Yang Xiaotao stood aside and looked at the busy people with a calm expression.
Beside him, veteran An Zhongsheng and others looked excitedly at the rolling mill that was about to take shape in front of them.
Since the first four-roll rolling mill was built by the machinery factory, the test results of the third machine department were good. The rolled steel strip met the requirements of the other party and was even closer to the theoretical data.
Judging from the news coming back from the Three Machinery Department, the four-roll rolling mill can fully meet the steel plant's demand for tinplate production.
So the machine shop made another one in the past two days.
I just happened to give it a try today.
"Mr. Yang, it's ready!"
Hou Baobao smiled and came to report to Yang Xiaotao.
"Thank you for your hard work, comrades, please check again. It will be used soon, so don't cause any problems."
"good!"
After Hou Baobao agreed, he turned around to check, while Yang Xiaotao glanced at An Zhongsheng.
"Director An, how are you preparing over there?"
An Zhongsheng looked solemn, "Mr. Yang, we are ready! As long as there are no problems here, we can produce it immediately."
"Okay, I'll leave this place to you!"
Yang Xiaotao knew that he was just a spectator here, and professional matters should be left to professionals.
An Zhongsheng took over the command of the scene, and Yang Xiaotao led Lao Dao and Guan Zhiyong to the rest area.
There, Yang Youning was having a lively chat with a middle-aged man.
"Lao Dao, how is the production of alloys now?"
Zhang Laodao stroked his beard, "It's more than last month, mainly because the supply of raw materials has increased, technology has improved, and the output has also increased."
“This needs to be continuously improved.”
"Now the steel production of steel plants has become saturated, and there is still room for improvement in alloy production. You must improve the process as soon as possible and increase production."
"The demand for this alloy will be increasing in the future."
As Yang Xiaotao walked while talking, the old man beside him nodded, and then thought of something and asked, "Last time, people from the Metallurgical Bureau came and said they wanted to cooperate in depth to study high-strength alloy steel. You were in Yangjiazhuang at that time.
I was busy in the greenhouse, so I didn’t say anything.”
"High-strength alloy steel? Isn't this made?"
"I don't know. They just mentioned it. It seemed that they had received a big order for a big ship."
"But there are currently no steel products that meet the requirements in China, so that's why we made the request."
Zhang Laodao shook his head and said, and then continued without waiting for Yang Xiaotao to ask, "At least it must be anti-corrosion, and it must be anti-magnetic."
"I'm not saying this in a negative way. With our current research capabilities, it will be really difficult in just three to five years."
Hearing what the old Taoist said, Yang Xiaotao also nodded.
There is a huge difference between building ships and building cars.
At the very least, the consumption of steel is hundreds of times higher.
"Do we have any plans behind United Stars?"
The veteran shook his head, "There is no problem with research and development, but the process improvement has been ongoing."
"Then let's go ahead and find some work!"
The veteran stroked his beard and made no objection, then heard Yang Xiaotao say again, "Just in time to get some research funds!"
In an instant, his eyes lit up, "Infinite Heavenly Lord!"
"I'll make arrangements right now!"
Later, Yang Xiaotao talked to Guan Zhiyong about the expansion of the steel plant.
Because the demand for steel from machinery plants is increasing, the output of steel plants has been saturated, and changes need to be made if they are to be satisfied.
Today, apart from some of the open-hearth furnaces in steel plants used for research purposes, all other converter transformations have been completed.
To increase production again, it is imperative to expand scale.
Fortunately, this matter has been put on the agenda a long time ago, and the steel plant has also made preparations.
"We plan to build two more 100-ton converters and start work on them in the spring of next year."
"Most of the machinery and equipment are already in place. As long as there is no shortage of manpower, I believe it will be completed in less than a year!"
Guan Zhiyong said passionately, and Yang Xiaotao also felt the same way.
The production environment of a steel plant is harsher than that of a machinery plant. It is a test for workers, both in terms of safety and environment.
"The comrades in the steel plant are all good people. They not only ensure the demand for steel in the machinery plant and other branches, but also contribute to the construction of other industries through alloy production. This is what the superior leaders said during the meeting of the First Machinery Department.
Yes, I have praised you many times."
Guan Zhiyong's face became even more excited after hearing this.
"However, when expanding, we must also focus on ensuring production tasks. After the New Year, we will only be busier than now. You must be mentally prepared."
"Don't worry, Mr. Yang, we have already done ideological mobilization."
Guan Zhiyong said seriously. Now he is no longer the director of the dilapidated steel plant. Instead, he has become the director of the steel plant affiliated to the Red Star Machinery Factory. He has begun to look at the problem from the perspective of the director.
"We produce more steel, which means that the revolutionary construction is faster. I feel happy."
Yang Xiaotao smiled and nodded, then came to Yang Youning and sat down beside him.
On the other side, a middle-aged man lifted his legs. His extremely smart appearance made him look more like a greasy uncle.
In fact, this person's job is really related to greasy.
This is the director of the Great Wall Cannery Factory in Jinmen. It is said that the cans produced are exported to the Alliance and have a good reputation.
The most famous one is canned braised pork, which is a good thing that cannot be purchased in domestic supply and marketing cooperatives.
When I came to the steel factory this time, I also heard that the machinery factory had solved the tinplate quality problem. Although I hadn't confirmed it yet, I couldn't wait to come over.
