Chapter 428 Knife Industry !
Han Guang was all by himself in his office, which was not very bright. He let out long, deep breaths, and the sound filled up the silent room. The things he had to take care of felt really heavy, and this was very different from how he looked on the outside, all polished and successful. Han Guang was in charge of the Huahai Branch of Taishan Alloy Cutting Tool Group, which was a big deal. But being the boss came with a lot of stress and worry.
Beneath the shiny exterior, many people strongly believed that knives made in their own country weren't as good as the ones imported from other places. This belief was deeply ingrained in their minds, and they assumed that knives made in foreign countries were naturally better than those made locally.
Amid the chaotic market changes, knives from other countries made a strong push, taking over a large portion of the Yanguo alloy knife market. As a result, knives made in our own country ended up mostly competing in the mid and lower-quality segments, struggling to reach the premium high-end market. This became a challenging battle because they had limited resources to work with, like going into a fight with only a small part of their full strength.
The esteemed banner of Taishan Alloy Cutting Tool Group, a stalwart presence in the alloy cutting tool industry, now fluttered in the precarious winds of the domestic high-end cutting tool market. Han Guang couldn't help but reflect on the arduous journey, a path fraught with adversity, where their share clung stubbornly to modest margins.
A wistful smile tugged at the corners of Han Guang's mouth as he sat behind his cluttered desk. He watched a machining video with a mixture of fascination and resignation. The turning tools at play were of imported make, coaxing forth exquisite workpieces from a CNC machine in a seamless ballet of precision.
Beneath the video, a chorus of commentary unfolded, a collective voice echoing the disparities.
"This is undoubtedly the craftsmanship of an imported alloy turning tool!"
"The finesse is astounding; it's a vision of what our domestic alloy turning tools aspire to be."
"We do possess commendable alloy knives here in China, reasonably priced and of remarkable quality."
"Let's be realistic, domestic products can't hope to rival imports."
Each comment etched itself into Han Guang's consciousness, carving a chasm of unmet expectations. As he absorbed the sentiments, bitterness pooled within him, mingling with a palpable sense of helplessness.
The 11th International Alloy Knives Exhibition loomed on the horizon, set to unfurl its grandeur in the very heart of Huahai City. The weight of international participation bore down on Han Guang, casting a shadow over his confidence.
"Material," Han Guang murmured, his gaze fixated on the burning ember of his cigarette. It was a matter of substance, a core tenet that determined the fate of their endeavors. The designs were sound, the processes impeccable, but the alloys at their disposal paled before their foreign counterparts.
In a bustling workshop at Global Special Materials Co., Ltd., the air thrummed with determination. Workers labored fervently, their efforts focused on an enigmatic black metal bar. Their endeavors, though valiant, yielded little progress. A meager mark was all they managed, a far cry from the substantial cut they sought.
The notion of laser cutting emerged from the assembly, tentative and hopeful. Yet, one technician's sobering shake of the head silenced the spark of optimism. A laser could not tame this beast of a bar, its diameter a formidable obstacle.
"Wire cutting, then? Let's give it a try," someone ventured, and the room held its breath.
Two days unfurled, a relentless onslaught of effort, before triumph finally emerged—a solitary piece cleaved from the unyielding metal. This fragment became the centerpiece of rigorous examination, a totem of perseverance.
Its density was nothing short of astounding, a commanding 12.5, eclipsing the standard alloy steel by a significant margin. And then there was the matter of its hardness, a testament to its singular nature. It surpassed diamond in this regard, a hardness not weighed down by fragility. Strength was its companion, and it walked alongside a resistance to corrosion and oxidation that bordered on the miraculous.
Submerged in seawater for half a millennium, it emerged untarnished, its surface a testament to its enduring resilience. The melting point, while not quite the inferno of gray and black metals, soared beyond 2400 degrees, dwarfing the thresholds of ordinary steel.
In the heart of the Universal Building, Liu Yong's thoughts danced between the graphene-aluminum battery and the enigmatic black metal rod. Xin Feiwen's silence prompted a curiosity that Liu Yong couldn't ignore.
Finally, Xin Feiwen stood before Liu Yong, a veneer of nervousness clinging to him. The rare privilege of entering Liu Yong's inner sanctum appeared to weigh on him, an uncertainty that time had woven.
"Boss," Xin Feiwen began, relief cascading through him as Liu Yong's countenance betrayed no displeasure. "The results are in; please take a look."
Liu Yong received the report with measured care, immersing himself in its contents for the better part of a quarter-hour. As the minutes unfurled, a subtle transformation swept over his features. Behind the veneer of calm, an ember of excitement flickered.
Closing the report, Liu Yong's voice held a note of wonder, "I hadn't expected it to be this impervious and robust." Oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance, while expected, took on a newfound gravity. The metal's endurance, laid bare by five millennia beneath the sea, spoke to a resilience that defied time.
Density, too, aligned with projections, boasting a formidable 12.5. From the outset, Bawang's estimate of a weight surpassing twenty tons had seemed audacious but now, it stood vindicated.
With Xin Feiwen's impassioned exposition, Liu Yong's curiosity was piqued. "In what realm do you envisage this metal's supremacy?"
"In the domain of blades, unequivocally," Xin Feiwen declared, conviction coursing through him. "It stands as the quintessential alloy for the knife industry. I'm unequivocally confident that blades forged from this material will outshine all others, be they of foreign or domestic origin."
Liu Yong watched, captivated by Xin Feiwen's fervour, as words like "most" and "absolutely" tumbled forth, bearing testament to the unyielding belief in the metal's potential.
Upon hearing Xin Feiwen's assessment, Liu Yong's thoughts raced ahead to one individual—Han Fei.
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