【Commentary】Walking into the melting workshop of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. in Hebei Province is like coming to a magic scene, the reconciled silicon raw materials are put into the melting furnace, and after 30 hours of melting, they become crystal clear glass square bricks, and these glass square bricks are processed by dozens of processes to become thin glass cover sheets. According to the company's chairman Lu Yong, this kind of radiation-resistant glass cover sheet for space is only 0.1 mm thick, bent 180 degrees without breaking, and is mainly used to protect the solar cell phalanx on the space station and spacecraft.
【During the same period】Chairman of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. Lu Yong
In space, if the battery on the spacecraft is exposed, it will be damaged by the impact of various high-energy particles and harmful rays, and the battery will be damaged, which will affect the service life of the spacecraft. Our products are covered on the outer surface of the battery array, just like "armor" to protect the battery.
Lu Yong, 57 years old this year, is an aerospace enthusiast, before the establishment of Star Arrow Company, he set up a stall, did furniture sales, and later had his own furniture factory. In 2000, by chance, Lu Yong came into contact with the project of anti-irradiation glass cover sheet for space, although many experts were not optimistic, but with enthusiasm, he pooled 30,<> yuan of start-up capital to establish Star Arrow Company, and began to concentrate on the research of "glass". Although Lu Yong made full preparations, there were no orders in the first two years of the company's establishment, and he also thought about giving up when the company was most difficult.
【During the same period】Chairman of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. Lu Yong
At that time, I gathered the employees together and said that I could pay everyone an extra month's salary, but this month could not be used to go to work, go out to find a job, and then not have to come back after finding it. I just pause here, and when there are conditions, everyone will return to work, but not a single employee has left. Speaking of this, I still feel very uncomfortable in my heart, because everyone said, as long as you can insist, we will accompany you, and the salary can be paid at any time. As soon as I saw that the employees insisted like this, then I couldn't give up, so I sold my furniture factory, house, and car, and just like that.
【Commentary】At the end of 2002, Star Arrow received an order for about 2,<> pieces of glass cover sheets, and the company has ushered in a turning point. Although he survived, Lu Yong knew that without innovation, the company had no way out, so he spent most of his money on research and development. In order to save on rent, he freed up his office for a washing workshop and worked himself in a scrapped IVECO car.
【During the same period】Chairman of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. Lu Yong
(in the car) cool in winter and hot in summer, no way, just this bed even has a bed with an office sofa, I had a cat at that time, (because of the car) old into the rat, you see the cat scratched this sofa, all scratched.
【Commentary】In 2008, Star Arrow Company was listed as a qualified supplier by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Limited, and at present, Star Arrow products have been widely used in Beidou navigation satellites, "Shenzhou" series spacecraft, "Tiangong" series target aircraft.
【During the same period】Chairman of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. Lu Yong
I think that in everything you do, you have to focus, and sometimes I do hundreds of experiments to overcome a problem. The other is to increase capital investment, we take out about 10% of sales revenue every year for research and development.
【Commentary】Innovation never ends. A few days ago, ultra-thin high-temperature resistant optical glass with a thickness of only 0.01 mm rolled off the production line of Star Arrow, achieving a major breakthrough in the industry. This glass is not only ultra-thin, but also bent into a cylinder without breaking, and can be used for a long time at a high temperature of 1000 °C.
【During the same period】Chairman of Qinhuangdao Xingjian Special Glass Co., Ltd. Lu Yong
In the future, we will continue to innovate in special glass replacement (import) products and make a little contribution to the high-quality development of the country. In addition, on the basis of ensuring aerospace applications, we plan to further tap the potential of the civilian market and let aerospace technology "fly into the homes of ordinary people".
Ai Guangde Li Yang reported from Qinhuangdao, Hebei.
Responsible Editor: [Song Fangcan]