, he led the cross-border merger and acquisition between Chinese and American companies.

2006: At the age of 23, he founded Shanghai Haoying Measurement and Control Technology Co., Ltd.

2011: At the age of 28, Shanghai Haoying was acquired by Roper Corporation, USA (a Fortune Global 500 company). He was re-employed as President of Dynisco China, and personally founded the Dynisco China factory. He is hailed as the “Father of the Melt Pressure Sensor Innovation Model and Dynisco ECHO”.

2014: At the age of 31, he integrated various resources and founded Haoge Group, serving as President. The Group’s business covers sensors, Internet of Things, film and television, technology, culture and media, Internet, catering, agriculture, angel investment and other fields.

2020: He founded GRAEFF China and served as President of China Region, promoting the establishment of GRAEFF China factory.

2023: He was appointed President of GRAEFF Asia Pacific Region, concurrently President of China Region, established the Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, covering the Asia-Pacific market with China as the center.

2024: He led Haoge Group to fully acquire the British company GRAEFF, and became Global President of GRAEFF, integrating a century of technological accumulation and strengthening the global market layout.

Technical Achievements & Industrial Contributions

As a legendary leader in the sensor industry, Dr. Wu Hao is an artisan-style entrepreneur and technical expert who also serves as a senior engineer and industrial professor. With decades of deep cultivation in the industry, he serves as both an enterprise leader and a technical practitioner.

He led his team to develop China’s first mercury-free, eco-friendly melt pressure sensor, breaking international monopolies, eliminating hidden dangers of mercury pollution and safety risks, and supporting the production of melt-blown fabrics and the supply of core materials for eco-friendly masks during the pandemic.

He developed the world’s first AI intelligent melt pressure sensor, integrating artificial intelligence algorithms to greatly improve measurement accuracy and stability, and driving the intelligent upgrading of the industry.

He conquered the pressure measurement technology for high-temperature molten salt heat storage and transfer systems, filling a domestic gap. Related achievements won the Silver Award at the 6th China (Shanghai) Invention and Innovation Exhibition and the Bronze Award at the 34th Shanghai Excellent Invention Selection Competition.

He leads a team with nearly 200 national patents related to sensors, covering core fields such as structural design, intelligent algorithms, and environmentally friendly materials.

Participated in drafting multiple national standards and verification regulations including General Technical Requirements for Intelligent Measurement and Control Equipment, Pressure Sensors, Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors, and Pressure Transmitters. Also engaged in the review and validation of hundreds of national and industrial standards as well as verification procedures, laying a solid foundation for standardized industry development, quality improvement, and technological innovation.

With GRAEFF as the core platform, Dr. Wu Hao promotes the in-depth integration of sensors and the Internet of Things, develops solutions for smart fire protection, smart agriculture, smart sanitation and other fields, and supports urban digital transformation. His innovative technologies are widely used in plastics, chemical fiber, rubber, petrochemical, new energy and other industrial fields, significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of Chinese sensor enterprises.

In academia, he published the monograph Intelligent Pressure Sensors: Theory and Cutting-Edge Practices, which systematically sorts out basic theories, core technologies and future trends. It is known as a “practical guide” in the field of intelligent sensing, providing important theoretical guidance and practical references for industry practitioners.

Social Positions

Member, National Pressure Metrology Technical Committee

WTO/TBT Review Expert

Expert Database Member, Hunan Metrology Association

Member, 10th Committee of Hunan Youth Federation

Executive Vice President, Hunan Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

Executive President, Hunan (Yueyang) Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

Chairman, On-line Testing Professional Committee, Shanghai Society for Metrology and Testing

Vice Chairman, Pressure and Level Professional Committee of Shanghai

Senior Expert, Zhejiang Association of Automation

Expert, Zhejiang Artificial Intelligence Expert Service Group

Expert Committee Member, Zhejiang Intelligent Manufacturing Expert Database

Industrial Advisor, Zhejiang Academy of Quality Sciences

Executive President, Jiaxing Hunan Chamber of Commerce

Entrepreneurship Mentor, New Generation Federation of Jiaxing Hunan Chamber of Commerce

Director, 3rd Council of Jiaxing New Generation Entrepreneurs Association

Entrepreneurship Mentor, Jiaxing Science and Technology Business Incubator Association

Industrial Professor, School-Enterprise Cooperation Committee of University Graduates Employment Association & Management Office of National Applied Talents Training Project

Expert, CNKI Review Expert Database

Visiting Professor, Shandong Vocational College of Light Industry

Visiting Professor, Yantai Vocational College

China-Thailand Ambassador for International Cultural Exchange

Honorary Chairman (China Region), National Academy of Natural and Applied Sciences (USA)

Foreign Fellow, National Academy of Natural and Applied Sciences (USA)

Lifelong Fellow, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic

Visiting Professor & Off-Campus Doctoral Supervisor, School of Economics and Management, Chang'an University

Visiting Professor (Education Major) & Master's Supervisor, College of Education, Ludong University

Honors & Awards

2025 Innovative Achievement Award, ABEC Annual Asian Influence Innovation Summit

Outstanding Youth of Yueyang City, Hunan Province

Outstanding Yueyang Entrepreneur of Yueyang City, Hunan Province

Public Welfare Figure of Songjiang District, Shanghai

Reserve Leading Talent of Shanghai

Chief Technician of Songjiang District, Shanghai

Chedong Craftsman of Songjiang District, Shanghai

Silver Award for Invention, The 6th China (Shanghai) International Invention & Innovation Exhibition

Bronze Award for Excellent Invention, The 34th Shanghai Excellent Invention Selection

Top Ten Leading Figures of Shanghai

Wisdom Craftsman for Urban Digital Transformation of Shanghai

Second Prize of Shanghai Urban Digital Transformation

Pioneer Leader of Shanghai Urban Digital Transformation

Qingyun Award, The 4th Zhejiang Entrepreneur Qingyun List

Young Scientific and Technological Leading Talent, "Navigation Plan", Party School of Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology

Young Innovative Talent of Yangtze River Delta G60 Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor

Design Craftsman, Jiaxing Industrial Design Association

2025 "Special Contribution" Award, Jiaxing Social Organizations General Association

Charity Star of Jiaxing City

Top Ten Industrial Designers of Jiaxing City

Emerging Hunan Entrepreneur, Jiaxing Hunan Chamber of Commerce

Star of Hunan Entrepreneurs, Jiaxing Hunan Chamber of Commerce

Emerging Popular Science Talent, Popular Science China

Holder of numerous national patents

Philanthropy Ambassador

About GRAEFF

GRAEFF is a British multinational company specializing in the research and development, production and sales of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, melt pressure sensors, intelligent sensors, flow sensors, displacement sensors, liquid level sensors, pressure and temperature control instruments, pressure gauges, pressure and temperature calibration systems, and automation control systems.