industrial overlord

Chapter 679

Khedira's visit forced Uno Seinosuke to face reality.

Uno Seinosuke has known for a long time that the habit of the Chinese people is to manufacture everything by themselves, so they can feel at ease. China's industrial control field is highly dependent on Japanese chips, which will definitely make the Chinese feel uncomfortable. Ann's.In the past few years, the direction of the Chinese people's efforts has been in the field of machinery. They have conquered one technology after another, and learned to manufacture large fertilizer equipment, large petroleum equipment, CNC machine tools and so on.As the Chinese can make more and more things, the localization of industrial control chips must be put on the agenda.

In fact, in the field of integrated circuits, the Chinese have never given up on catching up with the international advanced level.At present, the Chinese are basically self-sufficient in low-end industrial control chips, but there are still some difficulties in mid-to-high-end chips.Compared with products from Western countries, China's mid-to-high-end industrial control chips have a certain gap in terms of performance and reliability.

More importantly, the current internationally accepted third-generation industrial control chip standards are in the hands of several Western companies including KHN. Even if the Chinese can develop and produce by themselves, they must pay high patents to Western countries. The use fee alone is enough to suppress the Chinese.

Within KHN, there have been many rounds of discussions on whether the Chinese will enter the mid-to-high-end industrial control chip market.Everyone's opinion is that the Chinese will eventually enter this market. The steps should be to realize import substitution first, and then go to the international market to grab the share of the original enterprises, just like they have done in other fields.

What KHN can count on now is that the Chinese can catch up a little slower, giving KHN a few years.At present, KHN is developing the fourth-generation industrial control chip standard. If all goes well, the standard can be recognized by the International Industrial Control Technology Alliance, and then KHN's leading position will be further consolidated. At that time, there will be at least five years to rest easy up.

Uno Seinosuke certainly knows that it is a very unreliable idea to expect the Chinese to slow down.He is urging the R&D department to speed up every day, and must come up with the fourth-generation standard before the Chinese master the technology based on the third-generation standard.

Before Khedira found the door, Uno Seinosuke would rather bury his head in the sand than watch China's development.But now that Khedira picked up the words, Uno Seinosuke couldn't avoid it.Khedira brought him some specific information, showing that Hanhua had purchased a large amount of equipment for chip production in the European market in the past two years. market.

Uno Seinosuke asked Khedira to go to the hotel to rest first, and he called the company's executives to discuss Khedira's request.

"Everyone, I have called you here today to discuss with you the issues related to the Chinese market. Today, Khedira, the marketing director of ALK, came here. He hopes to work with us to curb China's rapid technological advancement. Development, what do you think about this?"

At the beginning of the meeting, Seinosuke Uno spoke to everyone straight to the point.He then introduced what Khedira told him to everyone, and then asked everyone to express their opinions on whether they should respond to ALK's call and stab Chinese companies in the back.

As soon as they heard that the issue of China was to be discussed, everyone became very cautious. They put their hands under the table, lowered their heads, and pretended to be thinking. No one wanted to speak first.Six years ago, in order to help Xihu defeat Hanhua, KHN tried to change the rules of supplying chips to the Chinese market and disrupt the production plans of Chinese machine tool companies. As a result, they were strongly counterattacked by the Chinese and almost lost the Chinese market.Since then, when it comes to issues in China, everyone has subconsciously chosen to remain silent, because they all know that the problems in the Chinese market are muddy waters that cannot be easily drained.

"Miyaxi-kun, you know the most about the Chinese market, so you should talk about it first." Seeing that everyone was silent, Uno Seinosuke had no choice but to start the roll call.

The one who was selected was the company's sales director Yasushi Miyanishi, who was the one who went to the Chinese market to announce the reduction of chip supply.Hearing that the chairman called his name, Yasushi Miyanishi had no choice but to raise his head, look at the crowd, and then said to Uno Seinosuke:
"Chairman, I personally think that this matter has no direct relationship with our KHN, and there is no need for us to intervene. Restricting the sale of third-generation standard industrial control chips to the Chinese market will certainly give European machine tool companies a competitive advantage. But what good can we gain in this matter?"

"Yes, chairman, I also think this matter is not good for us, on the contrary, it will affect our relationship with Chinese customers." Nobuko Inao, who once served as the sales manager of China, also interjected road.