Yang Xiaotao believes that if it really succeeds, he will probably be able to come up with a bunch of task orders immediately.
"The experiment has already started, and the results are expected to be available soon."
As soon as Yang Xiaotao finished speaking and sat down, the middle-aged man smiled cheerfully and said, "You are personally guiding me. No wonder the machinery factory is developing so fast."
"Director Xu made a serious statement, I am just going to cheer for the comrades!"
"You are being too modest. I have heard about the machine factory, otherwise I wouldn't be here now."
Director Xu laughed, and then looked at Yang Youning aside, "Old Yang, think about what we can do at our age?"
"Except for fighting on the battlefield with a hundred pounds of meat, that's all it can do for revolutionary construction."
After hearing this, Yang Youning shook his head, "You are a little bit better, but I am a little bit less than you."
"What's missing?"
"Of course it's one less scar."
"Then what's there to say?"
The two of them are also old acquaintances, and their conversation seems close to each other.
Yang Xiaotao watched from the side and did not disturb the two of them reminiscing, while the experiment below had already begun.
Below, after some preparations, An Zhongsheng confirmed that the experiment has started.
Soon, the production process of tin-plated iron began, and the processing part of the rolling mill has become the focus of everyone's attention.
This was the problem in the past. The tin-plated iron produced by the Alliance's rolling mill was unsightly and extremely thick.
Later, the machinery factory developed a three-roll rolling mill, but after some experiments, it was found that although it was better than the one produced by the alliance, the thickness was once reduced to about five millimeters, but compared with the tinplate used to make cans abroad, its thickness was less than one millimeter.
This gap represents the efficiency of material utilization and production costs.
Now, it depends on whether this four-roller rolling mill can bring this technology to within one millimeter.
"Be careful and stay safe."
Wearing a safety helmet, An Zhongsheng gave instructions loudly. His palms became sweaty as he looked at the plates that were about to enter the rolling mill.
squeak
Bang bang
The sound of the rolling mill was heard, and the two movable rollers were changing the shape of the plate bit by bit. Zhou Hong, who was supporting the operation on the side, was on guard. If something went wrong, he would immediately cut off the power supply to ensure the machine's operation.
intact.
Fortunately, the quality of the steel rolling mill was decent, and the stamped plates quickly became thinner. Moreover, Zhou Hong's observation found that the thickness of the steel plates this time was much thinner than before.
A smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.
At this time, Yang Xiaotao and others also focused their gazes below, waiting for the results.
"The can skins we use now are all imported from abroad."
"Each can can earn one dollar, and four cents must be earned by this piece of iron."
"If our country solves this problem and uses tinplate produced by ourselves, then these four points can be purebred."
"If this happens in a year, I will earn an extra ten million yuan."
"This is an alliance currency."
Director Xu sighed with emotion, but his eyes never left the production line below.
This is what he came here for.
If you can use domestic canned skins, it doesn't matter even the key points.
After all, it is purely domestically produced.
"Don't worry, Old Xu. The Third Level Department has already tried it and made a millimeter thick iron sheet. It will definitely be successful here."
Yang Youning opened his mouth to comfort him.
Yang Xiaotao also nodded, "Yes, I have confidence in our workers."
bang bang bang
While several people were talking, applause came from one side. Everyone in the steel plant immediately gathered together, and Yang Xiaotao and the other two people also looked forward.
At this time, the steel plates that have just been processed by the rolling mill are entering the pickling process, and there are more plates waiting for finishing.
After a series of processing, Yang Xiaotao asked someone to hold a vernier caliper while looking at the boards being dried on a table not far away, "Quickly measure it."
An Zhongsheng took over the truck but went into battle himself.
At this moment, everyone's attention was immediately attracted.
Quickly clamp the cross section of the tinplate, and then look at the scale on it.
"0.81mm!"
After An Zhongsheng finished speaking, his eyes immediately became blurry.
"I'll try somewhere else."
An Zhongsheng then went around to do some testing, and came to the same conclusion: "0.82 mm!"
This shows that the precision of this rolling mill is very high, and the materials used did not cut corners and meet the requirements.
Otherwise it would be impossible to achieve such uniformity.
"Okay, good job."
When Director Xu heard the results, the corners of his mouth split to the back of his head.
"0.8, that's enough, that's enough."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to shake Yang Youning's hand, "Old Yang, what we discussed earlier is settled."
"Don't worry, I brought a few boxes of cans with me when I came this time, as a reward for the efforts of the comrades in the steel plant."
"That's not okay. This is what revolutionary workers should do."
Yang Youning refused repeatedly, but Director Xu was indeed firm, "Old Yang, this is our intention."
"Oh, we are still doing this!"
Yang Youning smiled so hard that he narrowed his eyes. The previous negotiation was naturally to provide tinplate if it was successful, and the other party would hand over the order to him and then submit it to his superiors for approval.
In fact, after the order was submitted to the machinery factory, there was no objection from above when it was submitted.
And these cans now are obviously ‘hard work money’.
"Well, on behalf of the comrades, I would like to thank the cannery workers."
"You're welcome, we will have a lot of cooperation in the future."
Yang Youning said unceremoniously and smiled at Yang Xiaotao, meaning that there are canned food to eat at noon.