On the banks of the Hutuo River, a glorious chapter unfolds—let me share the story of dedication. In 2004, as Jingye Group entered a period of rapid growth and the new coking project was in full swing, the medium‑and‑thick‑plate project was launched in parallel—a pivotal step for Jingye to diversify its steel product lineup and strengthen its core competitiveness, while also embodying the soaring aspirations of countless Jingye employees.

At the time, medium‑ and thick‑plate production represented an entirely new field for Jingye—lacking both mature technologies and a dedicated team, the project immediately ran into major obstacles. With no clear way forward, the project’s chief commander, Wang Guotai, stepped up to take on the challenge, while Cao Xijun, Liu Junchuan, and Liu Jianfeng quickly rallied, marking the quiet beginning of a tough battle against daunting difficulties.

To overcome technical challenges, Jingye Group promptly brought in Senior Engineer Wu Shiwai, who boasts 12 years of experience in the production of medium‑ and thick‑plate steel, and assembled a technical team together with Chief Engineer Zou Shusong and other seasoned professionals. Under the personal direction of Li Ganpo, Wang Guoqin, Head of the Human Resources Department, led the selection of 11 reserve workshop supervisors and 117 reserve team leaders. Led by Liu Jianfeng, this team traveled to the Anyang and Linfen steel plants to learn from their expertise. Through a series of intensive study visits, the team confronted unfamiliar operating procedures and stringent technical standards, engaging in rigorous, iterative research until it had built a solid pool of skilled personnel ready to support the project’s commissioning.

A medium and thick plate mill under construction
With talent in place, construction is accelerating. On the nearly 90,000-square-meter site, foundation excavation, concrete pouring, and the fabrication of reinforced‑concrete columns are all underway at full speed, creating a scene of bustling activity. Employees of the medium‑and‑thick plate plant have taken on the responsibility of overseeing construction, meticulously checking every detail—from cement mix proportions to rebar tying, from track alignment to ground leveling—to eliminate even the slightest potential hazard. Meanwhile, the project command center is little more than a simple shed built of red bricks and roofed with asbestos tiles, its walls drafty and exposed to the cold; in winter, it can only be warmed by a coal stove. Factory Director Wu Shiwai, now in his seventies, remains steadfastly on site, personally supervising progress and resolving challenges during the day, and working late into the night by lamplight. Drawing on the experience of Handan Steel and Anyang Steel, he spearheaded the development of three major sets of operating procedures, revising and refining them again and again—all to lay a solid foundation for commissioning. Wang Guotai, too, frequently convenes coordination meetings in the makeshift shed until well past midnight, tackling one obstacle after another as construction presses forward.
The project’s core equipment—the 248-ton rolling mill frame—was transported by land and water over more than twenty days to reach the site. Its installation demands millimeter‑level precision; even the slightest deviation could jeopardize the entire effort. Rising to the challenge, the technical team worked around the clock, conducting repeated adjustments and calibrations. After countless trials, they finally overcame the installation hurdles, removing the project’s most significant obstacle.
After more than a year of round-the-clock dedication, the medium‑and‑thick plate project has finally entered trial production. Red-hot slabs are pushed out of the heating furnace and slowly fed into the rolling mill; after multiple passes, the plates are smoothly delivered to the cooling bed. All nearly 44 tons of trial‑rolled sheet metal met the required specifications, marking a successful trial run.
From a blank slate to successful trial production, and from countless challenges to groundbreaking breakthroughs, the commissioning of the medium‑thick plate line marks not only a major milestone in the history of Jingye Group, but also embodies the spirit of Jingye’s employees—undaunted by hardship and striving to lead. What other difficulties have they faced since, and how have they overcome them? We’ll continue the story in our next installment.