Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1317: The National Treasure (Second update, please subscribe)

Ukraine is just a republic of the Soviet Union.

But since Khrushchev became the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, if foreign dignitaries visit the Soviet Union, a visit to Ukraine is a must, because this is also the place where the leader once fought.

During his visit to Ukraine, Li Yian felt the trauma of the war on the Soviet Union, just like in other places - there was a lack of labor everywhere. There were more lathes than workers in the factories, and more cars than drivers in the fleet. In those heavy industrial factories, there were also many women, young and middle-aged, but not many men.

This is the Soviet Union. Even though the war ended almost twenty years ago, the trauma of the war can still be felt here.

However, it's just a sigh. Although I have some ideas, it is not easy to implement them. After all, this is the Soviet Union.

During the visit to Ukraine, the most important stop was the Novokramatorsk Heavy Machinery Plant, which was one of the most technologically advanced heavy machinery plants in the Soviet Union and also Li Yian's goal.

During the visit, the factory manager also introduced to him the pride of their factory:
"…Our factory has built two of the world's largest 7.5-ton die forging hydraulic presses, which are installed in two large factories in the east. These two are the world's largest giant machines, with a total height of 34.7 meters, a length of 13.6 meters, a width of 13.3 meters, a foundation 21.9 meters underground, and a total weight of 20500 tons. The workbench size is 16 meters x 3.5 meters, with a 12-cylinder 8-column transmission, a mold space clear height of 4.5 meters, and a slide stroke of 2000mm…"

When the factory manager introduced them, Li Yian deliberately looked at the photos on the wall with a surprised look on his face. He was amazed and looked like he wanted to take them home directly.

This is the fundamental reason why Li Yian came here - he came for this 7.5-ton die-forging hydraulic press, which is a national treasure-level equipment of the Soviet aviation industry system.

Don’t be fooled by people who always say that the Soviet Union’s technical equipment is “clumsy, big, and black” and not as sophisticated as the Western ones.

But in fact, heavy machinery and equipment are "big, black and crude", just like the two giant mechanical equipment he mentioned, which are big and crude. Compared with some large machine tools, Soviet things are a bit clumsy, but the performance is still very good.

The most important thing is cheap!

In another world, in order to manufacture large aircraft, the French Aubert & Duarte Steel Company purchased a 6.5-ton die-forging hydraulic press from the Novokramatsk Heavy Machinery Plant in Ukraine to produce titanium alloy die-forgings and aviation aluminum alloy die-forgings.

According to the French, the price of purchasing from the Soviet Union was only one-fifteenth of that from Western companies!

And in terms of time, it is only one-fifth of what we developed ourselves!

Don't think it's an exaggeration. The reason why it's so exaggerated is that this kind of giant equipment is the only one in many countries. Since the market demand is not large, only one is often built. The overall cost of research and development funds, special equipment and other investments added together is staggering.

Therefore, the best way is to purchase from outside, which is the cheapest and most cost-effective.

It is for this reason that, after comprehensively considering various economic and other factors, Li Yian set his sights on the Novokramatsk Heavy Machinery Plant in Ukraine. However, unlike the 6.5 tons chosen by the French, he wanted 7.5 tons.

After all, it's another world. However, due to limited processing capabilities, the titanium alloy components of the landing gear used by Airbus when manufacturing the A380 large passenger aircraft still need to be sent to Russia's 7.5-ton die forging machines for processing.

Therefore, this thing must be done in one step. After all, in the future, whether it is aircraft manufacturing, engine manufacturing, or submarines, this kind of giant equipment will be needed.

Moreover, the biggest feature of this super equipment is that its service life is long enough. Whether in Russia or the United States, the die-forging hydraulic presses they dismantled from Germany are still in use until the 21st century. There is no problem even if they are used for another half a century.

This thing, basically, you buy it once and use it for life!

Li Yian's expression made Khrushchev, who wanted to show off the Soviet Union's awesomeness, say proudly:

"What do you think? There is no such machine in Nanyang!"

Not only does Nanyang not have it, the United States doesn't have it either. The largest die forging machine in Nanyang is a 707-ton die forging machine that was specially ordered from the United States to build the C3.5.

And what about the United States?

Around 4.5, they built two of the world's largest -ton die-forging hydraulic presses at the time. They were also the largest machines of their kind in the Western world, but they were far from comparable to those in the Soviet Union!
This is a giant equipment weighing 7.5 tons!

"Indeed, there aren't any! There aren't any in the entire Western world!"

Li Yian looked at the photo with envy, and then said:
"Maybe, we can talk!"

The words "talk about" made Khrushchev's heart skip a beat - what to talk about?
Of course, we are talking about this 7.5-ton die forging hydraulic press. What else can we talk about?

The reason I came to the Soviet Union is to give you gifts.

Khrushchev, feeling uneasy, quickly refused:

“We don’t sell this!”

You can visit, but no need to buy!
Although we are all good friends, but... friendship is friendship, reality is reality, such a good thing can't be sold!
“I don’t plan on spending money on it!”

Li Yian's answer stunned Khrushchev, and his eyes were full of confusion when he looked at him.

If you don't plan to buy, what do you want to talk about?
"I meant exchange!"

