Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2529 (First Update, Please Subscribe)
People experience joys and sorrows in different ways, but for the Lebanese, the new year has given them hope for the future.

For the people of SEA on the other side of the ocean, it was just an ordinary year.

When the New Year arrives, they will enjoy the New Year's Eve revelry and the holiday to the fullest. That's all. It seems like nothing special; it's just an ordinary part of everyday life.

Although the New Year's Day holiday is over, the air is still filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Every year from January to February, the air in the SEA is generally like this, because after New Year's Day, the Spring Festival will soon arrive. The Spring Festival is not only the most important festival, but also the longest holiday of the year.

Therefore, at this time of year, people often discuss topics related to holidays, such as where to go on vacation and how to reunite with family.

so various,

This is why people often become distracted at work, and even the higher-ups don't think it's a big deal; everyone has gotten used to it.

Even on the continuous rolling mill lines of steel production in steel companies, workers can get distracted. Fortunately, steel production is now controlled by electronic computers; otherwise, it might really lead to production accidents.

In reality, their so-called distraction was just an occasional chat; they were usually still focused on steel production.

From any perspective, the production environment for steel is far from friendly. The scorching heat, mixed with the quenching of steel, machine oil, and high temperatures, makes the air here not only scorching but also filled with a peculiar smell.

At this moment, the huge space in the continuous rolling mill was divided by dim light and bright light: in the distance were deep shadows, while in the center of the workshop, the continuous rolling production line emitted a low and regular roar.

Molten steel is poured into a mold to form a thick steel plate, which is then slowly fed into the first set of robust rollers. The dark red steel plate, several tens of centimeters thick, roars under the immense pressure of the rollers, sparks flying from both sides.

The steel plate races along the roller conveyor, heading towards the next set of rolling mills. Each time it passes through more precise, higher-speed rolls, it is stripped of a layer of thickness and stretched a fraction of its length. The color changes from dark red to fiery orange-yellow, then fades to a bright cherry red.

In the control room next to the production line, however, the scene was quite different. Operators stared at the data on the screens, adjusting instructions from time to time. Although the rolling mill was highly automated, today was different from usual.

The cold-rolled thin steel sheets have a cool, dark gray color, and they then enter a closed corridor—a continuous annealing furnace.

Before that, they must undergo a thorough purification process. Alkaline cleaning solutions cascade down like waterfalls, washing away all the grease; acid pickling micro-pools dissolve the last traces of iron oxide, revealing the steel's purest, silvery-white surface. Then, they enter the furnace.

The steel sheet is slowly heated, held at nearly 800 degrees Celsius in a furnace, and then precisely cooled. This is not only to eliminate internal stress, but also to make its crystalline structure both soft and strong.

"Hot-dip galvanized alloy steel sheet..."

As he uttered those words, a look of excitement flashed in Wang Cheng's eyes as he said:

"It has stronger corrosion resistance than ordinary hot-dip galvanized steel sheets. This is our latest galvanized sheet technology."

SEA's car companies were among the first to use hot-dip galvanized steel sheets in automobile production. While the rest of the world was using ordinary cold-rolled steel sheets, they had already begun using hot-dip galvanized steel sheets to produce cars, thereby significantly improving the corrosion resistance of their vehicles.

Actually, this is also determined by the environment. After all, most of the cities in the SEA are located by the sea. Problems such as sea salt can cause severe corrosion of car bodies. Cars imported from the United States do not have anti-corrosion treatment, so they will rust within a few years, and even the steel plates will rust through.

Therefore, after the establishment of automobile manufacturing companies, improving the corrosion resistance of automobiles became the first problem to be solved.

At that time, the mature technology of hot-dip galvanized steel sheet became the most effective choice to improve the corrosion resistance of automobiles, thus facing the special geographical environment of the local area.

From BMW to Wuling and then to Volkswagen, all SEA cars use hot-dip galvanized steel sheets supplied by Donghai Steel. Although the cost has increased considerably, its corrosion resistance has improved by dozens of times.

This unintended consequence later became one of SEA Automotive's greatest strengths.

At that time, cars in Europe and America would rust after a few years of use, but SEA cars were different. They would not rust even after more than ten years of use. Later, this even became one of the biggest features of SEA cars.

This was one of the reasons why it was initially able to conquer markets in various countries around the world – its price was affordable and its quality was excellent. It is precisely for this reason that SEA's metallurgical companies have focused on thin sheet metal for automobiles and corrosion-resistant technologies, and now they are testing a new generation of galvanizing technology.

"We are currently testing hot-dip galvanized alloy coated steel sheets."

