Returning to 1949, I decided to hand it over to the state.

Next to it are several manual packing machines, used to bundle the profiles according to specifications for easy warehousing and transportation.

The structure is very rough, but despite its roughness, it has all the necessary functions.

Steel strip tensioning, buckle pressing, and stacking and sorting can all be done normally.

After Jiang Fan finished looking at the whole area, he didn't leave immediately. He stood there, squinting slightly as he looked at the entire set of equipment. The thought that had popped into his mind last night became clear once again.

This equipment... is pretty good.

The more he thought about it, the more confident he felt.

By today's standards, it would be considered quite a decent item.

Moreover, it's not just "usable" in the usual sense; in this era, it's considered a rather rare and decent production line.

If it were just used to make ordinary farm tools or simple ironware, of course it could be used, but Jiang Fan felt it was a bit of a waste of its potential.

Especially from the perspective of equipment chain and product added value, this line can obviously undertake more extended tasks.

Jiang Fan's thoughts quickly followed this direction.

Gas cylinder.

Or to be more precise, it's a product strategy oriented towards steel containers.

He stood beside the equipment, his mind already rapidly dissecting the process flow.

If you want to build a tank, you first need suitable steel prefabricated parts.

The rolling line can discharge materials, the cooling bed can complete the cooling, the straightening machine can level and straighten, and the cutting device can cut materials into lengths.

The collection and packaging area can also perform preliminary classification and transfer of materials of different specifications.

In other words, from the perspective of material preparation alone, this line can already handle a considerable portion of the work.

As for the subsequent processes of rolling, forming, welding, opening, sealing, and pressure testing, these are certainly new steps, but the problems are not so big that they cannot be done at all.

At least in Jiang Fan's view, these processes are far less demanding than those of precision machinery.

Rolling can bodies requires forming equipment; one could try to modify or assemble a simple rolling device in a machine repair shop.

Needless to say, welding is something that Ansteel has no shortage of experienced welders who know how to weld, dare to weld, and can bring scrap parts back to life.

As for sealing testing, it is indeed complicated to do so. However, for initial trial production, you can start with more basic methods such as pressure resistance, water immersion leak detection, and interface sealing, and work your way up step by step.

In other words, this path is not just a pipe dream.

With proper design and reasonable process route arrangement, it is entirely possible to first use existing rolling and finishing equipment to complete the prefabrication of tank materials, then send the semi-finished products to machine repair or supporting workshops for forming, welding and assembly, and finally consider gas storage and subsequent applications according to actual use.

Thinking of this, Jiang Fan's eyes lit up.

This thing is really promising.

At least from the perspective of device path, this line of thinking is definitely not just wild speculation.

He then walked back and went to the hot furnace to check on the rolling mill.

After all, you can't just look at half of something.

Zhou Chunsheng was still engrossed in inspecting the hot furnace, squatting by the valve and forcefully tightening the screws.

Seeing Jiang Fan walk over, he showed a hint of surprise on his face.

"Engineer Jiang, you finished looking at it so quickly? Is there a problem over there?"

Jiang Fan nodded, his tone resolute:

"Great! The wear on the guide rail of the moving beam of the walking cooling bed is within the normal range. The roller surface of the straightener has slight scratches but does not affect the accuracy. The belt of the cutting saw is a bit aged but still holds up. Everything in the collection and packaging area is normal. Overall, this set of equipment can operate normally."

"The craftsmen who repair these things are really skilled."

After looking at the repair marks, Jiang Fan couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing this, Zhou Chunsheng, who was standing next to him, even looked a little embarrassed. He adjusted his glasses and smiled:

"Engineer Jiang, you flatter me, you flatter me."

Jiang Fan: "..."

It can be a little awkward to praise someone directly, especially if it's directed at them.

He could only cough dryly and quickly change the subject.

"Um... Mr. Zhou, how's it going on your end?"

Zhou Chunsheng naturally continued the conversation:

"I'm almost done here too. There are two places where I need to add a few more gaskets, but it's not a big problem."

"There's basically nothing going on now, we're just waiting for the leaders to arrive."

"So fast?" Jiang Fan was taken aback.

He thought he would be busy for most of the day, but after checking everything, he found that the equipment was actually in better condition than he had expected.

Thinking of this, he asked casually:

"Zhou, which leaders are coming today? Will Chief Li from yesterday's meeting also be here?"

"Of course I'll come, I definitely will!"

Zhou Chunsheng answered readily, closing his notebook and counting on his fingers.

"Besides Chief Li, the factory director, the party secretary, the union leader, and those veteran comrades from the technical department will probably all be coming."

"After all, this is the first medium-sized steel rolling mill to officially start operation since Ansteel resumed operations, so it has a different significance."

"Don't underestimate its scale. Once it's up and running, it means we can do more than just steel and iron smelting. We can also move towards further processing and finished products. This is a big deal."

"However, I heard that after Commander Li finishes his visit here, he may have to go back to Yan'an. I don't know if I will have the chance to see him again."

Jiang Fan originally asked this question simply to find out who among the people present today was most likely to make the final decision on the product direction.

Once he knows who's in charge, he'll have a clear objective if he wants to find an opportunity to pass on a message or sound out someone.

But he never expected to hear such a sentence from Zhou Chunsheng.

Yan'an.

The significance of this place name in 1949 is self-evident.

Before Beiping was officially established as the capital and the national situation was still being reorganized, Yan'an was practically a revolutionary holy land and a spiritual landmark in the hearts of countless people.

How could someone who could travel back and forth between Yan'an and Anshan Iron and Steel at this point in time be an ordinary cadre?

Jiang Fan was suddenly jolted, only then belatedly realizing what level of person he had met yesterday.

He dared not think about it too deeply, nor could he think about it too deeply, because the more he thought about it, the more unreal it seemed.

How could someone who was editing videos in a rented room yesterday have actually spoken face-to-face with someone of this caliber at Anshan Iron and Steel Company in 1949?

Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

Jiang Fan swallowed hard, trying to make his tone sound natural.

"Wow...so many people."

Seeing his reaction, Zhou Chunsheng immediately burst out laughing.

"What's wrong, Engineer Jiang? Are you nervous?"

"Yesterday in the conference room, I didn't realize you were someone who was afraid of big scenes."