"I know this." Uno Seinosuke said, "However, Khedira is right. At present, China is challenging the entire Western industry. If we cannot unite and deal with it together, we may be rejected In other words, the current goal of the Chinese is to compete with European companies in the machine tool market. If they win, they may free up their hands to enter the microelectronics market. Therefore, we help European machine tool companies, in fact It’s also buying time for ourselves.”

"However, European companies have already fallen apart. Giesen Company has just signed a mutual shareholding agreement with Hanhua not long ago. If the European companies themselves cannot work together, what is the use of us joining in?" Miyanishi Yeyasu said, As the sales director, he has a relatively thorough understanding of the wind and grass in the market.

"Maybe, just help ALK support for a few more days." Uno Seinosuke said with a sigh, "Europeans are too lazy, they will be defeated by the Chinese sooner or later. But if they can support for a few more days, we will The fourth-generation chip standard can be launched in time, so that the technological gap between us and the Chinese can be widened.”

"However, it is very unwise to offend the Chinese." Nobuko Inao said, "For us, the Chinese market cannot be given up. If we cooperate with ALK to reduce the supply to the Chinese market, the result will be ... I think it will be the same as it was six years ago."

"I still have some regrets about what happened six years ago." Seinosuke Uno said frankly, "Maybe we should be tougher on the Chinese. If we can be tougher, maybe Xihu will not collapse. So soon."

Miyanishi Noyasu and Inao Nobuko looked at each other with a hint of disdain in their hearts.The two of them were witnesses to what happened back then, and they couldn't understand the process of the matter very clearly.At that time, KHN really wanted to contain China. As a result, Lin Zhenhua brought in Chinese home appliance companies to put pressure on KHN, threatening that if KHN could not guarantee the supply of chips to Chinese machine tools, Chinese home appliance companies would abandon KHN chips and turn to Looking for chips from other European and American manufacturers.

Facing China's huge home appliance chip market, Uno Seinosuke couldn't hold back, and quickly informed Miyanishi Yeyasu to fully agree to the Chinese request, so that the sanctions ended in vain.

After 6 years, Uno Seinosuke actually talked about regrets. Back then, he was more anxious than anyone else to mend relations with China.In fact, at that time, there was really no other way but to compromise with the Chinese, unless KHN was willing to suffer huge losses for the benefit of Xihu Company.

"Chairman, we have had the experience of suppressing the Chinese market in the past. If we do it again and the Chinese adopt the same countermeasures, how should we respond?" asked Miyanishi Yeyasu.

Uno Seinosuke said: "I have already thought about this issue. The third-generation industrial control chip we are currently focusing on. The Japanese government originally planned to include it in the list of restricted exports to China, but it was only given up under our strong request. If we withdraw our previous request and ask the government to restore the restrictions on the third-generation chips, then I think the Chinese will have nothing to say? As long as the responsibility is not on our KHN side, it is impossible for the Chinese to target us .”

"However, can we guarantee that Americans or Europeans will not sell third-generation chips to Chinese companies?" asked Miyanishi Yeyasu.

Uno Seinosuke said: "That is the matter of ALK. If they can successfully persuade American and European chip companies to also implement restrictions on shipments to China, then they can bring some substantial troubles to the Chinese. If they If we can’t do it, then we can resume export to China at any time, and at that time, we will say that out of a responsible attitude towards customers, we have persuaded the Japanese government.”

The meaning of Uno Seinosuke is to make a gesture first. If other chip manufacturers also join forces, then KHN will participate.If ALK cannot settle other chip manufacturers, then KHN will not be taken advantage of by itself.After shifting the responsibility for the restrictions to the government, KHN will not have to tear itself apart with Chinese companies, which is much better than the last time it used its own name to offend people.

"However, we will lose 10 billion US dollars in revenue every year..." Nobuko Inao whispered.

Uno Seinosuke said: "Compared with the income of 10 billion U.S. dollars, I am more worried about the rise of the Chinese. Xihu Company... is really a lesson worth remembering."

Gong Nishino Yasushi said: "Chairman, this plan has both advantages and disadvantages. In the short term, we can indeed curb China's excessive technological development. But on the other hand, in the long run, this will prompt the Chinese It is not good for us to invest more money and energy to develop their own industrial control chips."

