Shaping the future of terminals in Brazil: how technology and automation are preparing Brazil for new energy dynamics
The energy sector is transitioning to lower-carbon fuels, and Brazil remains a major global player in ethanol production, particularly of sugarcane-and corn-based ethanol, with production reaching record levels. This translates into greater complexity in the storage, blending, handling, and delivery of petroleum products and biofuels for downstream and midstream operations.
Terminals around the world are prioritizing automation, operational efficiency, safety, and higher throughput. In Brazil, these priorities are further driven by the expansion of biofuel blending programs and increased production. In recent years, corn-based ethanol production has grown rapidly, increasing by more than 30% year over year. It rose from approximately 4.5 billion liters in the 2022/23 harvest to 6.26 billion in the 2023/24 harvest and to 8.2 billion in the 2024/25 harvest. Projections estimate that it will reach about 10 billion liters in the 2025/26 harvest, accounting for nearly one-third of national production.
The increase in FPSO (floating production, storage, and offloading) activity, especially in Brazil, and the continued expansion of the midstream transportation sector are driving the demand for modular, interoperable, and upgrade-ready instrumentation and automation solutions. This is necessary to keep pace with evolving standards and digitalization.
Innovative solutions for downstream operations
In partnership with FLUXO Soluções Integradas, Guidant Measurement provides cutting-edge terminal automation technologies designed to address these challenges. These solutions directly address the market’s demand for automation, safety, and optimized transfer rates at downstream terminals.
Ethanol Expansion and API 11.3.4 Compliance
With the growth of ethanol terminals, Guidant's Genesis™ meters set the standard with a high reduction ratio (turndown ratio) and a defined accuracy of ±0.075% at 30:1, making them the most accurate PD (Positive Displacement) meters for mixing markets in the industry.
Batch Control and Terminal Automation
Guidant’s API 11.3.4-compliant batch controllers and advanced Terminal Management Systems (TMS) deliver improvements in automation and throughput, ensuring compliance and reducing operational risk.
A legacy of technology and continuous innovation
Guidant Measurement has built its reputation on the reliability of its installed base for fiscal measurement, custody transfer, and terminal automation. The company combines decades of proven performance with a constant pursuit of innovation. Its comprehensive measurement portfolio reflects this legacy and continuous advancement, providing operators with confidence to handle traditional fuels and emerging low-carbon energy sources.
The company offers precision technologies designed to meet customers' actual working conditions, ranging from Smith Meter® positive displacement meters — a long-standing global benchmark — to the latest generation of Genesis positive displacement meters and ultrasonic flow meters. These meters are all calibrated in an ISO/IEC 17025-certified flow laboratory, validated in the field, and designed to be modular and ensure compliance with established standards.
The acquisition of the Fusion4 family of electronics portfolio, which includes Preset, expands and complements Guidant's capabilities in terminal automation, encompassing a mix of (blending), additive injection and control of multiple loading arms simultaneously. Combined with proven platforms like AccuLoad™, Guidant delivers a complete ecosystem that connects the trusted Smith legacy with modern capabilities designed for market realities. downstream and midstream current.
In addition to product innovation, Guidant and FLUXO offer exclusive support for the Brazilian market. Guidant's Flow Laboratory (Guidant Flow Lab) is capable of performing advanced tests of ultrasonic meters and instrumentation under real working conditions, including flow regimes based on Reynolds number, so that the equipment is validated before it reaches the field.
Furthermore, operators acquire the knowledge necessary to maximize their operational performance through training programs and technical resources. Together, superior validation, operator training, and advanced terminal solutions strengthen every link in the transportation and terminal value chain.
A legacy of measurement for over 90 years
| 1862 | F.A. Sening GmbH begins manufacturing metal products and hardware in Germany |
| 1933 | Reuben Stanley patents the PD Smith Meter, which leads to the creation of Smith Meter in the United States |
| 1948 | INVALCO is founded as Instruments Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 1968 | CSI, the developer of FuelACS, is founded |
| 1974 | Kongsberg Offshore is established following the discovery of Ekofisk in Norway |
| 1987 | Smith Meter acquires F.A. Sening GmbH |
| 1993 | Smith Meter acquires INVALCO | Kongsberg Offshore is acquired by FMC Corporation |
| 1995 | Smith Meter is acquired by FMC Corporation |
| 2012 | CSI becomes part of FMC Technologies |
| 2016 | FMC Technologies and Technip merge to form TechnipFMC |
| 2024 | Guidant Measurement is established as an independent company following its spin-off from TechnipFMC |
| 2025 | Guidant and FLUXO Soluções Integradas sign an agreement for exclusive distribution in Brazil |
A partnership that adds value
What makes this story unique is not just the technology, but the partnership between Guidant's global innovation and FLUXO's presence in Brazil. FLUXO's highly qualified team, composed of experts in sales, services, and technical areas, brings together in-depth knowledge of the markets of downstream and midstream and proven field experience in applications for terminals, ethanol, and FPSOs.
Guidant’s cutting-edge measurement technologies, combined with this expertise, enable the company to offer advanced, tailored solutions and agile, responsive support that maximizes uptime and performance to meet the country’s specific needs. Guidant and FLUXO are not only keeping pace with Brazil’s energy transition, they are also actively contributing to leading this process.
Author of the article
John Meerdo
Commercial Director at Guidant Measurement
John Meerdo is a professional with over 19 years of experience in the industrial sector and a solid track record in automation, instrumentation, and engineering solutions. He has held leadership positions in sales, marketing, and business development for over 12 years and has experience in P&L management and operations. Throughout his career, he has combined direct and channel sales, working at companies of various sizes and in different business contexts. Most recently, he served as Global Vice President at Schneider Electric from 2022 to 2025.