Li Yi'an said:
"Let's exchange technology!" In fact, the simplest reason why Li Yian liked dealing with the Soviet Union was that doing business with them was really profitable.

The technological blockade of the Soviet Union by the "Batocal Agreement" led to the Soviet Union's willingness to pay high prices to purchase advanced products and technologies from Western countries. Even if they were willing to pay high prices, the other party was unwilling to transfer the most advanced equipment or technology to them, and often only transferred to them some backward technology.

Just like the technology introduced by the Soviet trade delegation in Southeast Asia last time - basically all the technology has been eliminated and lagged behind the market. But even so, the Soviet Union itself does not have it.

This is the current situation of the Soviet Union - they can make excellent fighter jets and tanks, and can send satellites and humans into space. But they are far behind the West in the manufacture and design of civilian products.

Under such circumstances, we can only introduce these technologies from Western countries. After all, people's living standards are constantly improving.

"Technology exchange?"

Khrushchev looked at the other party with some confusion and asked.

"What kind of technology?"

"We can cooperate with you on the automotive technology you need."

Li Yian said straightforwardly.

"We can provide you with a four-door sedan that is relatively suitable for the Soviet Union and a production line with an annual output of no less than 60 vehicles, and the most advanced front-wheel drive sedan chassis technology."

The reason why Li Yian specifically mentioned and emphasized this point is that when the Soviet Union introduced Fiat's technology, Soviet automotive engineers hoped to obtain the most advanced front-wheel drive sedan chassis technology, but the decision-making power was not in their hands.

Three years later, when Fiat's first front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan, the Fiat 128, came out, Soviet automotive engineers were very angry, as it meant that the Fiat 124, which had not yet been put into production, had become an obsolete model.

The chief engineer of the Soviet automobile factory believed that it was urgent to immediately introduce front-engine, front-wheel drive chassis sedan technology. He first negotiated with Fiat, hoping that the Italians would take the initiative to cooperate with the Soviet Union on front-wheel drive car technology, but was rejected by the Italians.

Therefore, the Soviet Union's national car, Lada, was actually a very backward product. This was also the biggest problem with the Soviet Union's introduction of technology - all the technology introduced was backward.

So Li Yian’s move was a trump card - giving you the most advanced one!
Khrushchev, who was already worried about housing distribution in Moscow, had already decided to develop the automobile industry.

This was the best option to solve the Soviet Union’s population and housing distribution problems, but the Soviet Union really did not have the technology in this area.

Although it can be imported from Southeast Asia, it is still unknown whether the imported technology is advanced. Now, after hearing what Li Yian said, how can I not be tempted?

Khrushchev hesitated and asked:
“Are you sure it’s state-of-the-art?”

If it is the most advanced technology, it is not impossible to consider it.

"A '62 Volkswagen."

The Volkswagen that Li Yian mentioned is of course the Volkswagen in Nanyang. A few years ago, in order to strengthen the economy of Dongning and expand exports to the United States and America, "Volkswagen" was created under his instruction. As for the German one... it has always been called "Volkswagen" in Nanyang, or rather, Nanyang people prefer to call it its transliteration.

As for the "Volkswagen" trademark, it has always been registered by the company. After it was instructed to establish a car company, it directly took out this trademark. As for the trademark... it is the "Volkswagen" of SAIC Maxus.

The prototype of the four-door sedan launched by Volkswagen was a car that Li Yian took out from the system mall. The reason for taking it out at that time was on the one hand to upgrade the technology, and on the other hand to speed up the research and development of the car.

This car, which focuses on affordability and convenience, was well received in the North American market as soon as it was launched with its excellent design and simple body.

After all, there really wasn’t a four-door sedan on the market for $1800! And the performance of that car was really outstanding.

A car with such a high price-performance ratio is of course highly praised by the market.

Now, Li Yian directly took out this "trump card", which naturally made Khrushchev very excited. After all, the Soviet Union's car technology was very backward. If the advanced automobile technology from Southeast Asia could be introduced, it would definitely help the Soviet Union's industrial development.

While he was excited, Li Yian threw out another bait:
"If you adopt Nanyang's factory building design, your automobile factory can be put into production within two years. At the same time, we will also transfer the steel structure factory building technology to you."

Steel structure factory!
This is the real trump card of Nanyang’s industrial sector!
The civil construction of a traditional factory building requires at least 18 to 24 months, and the installation and commissioning of actual mechanical equipment will not exceed 18 months.

The construction speed of steel structure factory buildings is extremely fast, taking only 6 months at most, and many general factory buildings even take only a dozen to twenty days!
"Two years!"

Faced with such a king bomb, Khrushchev was a little uneasy.

Building a car factory with an annual output of 60 cars in two years will not only allow all Soviet people to drive cars, but will also become another industrial achievement under his leadership!
But that device...is it really important?
Although he did not understand industry, Khrushchev also knew what "the world's largest" meant. He hesitated for a moment and said:

"This matter is not something I can decide on my own. Let's talk about it after we return to Moscow!"

In fact, Khrushchev was already tempted. Even without considering the issue of cars, he would agree just from the perspective of how to increase the birth rate and appease the old employees.
Moreover, this also involves his political achievements and his reputation!
Well, the world’s largest die forging machine is basically in our hands!
(End of this chapter)