Uno Seinosuke said: "Miyaxi-kun, do you think that if we don't stimulate them, they will reduce their investment in chips? I can see that the Chinese people's ambitions are very big, especially Hanhua Heavy Industries Lin Zhenhua, who has been working hard to replace us. Everyone should know that Hanhua established a Hanhua Microelectronics company the year before last, and the goal of this company is to compete with us in the industrial control chip market."

Kawakami Mitsukun, technical director, interjected: "I have a general understanding of the situation of Hanhua Microelectronics. They have now solved the design and production problems of the second-generation chips, and they have already sold such chips in the Chinese market. In the In terms of the third-generation chips, they have also produced some experimental products. According to friends I know, the researchers of Hanhua Microelectronics are working day and night every day, and the research progress is very fast.”

"We should hold them back." Uno Seinosuke said, "Now is an opportunity. If Hanhua falls into competition with European machine tool companies, their funds, energy, etc. will be tied up in machine tools, so we can Gained time."

"I think things may not be so optimistic." Miyanishi Noyasu shook his head slightly, but did not continue talking.

In fact, the executives here all know in their hearts that China is not short of money or people. Even if the competition in machine tools is deadlocked, it will not prevent the Chinese from continuing to invest in the chip field.Of course, if more Western companies band together to put pressure on China and make China face difficulties in various fields, then maybe there will be some effect.But it is not so difficult to get all the companies to hug each other.What's more, China's strength is also strong now, and it is not in the past state of being in trouble after being sanctioned.

"Well, that's my opinion, now please express your opinion." Uno Seinosuke made a gesture to everyone, which meant that it was time to vote.Suppressing Chinese companies is a very large strategic move, and such a thing requires a collective vote of all executives.

Just then, the door opened and the secretary walked in quietly.She walked to Uno Seinosuke and reported in a low voice: "Chairman, there is a call from China, do you have time to answer it?"

"Whose phone is it?" Uno Seinosuke asked.

"The other party claims to be the marketing director of Hanhua Heavy Industries." The secretary replied, "He said he has a big deal and wants to talk to the chairman personally..."

The conversation between Uno Seinosuke and the secretary did not deliberately avoid other executives. Hearing that it was Hanhua Heavy Industries who called, everyone's eyes were full of curiosity.Everyone was discussing Hanhua's affairs just now, but Hanhua's phone call came in. Does this count as a tacit understanding?At such a sensitive time, the marketing director of Hanhua suddenly called Seinosuke Uno for the first time, and claimed to be talking about big business. What does this mean?

Uno Seinosuke nodded slightly to everyone, motioned for everyone to wait a little longer, and then went out with the secretary.About ten minutes later, Uno Seinosuke returned to the conference room.He seemed to be very tired, and he sat down, with a cloudy and uncertain expression on his face, as if he had encountered something difficult to make a decision.

"Chairman, what did the other party say?" Miyanishi Yeyasu asked cautiously.

Uno Seinosuke raised his eyes to look at the people in the room, suddenly smiled wryly, and said, "Everyone, I'm very sorry for keeping you waiting for a long time. Just now, Mr. He Fei, the marketing director of Hanhua Heavy Industries, made a sudden call to I said that Hanhua intends to carry out a more in-depth cooperation with KHN."

"What cooperation?" All the people asked together.

Uno Seinosuke said: "They hope to obtain all the technical patents related to the third-generation chip standard in our hands."

"How is this possible!" Mitsukun Kawakami jumped up, "This is a very ridiculous request. How can we transfer patents to them, and it is the most popular technology patent at present? These technologies are our core technologies. Give them and we have nothing."

After all, Miyanishi Yeyasu is in the market, and his mind is not as simple as that of a technical person. He knows that it is impossible for Hanhua to come and ask for patents casually. This kind of thing must have come and gone, so , What is the price the Chinese are willing to pay?Thinking of this, he asked Uno Seinosuke: "Chairman, what are the conditions offered by the other party?"

Uno Seinosuke stretched out two fingers and said, "20 billion dollars."

"20 billion US dollars!" At this moment, the audience was shocked, 20 billion US dollars is not a small amount, and the economic situation in Japan is not good, 20 billion US dollars is not negligible for any company.Hanhua is currently a major purchaser of KHN. Over the past year, including machine tools, chemical equipment, refrigeration equipment, etc., the chips purchased are worth 20 to [-] million U.S. dollars. Now it is [-] billion dollars at once, which is extraordinary. .

