industrial overlord

Chapter 363 Welcome
Like Lin Zhenhua and others, Khedira is now in a dilemma.The equipment price of Jiangbei Petrochemical's technical improvement project is 2 million US dollars. For ALK, this is not a small list that can be given up casually.What makes him dare not take risks is that Chinese officials have issued a warning to him, saying that if ALK persists and refuses to make concessions, it may completely lose the entire Chinese market in the future.

Khedira didn't know whether the words of the Chinese officials were true or not. In fact, in the eyes of the entire Western world, China was a very mysterious country.When Chinese officials handle foreign affairs, sometimes they appear very weak, in order to maintain friendly relations, they do not hesitate to give up many interests; at other times, they appear extremely tough, and they do not hesitate to offend the entire West for the sake of some so-called dignity.

Over time, Westerners have gradually summed up some rules. Chinese people value face more than profit. This is in stark contrast to Western countries that demand money and shame.The same is true in terms of economic cooperation. What the Chinese need is a kind of respect. As long as you can make a gesture of respect for them, the price is very negotiable.

However, what Khedira is facing now is the face problem of a Chinese. The Chinese officials have already said that they must obtain the technology of 30 tons of ethylene. If ALK does not agree, they will not sign with you.The 30-ton ethylene equipment is still in operation, and it doesn't seem to matter whether the technology upgrade is sooner or later.If Khedira continues to insist, will Chinese officials feel that ALK is not giving them face?

However, it is extremely reluctant for ALK to really transfer the technology of 30 tons of ethylene. This technology is a backward technology for ALK, but it is a very advanced technology for the Chinese.If this technology is transferred to China, will it bring some troubles?

When it came to the agreed time for negotiation again, Khedira came to the Ministry of Petroleum again with other colleagues in his team with apprehension.As soon as they sat down in the reception room, they saw Lin Zhenhua walking in with a few people smiling.As soon as Lin Zhenhua came in, he said to Khedira: "Mr. Khedira, I am very sorry to inform you that our Director Gu and Director Zuo of the State Planning Commission are temporarily busy today and cannot come to participate in the negotiation. Therefore, we The negotiation time can only be postponed later.”

"Oh...that's really a pity." Khedira said with some disappointment.This kind of temporary change of the agenda is very impolite in a business situation, but the other party is a government official, and Khedira has nothing to say. This can be regarded as doing as the Romans do.

"It is indeed very regrettable. Director Gu has repeatedly asked me to apologize to you." Lin Zhenhua said.

Khedira said: "Then we can only go back to the hotel and wait."

"Our Director Gu asked me to ask if you are interested in visiting our petrochemical design institute." Lin Zhenhua warmly invited, "ALK company is very experienced in petrochemical equipment, and you are also very experienced. Petrochemical equipment experts, we very much hope to have the opportunity to ask you some questions."

Khedira turned his head to look at his companions, who all spread their hands to him, meaning that everything was up to him.Khedira nodded and said: "Okay, we are also very interested in learning about the situation of our Chinese counterparts."

"Okay, let's go." Lin Zhenhua said.

A group of people came to the courtyard of the Ministry of Petroleum, boarded a bus that had been waiting there, and went to the Petrochemical Design Institute in the northwest suburb of Beijing.Along the way, Lin Zhenhua kept silent about the cooperation, but introduced the customs of Beijing to Khedira endlessly.Khedira didn't know what kind of medicine Lin Zhenhua was selling in his gourd, so he simply took a step-by-step attitude and chatted with Lin Zhenhua vainly.When the car arrived at the destination, the two of them had already chatted somewhat speculatively.

"Mr. Khedira, this is the core department of our country engaged in petrochemical equipment research. The 30-ton ethylene plant we are about to build is developed here." Lin Zhenhua pointed to the gate of the Petrochemical Design Institute and said to Khedira .

"What? The 30-ton ethylene facility to be built?" Khedira was taken aback. "Mr. Lin, you mean that you have developed this level of equipment yourself?"

Lin Zhenhua lowered his voice, pretended to be confiding, and said to Khedira: "Mr. Khedira, to be honest, we asked your company to transfer 30 tons of ethylene technology at the negotiating table. You know, China is now pursuing an open policy, and our superiors have set us the requirements for introducing technology. If we fail to meet the requirements, not only my position, but even the positions of Director Zuo and Director Gu will be rejected. It cannot be guaranteed. In fact, we have been working on the technology of 30 tons of ethylene, and it is almost successful."

"What you said is true?" Khedira looked at Lin Zhenhua and asked suspiciously.