Wang Cheng introduced the car company representative beside him:
"It differs from ordinary hot-dip galvanized steel sheets in that it requires a second high-temperature alloying treatment after the steel sheet is produced. This is to allow the pure zinc layer to undergo a diffusion reaction with the steel substrate, so that iron and zinc combine at the atomic level, forming a new and stable intermetallic compound on the surface, namely zinc-iron alloy."

Listening to his introduction, Kang Hongyuan from BMW carefully examined a sample plate and then said:
"Its surface doesn't look shiny."

"Yes, that's its drawback. Its advantage is that this treatment forms a dense and stable alloy layer, which effectively prevents the intrusion of corrosive media and improves weldability and resistance to sand and gravel impacts. At the same time, the zinc in the alloy layer can also provide some sacrificial protection, and the rough surface can provide better adhesion for paint."

Of course, the disadvantages are that the surface is duller and less aesthetically pleasing than ordinary hot-dip galvanized sheet, making it unsuitable for exposed use. Secondly, compared to hot-dip galvanized sheet, its formability is slightly worse, and it may experience powdery peeling during extreme processing.

Wang Chengcai continued:

"However, hot-dip galvanized alloyed steel sheets have better primer adhesion, and the higher surface hardness results in better resistance to sand and gravel impacts. In harsh environments, their corrosion resistance life is typically more than 1.5 times that of hot-dip galvanized sheets of the same coating weight. Because hot-dip galvanized alloyed steel sheets are a secondary processing on the basis of hot-dip galvanized sheets, they can be called the PRO version."

Upon hearing the cost, Kang Hongyuan raised an eyebrow slightly and then said:

"That means its cost is higher."

Any company is extremely sensitive to costs, so he naturally thought of the increased costs brought about by this steel plate.

"Costs will increase, but Manager Kang, it will also lead to an increase in lifespan. The S-series' reputation for durability is not based on marketing, but on genuine user feedback. Its corrosion resistance lifespan is more than 1.5 times that of hot-dip galvanized steel, which is undoubtedly worthwhile compared to the increase in cost."

Hearing this, Kang Hongyuan pondered for a while, then nodded. He then inquired about the increase in costs, and after asking carefully, he fell into deep thought.

Seeing that he was pondering the question, Wang Chengcai said:
"Manager Kang, the reason why our products have been so popular in the market over the years is precisely because of our deep cultivation in the field of technology. Now, car manufacturers in Europe and the United States are using galvanized steel sheets to improve the corrosion resistance of their cars. Under such circumstances, how can our products stand out?"

He pointed to the thin sheet metal of the car being produced on the screen and said in a serious tone:

"This is what makes our products different, and it's the fundamental reason why we can always maintain a firm foothold in the market. It's through new technologies and continuous technological updates that we keep our products at the forefront of the world. Only in this way can we remain invincible in the fierce market competition..."

In fact, this applies not only to automobiles but also to the steel industry. As the world's largest steel company, Tokai Steel has consistently had the highest profit margin in the world. What is the secret to this success? It is the production of high-value-added steel products. Automotive sheet metal and automotive steel are its most important products, so they naturally invest a lot of capital and technology in researching new products.

A few hours later, in the conference room of Donghai Steel Company, they signed a new procurement contract, making BMW the world's first car manufacturer to use hot-dip galvanized alloy steel sheets.

This technology may seem unremarkable, but even as he left Donghai Steel, Kang Hongyuan, sitting in his car, still looked at the unassuming steel plate sample with great interest.

"It should help further expand the market..."

What makes a product advanced?
It is the use of these seemingly insignificant technologies, along with leading positions in various fields, that have contributed to SEA's automotive manufacturing industry.

Sitting in the car, Kang Hongyuan held the thin plate sample in his hand, pondering how to promote the product's excellent performance and, more importantly, how to reduce the cost.

"Let's look into production applications first..."

As the car drove along, Kang Hongyuan would occasionally glance out the window. As the car traveled along the coastal highway, around a bend, he could see the dazzling lights of Donghai Steel. Looking at the massive steel company, Kang Hongyuan thought of some sayings about the steel industry—that the steel industry was becoming a thing of the past.

Because of low added value and limited profits, many steel companies in Europe and America have gone bankrupt. So what about Donghai Steel?
Will Donghai Steel decline in the future?
When the thought crossed his mind, Kang Hongyuan immediately rejected the possibility, because SEA is now the world's largest automobile producer and the world's largest shipbuilder. Under such circumstances, how could the steel industry possibly decline?
"The key is still high value-added industries. Even traditional industries need to continuously upgrade their industries in order to survive in the future..."

When Kang Hongyuan was lost in thought, he nodded silently and turned his gaze to the steel company in the distance. Wasn't he always at the forefront of technology?
……

(End of this chapter)