"Chairman, what is the exchange offer for the 20 billion dollars offered by the other party?" Miyanishi continued to ask.

Uno Seinosuke said: "Their requirement is to obtain all the technical patents of the third-generation standard from us, and they hope to have all the intellectual property rights."

Gong Nishino Yasushi said: "This condition is very similar to the condition they negotiated with Giseon Company. They all require the intellectual property rights of all patents. In this way, although the one-time investment is relatively large, there will be no need to pay any patent fees in the future, and It can also be freely used in various fields, including technology export.”

"Miyaxi-kun, do you think such a deal is beneficial or unfavorable to us?" Uno Seinosuke asked.

Miyanishi Noyasu pondered for a moment, and replied: "Whether this matter is beneficial depends on how long we can come up with the fourth-generation standard. If the fourth-generation standard comes out, then the existing third-generation standard It is no longer valuable, and these technical patents can be sold for 20 billion US dollars, which is also very cost-effective. But if the fourth-generation standard cannot be produced, we will have to rely on the third-generation standard to obtain income, and we cannot easily transfer the technology go out."

"Kawakami-kun, what do you think?" Uno Seinosuke turned his attention to Kawakami Mitsuchan again.

Mitsukun Kawakami said: "Our current research on the fourth-generation standard has made great breakthroughs. If more funds can be invested, I think it will not be a problem for us to come up with a complete set within two years. Such as Miyanishi As you said, if our fourth-generation standard comes out, then the transfer of the existing third-generation standard patents is irrelevant.”

Nobuko Inao asked: "Don't Hanhua know that the third-generation standard is about to become obsolete? Why are they spending so much money on this technology?"

"Perhaps, this is the function of Khedira's existence." Uno Seinosuke laughed, "I thought just now, maybe Hanhua has heard some rumors, worrying that we are really restricting chip shipments to China. They offer such good conditions now just to stabilize us.

Even if they get the patent of the third-generation chip, it may take more than a year to digest all the technologies and develop suitable products.During this period of time, they will definitely require us to maintain a stable supply of chips. After all, competition with European machine tool companies is their current top priority. "

"In other words, they would rather spend 20 billion US dollars to maintain a stable chip supply?" Nobuko Inao said, "Is this price too high?"

Miyanishi Noyasu said: "It's not the only purpose. After all, after they have obtained all the patents, they can develop their own chips based on the third-generation standard, and the future benefits in import substitution will also be very considerable. I even guessed, Do they want to use this method to gain some political capital? As you know, China’s top leaders are talking about independent innovation. If Hanhua can independently produce and manufacture the third-generation industrial control chips with completely independent intellectual property rights, then in Politically, you can add points.”

"Maybe there are considerations in this regard." Uno Seinosuke said, "Then, Miyanishi-kun, do you think we should agree to their request?"

"Of course we must agree." Yasushi Miyanishi said, "First of all, this is a large order of 20 billion U.S. dollars, which is enough to help us recover the initial investment in the third-generation standard. With this 20 billion U.S. dollars, we can speed up Speed ​​out the fourth-generation standard so that we can maintain a technological lead.

Secondly, for Hanhua, it cost 20 billion US dollars to obtain a patented technology, so it must be fully used in order to recover the investment.This means that in the next few years, Hanhua will be limited by this set of technologies, and it is impossible to explore new technologies. "

"I agree with Miyanishi-kun's judgment on the last point." Uno Seinosuke said, "The 20 billion US dollars is actually a noose, which will firmly trap Hanhua. Before all the 20 billion US dollars are recovered , it is impossible for Hanhua to switch to newer technology. In this way, we have more time."

"However, in this way, our promise to Khedira will come to nothing." Nobuko Inao said.

"Hehe, business only cares about benefits, not affection. Compared with a big contract of 20 billion US dollars, what are Khedira's empty words?" Uno Seinosuke said.

"That's right, we have nothing to do with the Europeans, and we don't need to lose our own interests to support them." The executives present made their voices together.Their hearts suddenly brightened. It turned out that the solution to the problem was so simple and so attractive.

"Miyaxi-kun, Kawakami-kun, you two will be in charge of the negotiation with Hanhua Heavy Industries." Uno Seinosuke arranged.

"Hi!" Miyanishi Yeyasu and Kawakami Mitsucan stood up and agreed loudly.

(End of this chapter)