It's not that Khedira has never encountered the situation Lin Zhenhua mentioned.Officials in some places only believe in imported products, and they must import from abroad to be at ease when they can make things themselves.It doesn't matter how well you do what you do.However, the amount of imports can become an achievement worthy of publicity.

This situation does not only exist in China, in many developing countries, there are similar situations. ALK's products are sold all over the world, and Khedira has heard a lot of things like this.

Lin Zhenhua said: "There is no basis for talking. I will take you to see our ethylene equipment research results in a while, and you will understand. You and your companions are experts. What is true and false must not be hidden from you. of."

"Where is it, I believe in Mr. Lin very much." Khedira quickly concealed it. In fact, in his heart, he only believed half of Lin Zhenhua's words at most.Considering the position of Lin Zhenhua and others during the negotiations a few days ago, Khedira suspected that this was just a smoke bomb put by Lin Zhenhua.

"Manager Lin, you are here." Several researchers in white coats came out from the gate of the Design Institute to greet Lin Zhenhua and his party.

Lin Zhenhua introduced the two parties: "This is Professor An Zixuan, who is in charge of low-temperature materials research. This is Professor Zhang Yihua, who is in charge of power system research... This is Mr. Khedira, the chief negotiator of ALK in Germany. Famous mechanics."

An Zixuan glanced at Khedira, nodded expressionlessly, and said hello, and then said to Lin Zhenhua: "Manager Lin, the Ministry has informed us to receive you and German guests, and you can decide how to arrange it. "

His tone was full of indifference, as if he was quite dissatisfied with this reception task.Khedira couldn't understand Chinese, but among his companions there was a translator who stood aside and quietly translated An Zixuan's words to Khedira.

Lin Zhenhua seemed a little embarrassed. He looked at Khedira and his party, then put his mouth next to An Zixuan's ear, and whispered, "Professor An, this is a political mission, so don't make it difficult for me. If you have any opinions, let's Talk to the ministry later, okay?"

I don't know if he thinks that An Zixuan has a hearing problem, or Lin Zhenhua has a hearing problem. Although he pretends to lower his voice, the actual volume of his words is not low.The German translator also had a talent for hearing and eyesight. He heard Lin Zhenhua's words clearly, and then relayed them to Khedira in a low voice.

An Zixuan nodded after hearing Lin Zhenhua's words, and said, "Okay, Manager Lin, I won't make things difficult for you. Well, you can ask the Germans what they want to see, and I'll show them."

"Well, okay, I'll ask them first." Lin Zhenhua said, turning his head to Hedila, and said, "Mr. what."

"We would like to know the details of your development of 30 tons of ethylene equipment. If possible, we would like to see your results." Khedira said to Lin Zhenhua hastily.

"This won't work!" An Zixuan said decisively before Lin Zhenhua could send a message.Khedira spoke English, which An Zixuan could understand, so he directly rejected Khedira's request.

Lin Zhenhua said depressedly: "Professor An, is this not good? ALK Company has rich experience in the research and manufacture of large-scale ethylene equipment. The few people who came with Mr. Khedira are their technical experts. Please Wouldn't it be great for them to look at the 30-ton equipment we built and offer some advice?"

An Zixuan complained to Lin Zhenhua: "I am very clear about ALK's technical strength. Our current overall technical strength is not as good as theirs, but this does not mean that we do not have leading technology. Technology, what if they see it? Manager Lin, I’m not talking about you. From the very beginning, you didn’t support us to develop it ourselves. Here, our technology is so worthless?"

"Professor An, don't say these words in front of foreign guests." Lin Zhenhua persuaded, and after finishing speaking, he turned his head and smiled at Hedila again, and said, "Mr. Hedila, please don't be offended. It was a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Mr. Lin, please go ahead." Khedira shrugged and said.Until now, he still had some doubts that Lin Zhenhua and An Zixuan were singing double reeds, especially what An Zixuan said about possessing core technology sounded too bluffing.

"Professor An, I know that you have objections to the arrangement of the department, but now that the foreign guests have come, can you let them go for nothing? You are a technical authority, you dare to do this. I am just a small manager , I dare not do this. Don't make things difficult for me, okay?" Lin Zhenhua began to speak to An Zixuan with a downcast face.

"Okay, but I have to explain in advance that if the technology is leaked due to allowing foreign guests to visit, you will bear all the responsibilities." An Zixuan said, then turned around and walked towards the laboratory on his own. gone.

"Professor Zhang, look..." Lin Zhenhua said to Zhang Yihua who had been standing silently.

Zhang Yihua seemed to be more talkative, and he said to Lin Zhenhua very politely: "Manager Lin, don't mind, Lao An has this temper. For the introduction of technology, he has always had problems with the department. It's okay." Come on, don't you see that he is already leading the way now, everyone follow him."

