The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 127 Experiment Successful, Leap Begins [Please Subscribe]

After finishing the factory meeting, Zhou Zhiqiang told a few factory leaders and then went back to the project team.

Today's meeting is about what he already knew, and about negotiating with other factories capable of processing and producing mechanical parts.

They took over their surplus production capacity and then completed the production tasks of the Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory.

Other factories have overproduction because they produce too much and can't sell it. If they could sell it, they wouldn't have to go through all the trouble of sourcing materials from various places.

The only thing Zhou Zhiqiang didn't know was that Dafeng Agricultural Machinery Equipment Factory had already applied for quotas for two sessions of the Canton Fair.

This time they will bring a small tractor and a threshing machine with them.

However, what angered Director Zhao was that after they submitted the blueprints for the seeder to the ministry, the Planning Department assigned them to an agricultural machinery factory in Henan Province.

As a result, after they produced it, they not only sold a lot domestically, but also went to participate in the Canton Fair.

After returning, Director Zhao told Deputy Director Liu about the incident. He said that if their factory hadn't been short-handed and lacked skilled workers, there wouldn't have been any chance for that agricultural machinery factory in Henan Province.

At this meeting, Director Zhao and Secretary Yan also discussed the tasks and goals set by the factory itself.

If the foreign trade orders secured at the Canton Fair are enough to maintain a 20% growth in output value next year, he will immediately submit an application to his superiors to expand recruitment.

Even if there's no space nearby, building a branch factory two or three kilometers away is fine.

The branch factory's profits are counted in the head office's accounts, but they are now factories directly under the ministry.

If you really want to build a branch factory, you need to have outstanding achievements before you're even qualified to apply.

Applying for expansion without achieving results will likely result in a dismissive remark from your superiors: "Expansion? What are you talking about? You haven't even met your growth targets. Aren't you already well-staffed?"

Now, Factory Director Zhao has come to realize the importance of technological research and development.

Previously, Dafeng Machinery Factory mainly produced agricultural machinery parts and components; it was an independent processing plant, not an appendage of other factories.

How much food one can eat depends on the production quotas of other factories.

But since Zhou Zhiqiang developed and designed the small tractor, their factory has stood up in just two years.

From a small-to-medium-sized machine processing plant with a workforce of over a thousand, it has now grown into a large factory with a combined workforce of over five thousand, creating the nation's largest foreign trade order.

All of these are inextricably linked to the research and development of new technologies.

Therefore, Director Zhao really hoped that Zhou Zhiqiang could come back to head the technical department. Although the current technical department was still doing work, and even doing better than the technical department before the factory expansion, it was still quite capable.
However, it doesn't inspire much anticipation. If Zhou Zhiqiang were here, they wouldn't know when they would receive an application to test-manufacture new agricultural machinery.

But with Zhou Zhiqiang gone, that sense of anticipation vanished.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang couldn't say when he would be back. Even if his team completed the project they were responsible for, they would only have some free time, but he would definitely still have to stay with the project team.

Before the large hydraulic press is fully manufactured, the project team is not disbanded. He is still a member of the project team and can take some time to come back and help out at the factory.

That's what Zhou Zhiqiang said; he didn't say anything definitively, only that they'd see how things went.

Factory Director Zhao didn't force him; it was already quite good that he could take the time to help the factory. Strictly speaking, he was competing with the ministry's project team for personnel. If the project team found out, Factory Director Zhao would definitely be criticized.

In other words, Zhou Zhiqiang helped him keep it a secret.

------

mid March.

The temperature is gradually warming up, and a month has passed since the last report. Now is the time to verify the first phase of the experiment.

At the electroslag welding test site, all the workers and engineers from the project team were somewhat nervous as they debugged the equipment.

Despite their nervousness, they dared not relax at all, checking each item three times before signing off and confirming that everything was correct.

After all the machinery and equipment had been inspected and were ready, Dong Zhengyu reported to Zhou Zhiqiang: "Engineer Zhou, all the machinery and equipment have been adjusted and calibrated without any errors. We can put them into testing now."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded, then asked, "What about the test piece? How's it going?"

"After the surface treatment was completed, it was checked twice more, and the fixing was also checked twice. There were absolutely no problems."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang turned to look at Team Leader Shen Changlin and Director Cai beside him and asked, "Team Leader, may we begin?"

Shen Changlin said, "You're the team leader, you give the order."

