In the hot rolling operation area of the hot rolling factory of Shandong Iron and Steel Group Rizhao Co., Ltd., the machine roared and the heat was rolling. A worker wearing blue work clothes and a hard hat was concentrating on controlling the equipment. He was focused and skilled in his movements because he knew well that the operation in his hands directly affected the quality and production efficiency of the steel.
He is Zhao Shilong, the winner of the title of “Qilu Craftsman” in 2024, and is a “iron steel craftsman” who has been rooted in the front line of steel production for seventeen years.
Zhao Shilong was born in 1986 and studied material forming and control engineering. Faced with the high-temperature and high-intensity working environment, he did not retreat, but instead focused on the technology with the attitude of “doing everything, loving everything, and being careful”. From the initial apprentice to the current chief skill master, he interpreted the true meaning of the craftsman spirit with his own actions.
“Steel production seems rough, but in fact it is fine enough to a slight slightest,” said Zhao Shilong. During the steel rolling process, the parameters such as heating temperature, rolling speed, and pressure of the billet are slightly deviated, which will affect the quality of the final product. To this end, he carefully checked the operating status of the equipment every day, recorded production data, and repeatedly compared the process parameters to ensure that each piece of steel can meet the optimal standards.
In the eyes of colleagues, Zhao Shilong is not only a technical expert, but also a pioneer in innovation. He is based on his post and is brave enough to innovate on site. His leading employee innovation achievements won the second prize in Shandong Provincial Employee Innovation and Efficiency Competition Innovation Achievements in 2022, and won the special prize in employee innovation achievements in China's mechanical, metallurgy and building materials industry Employee Innovation Achievements in 2024, 2 municipal innovation achievements, more than 30 company and factory innovation achievements, 12 advanced operation methods, 4 national patents, and 5 papers published.
He took the lead in promoting and practicing the spirit of model workers, labor spirit, and craftsman spirit, adhering to the work style of “strict, meticulous, practical, fast, and continuous excellence”, constantly improving his operating skills, engaged in hot-rolled strip production plate shape operation adjustment, online process adjustment and quality key point control, and mastered the unique skills of “accurate at one glance” in the visual inspection of hot-rolled strip temperature and “stable” in the production of strip rolling. He won the “skill top scorer” in the technical competition of the non-ferrous metal industry in Shandong Province, and won the third prize in the enterprise group in the 9th and 10th National Hot-rolled strip steelmaking-rolling simulation competitions, and was awarded the “technical expert” in Shandong Province.
As the chief skill master of Shangang Group, the leader of Rizhao Demonstration Model Worker Craftsman Talent Innovation Studio, and the leader of Shandong Province Model Worker Craftsman Talent Innovation Studio, Zhao Shilong is well aware of the truth that “a tree cannot make a forest”. He plays the leading and exemplary role of the innovation studio platform, carries forward the inheritance of “transmitting and helping” skills, and cultivates 20 high-skilled talents, and 10 people have been commended at the national, provincial and municipal levels.
With his outstanding performance, Zhao Shilong has successively won the National May 1st Labor Medal, Shandong Province Fun Minsheng Lu Labor Medal, Shandong Province Technical Expert, Shandong Province Youth Job Expert, Shandong Province Outstanding Young Skilled Talent in the Metallurgical Industry of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Chief Technician, Qilu Chief Technician, Shandong Province Metallurgical Craftsman, Rizhao Craftsman, Qilu Craftsman, Qilu Craftsman, Shandong Province Taishan Industrial Skill Leading Talent, etc., and enjoys special allowances of the Shandong Provincial Government and special allowances of the State Council.
In the face of honor, Zhao Shilong still maintained a humble and pragmatic attitude: “The spirit of craftsmanship is not a halo of loftyness, but a day after day. I just did my job well.”
Today, Zhao Shilong is still active on the front line of production. In a world where steel and flames are intertwined, Zhao Shilong has interpreted the responsibilities and commitment of industrial workers in the new era with seventeen years of perseverance and innovation.
All-media reporter Sui Yanchen