"Okay, let's go." Lin Zhenhua agreed, and then led the crowd to follow An Zixuan towards the laboratory.

"This is our low-temperature materials laboratory. What we are currently doing is the research on the low-temperature brittleness transition temperature of 09MnNiDR steel." Although An Zixuan made a reluctant boss, he still introduced the laboratory to everyone in a well-regulated manner. Case.

"Everyone just take a look. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. We are all colleagues. Everyone is welcome to provide technical guidance." Lin Zhenhua said to everyone, and while talking, he picked up a few experiments on the table. The report was handed over to the Germans.An Zixuan seemed to be a little bit outraged at Lin Zhenhua's move but dared not speak out, his expression was very ugly, but he didn't step forward to stop it.

Khedira winked at his companions, motioning them to take a closer look and find out how far China has mastered the technology.Several Germans understood, and began to disperse all over the laboratory, observing every detail with professional eyes.

"Hey, Lao An, last time we discussed the problem of layered tearing of No. 09 steel after welding. Have you solved it later?" It seemed that he asked An Zixuan casually.

An Zixuan frowned, and replied perfunctorily, "It's been resolved."

"Is it because there is a trace amount of manganese sulfide in the material?" He Chengshan still asked relentlessly.

"Let's talk about it later." An Zixuan seemed reluctant to discuss specific technical details in front of outsiders.

"It's okay, I just discussed this issue with this Mr. Ralph in the car that came here." He Chengshan pointed to a German expert beside him and said, "Mr. Ralph is a material engineer of ALK Company , He also has a deep knowledge of low-temperature materials."

"Oh, is that so?" An Zixuan seemed to have some interest in Ralph, and he said to Ralph in German: "Mr. Ralph, have you also studied the welding process of low-temperature steel?"

"Yes, when I was in the car just now, I heard Mr. He told me that you were studying the problem of lamellar tearing after welding of low-temperature steel. Excuse me, do you have any conclusions on this research?" asked Golf.

An Zixuan hesitated for a moment, and then said: "We have studied this problem for a long time and invested a lot of money. Our research conclusion is that the reason for the lamellar tearing is that the steel itself contains some traces of non-metallic slag inclusions. These slag inclusions form a flaky distribution during the steel rolling process. During welding, the metal is deformed due to heat. The existence of these slag inclusions will lead to grain boundary fracture, transgranular fracture or dimple fracture of the base metal. , which is the cause of lamellar tearing."

"So, have you done any research on these trace components? Mr. He told me that he thought it was manganese sulfide. What is the conclusion of Mr. An's research?" Ralph asked.

An Zixuan said: "Manganese sulfide is indeed an important aspect, but besides manganese sulfide, we also discovered some other components."

"What are the specific ingredients?" Ralph was a bit in the spirit of breaking the casserole and asking the bottom line.

An Zixuan said, "I'm afraid it's inconvenient for me to reveal this."

"No, no, I just want to communicate with Mr. An. This problem has been solved by our ALK company. If Mr. An wants to know, I can remind you at any time. I think you should just guess that there are other problems. ingredients, but you don't understand the details of these ingredients." Ralph said with a somewhat proud look.

An Zixuan was irritated by his attitude, he said: "It's so complicated, it's just some oxides, the most important ones are silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide. Regarding the influence of sulfide and oxide content on the material We have established very detailed experimental curves for the effect of cracking."

"Oh, that's great, your conclusion is completely correct. Mr. An, I'm very sorry, I withdraw my judgment just now." Ralph said, "It seems that you have done a very good job in the research on the properties of low-temperature materials .”

The so-called experts reach out and know if there is any. Although An Zixuan didn't reveal too many technical details, Ralph knew that if he didn't have enough technology, it would be impossible for An Zixuan to say these things. .For example, these trace elements that affect the properties of steel were detected at a lot of cost even in the ALK company. An Zixuan's ability to name these elements proves that he has done in-depth research in this area .

"Of course." An Zixuan said, he turned his head to look at Lin Zhenhua, who was standing at the other end of the laboratory, chatting with Khedira, and said angrily, "If it wasn't for the fact that our officials only believed you Germans, technology, we have already produced all the technologies for 30 tons of ethylene. However, now the officials only want to get the transferred technology from you, and have compressed all our research funds. The work is equivalent to wasting all previous efforts.”

"We're very sorry about this," Ralph said.

"Forget it, this is a matter for the officials to consider. I'm just an engineer and I can't control these matters." An Zixuan said in a disheartened tone, "Okay, let's visit the power system laboratory again. That is the laboratory run by Mr. Zhang Yihua, I think you should be able to see more things there."

(End of this chapter)