"Okay, Engineer Dong, have someone get the welding materials and workpiece in place, and then start igniting the arc and creating slag."

"clear."

After Zhou Zhiqiang gave the order, the entire team immediately began to take action.

After the materials and workpieces were transported to their destination, Zhou Zhiqiang gave the order to begin the test.

Zhou Zhiqiang personally stepped forward to judge the timing. The initial stage of conductive heating relied entirely on experience, but of all those present, only Zhou Zhiqiang had half an experience.

When Zhou Zhiqiang collected the technical results transmitted to him by the simulation assistant, he gained 'half' of experience.

But since he hadn't tried it himself, even though Zhou Zhiqiang was very confident, he didn't dare say that he would definitely succeed on his first try.

However, if he succeeds the first time, he can say that he is 100% sure of success in the future.

Several tens of minutes later, Zhou Zhiqiang and several other welders, without even looking away, finally succeeded in igniting the arc.

"Welding will begin now. Engineer Liang, you keep a close eye on the welding machine instruments. Everyone else, continue with your assigned tasks."

Zhou Zhiqiang saw that the most troublesome step had been successfully completed, and the next step was to stabilize the welding process.

It would take a long time, so Zhou Zhiqiang asked others to watch the welding for him temporarily. He then went to Shen Changlin and Director Cai's side and said...

"Team Leader Shen, Director Cai, the next test will take a long time, about six or seven hours. Why don't you go and rest first?"

After hearing this, Shen Changlin immediately shook his head and said, "No, I'll just keep an eye on things here. Comrade Zhiqiang, don't worry about me, just keep an eye on the project."

Director Cai added, "Yes, Comrade Zhiqiang, just pretend we don't exist. If this goes on for too long, be careful about the staffing issues."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "Don't worry, we've already made preparations in advance."

Seeing that the two had no intention of leaving, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't say anything more and went back to keep watch.

He always considers the big picture, but also keeps a close eye on every single detail.

No one understands the operation of electroslag welding technology better than him, so Zhou Zhiqiang has to keep an eye on it.

At this time, Zhou Zhiqiang did not rest at all. Every ten minutes, he would come over to check the current and voltage data, as well as the status of the welded workpiece.

Zhou Zhiqiang would immediately make adjustments whenever any problem arose.

Seven hours later, the welding and repair process was completed.

Zhou Zhiqiang carefully inspected every part of the workpiece, and only after confirming that there were no signs of failure such as protrusions or dents did he send someone over to perform the final post-weld inspection.

This is also a time-consuming process, taking at least ten hours. However, if it passes, then they can declare their first trial of the electroslag welding technology modification process a success.

However, since the previous procedures had all gone smoothly, many people were already fantasizing that this test would also be successful, and they couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, everyone, it will take quite a while for us to finish. You can go back and rest now, and come back promptly at six o'clock tomorrow morning."

After seeing that everyone who was supposed to be changing shifts had arrived, Zhou Zhiqiang said to the team members who had been busy all day, "Master Dong, go back and rest early. We'll need you to come back tomorrow morning."

Dong Zhengyu nodded. They had indeed worked very hard. Although the welding only took seven hours, the preparatory work beforehand had taken twelve hours.

All told, I haven't rested for almost a day, and I'm constantly on edge, not daring to relax.

Now that it's time for testing, we can relax a bit.

Team Leader Shen and Director Cai also went back; they had a lot of things to do and couldn't afford to waste a day here.

But Zhou Zhiqiang couldn't leave yet; he had to master every detail of the welding process and record his experience in detail.

Early the next morning.

"No damage. Tensile strength is qualified. Impact resistance is qualified. No deformation under heating and pressure. Good, good, good!"

After reviewing all the test records, Zhou Zhiqiang excitedly announced to everyone gathered around him...
"Comrades, our first test of the electroslag welding technology modification process was a complete success, without a single mistake!"

"Great!"

"It finally worked."

Long live Maozhuxi!

The workers who had been working all night and the engineers in the team shouted with joy.

Success on the first try was something they could hardly believe, but now it was right in front of them.

After everyone had been happy for a few minutes, Zhou Zhiqiang waved his hand to signal them to calm down, and then addressed everyone.
"The person taking over the shift, please stay here and keep an eye on things, clean up the debris, and readjust the equipment. Those who worked overtime last night, go have breakfast first. Go to the breakfast stall at the street corner outside the factory. The project team will report to you later."

You have no plans for today, just come as usual tomorrow.

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and shouted, "I'll go report first. I will report to the leaders in detail about the contributions of my comrades."

With the first experiment a success, they have accumulated enough valuable experience that Zhou Zhiqiang can confidently say they will succeed in the subsequent experiments and formal segmented welding as well.

They were basically able to erect the 'shell' of the large hydraulic press.

"Thank you, leader."

"Thank you, Engineer Zhou. We'll go eat now."

After working all night, they were all exhausted. After saying goodbye to Zhou Zhiqiang, they left.

After dinner, they planned to get a good night's sleep.

"Engineer Dong, please keep an eye on the site. These are the test records I summarized last night. Please compile and copy them for me."

Zhou Zhiqiang said, "I'll go report to the team leader first, and then I'll come back later."

"Okay, Mr. Zhou, leave it to me."

After Dong Zhengyu finished speaking, he continued, "Engineer Zhou, you haven't slept for almost thirty hours. Remember to rest."

"Don't worry, I'll go rest in a bit, but I need to finish the report first."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, then went to his office and made a call to the office of the main research team of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry.

After the call connected, Team Leader Shen's anxious voice came through the other end: "Comrade Zhiqiang, how is it? What was the result?"

"Don't worry, Team Leader Shen, it's a success."

Zhou Zhiqiang said with a smile, "The test results are consistent with the calculations before the experiment, and in some cases, the values ​​even exceed the calculations. I'll send them over to you in a bit."

"Don't ride your bike over. I'll have Director Cai arrange a driver to pick you up. Please don't ride your bike."

Team Leader Shen quickly said, "You've been busy all day and night, I'm not comfortable letting you ride your bike now. You should wait there for the driver to pick you up."

"Okay, then I'll wait for the driver to come over."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he hung up the phone and went out to find Dong Zhengyu.

They summarized quickly, and Zhou Zhiqiang even went over it with Dong Zhengyu. The driver arranged by Director Cai arrived after everything was finished.

After handing over the remaining work to Dong Zhengyu, Zhou Zhiqiang followed the driver to the First Ministry of Machine Building.

When he arrived at the project team office, Shen Changlin and Lin Tian were waiting for him. As soon as Zhou Zhiqiang came in, the two of them asked impatiently, "Zhiqiang, tell us in detail."

"Okay, let me get straight to the specific test data. The surface has virtually no large pores or inclusions, and it passed tensile and impact tests."

Zhou Zhiqiang quickly reported all the test results, and also submitted a data table comparing the previous calculation results with the test results.

After listening to the report and reviewing the test results, Chief Engineers Shen Changlin and Lin Tian quickly grasped the situation.

This experiment was very successful and can basically verify that electroslag welding technology can achieve segmented welding of large columns and create the frame of a large hydraulic press.

However, this is the first test. To be on the safe side, there should be a second and a final test.

"good very good!"

After Shen Changlin finished speaking, he stood up and paced back and forth a couple of times, his face showing a conflicted expression as if he were making a difficult decision.

Soon, Shen Changlin walked up to Zhou Zhiqiang and asked solemnly, "Comrade Zhiqiang, based on the current experimental results, how confident are you in the success of directly using electroslag welding technology for segmented welding of large columns?"

After hearing this, Lin Tian asked in shock, "Team Leader Shen, Engineer Shen, what are you trying to do?"
"You're already thinking of proceeding with segmented welding of large columns after just one test?!"

"Engineer Lin, we should speed things up as much as possible. Besides, I wouldn't support this without a high success rate, but you've seen the experimental results."

Shen Changlin said, "You know the spirit of 'going all out and striving for excellence' in the construction of a faster, better, and more economical project. We must be fast and economical."

"Comrade Zhiqiang, tell me honestly, say how confident you are. If we were to proceed with the segmented welding of the large columns now, what do you think the success rate would be?"

After hearing Shen Changlin's words, Zhou Zhiqiang roughly understood why he was in such a hurry. He had just held a meeting a while ago, which had thoroughly mobilized the enthusiasm of the entire population.

For this reason, Shen Changlin may also want to reduce the number of experiments.
To be honest...

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, and his pause made the hearts of the two chief engineers, Shen Changlin and Lin Tian, ​​jump into their throats.

"Based on current experience, there's a 90% chance of failure; if it does fail, it's definitely due to improper operation!"

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(End of this chapter)