On April 25th, Northeastern University and Shandong Fulun Steel Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement for endless rolling technology at the Northeast University International Academic Exchange Center. Zhao Ji, President of Northeastern University, Professor Wang Guodong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Wang Ning, Propaganda Minister of the Standing Committee of the Laiwu District Party Committee of Jinan City, Shandong Province, and Liu Ji'an, Chairman and General Manager of Shandong Fulun Steel Co., Ltd. attended the signing ceremony. Zhao Ji, Wang Guodong, Wang Ning and Liu Ji'an jointly unveiled the plaque for “Future Steel Short Process Technology Innovation Center” jointly established by the two parties.
In his speech, Zhao Ji pointed out that, Northeastern University (NEU) has formed a complete discipline system in metallurgical process, which includes ore dressing, smelting, continuous casting, rolling etc., and a discipline system in information and automation. Facing the major needs of China, NEU would promote key technology breakthrough via basic research, and take intelligence as the link to develop green, high-end and intelligent future steel leading technology. Zhao Ji expressed the hope that the two sides will take this opportunity to expand cooperation areas, build platforms, organize innovation teams and talent teams, support and serve local economic and social development, and take the lead in the industrial upgrading of China's steel industry and the transformation of new and old capacity.
On behalf of the Laiwu District Committee and District Government, Wang Ning introduced the regional economic and social development, and the policy initiatives adopted by the district government to implement requirement of “Reply of the State Council on the Overall Plan for the Construction of the New and Old Kinetic Energy Conversion Pilot Area of Shandong Province” and the “Shandong Province New and Old Kinetic Energy Conversion Major Project Implementation Plan”. These initiatives provide support for innovation and entrepreneurship, and the implementation of innovative technologies, aiming to promote the green transformation and high-quality development of the regional steel industry.
Liu Ji'an introduced the general situation of Fulun Steel Company Limited, and pointed out that endless rolling technology for hot-rolled steel, which is independently researched and developed by Northeastern University is highly suitable for the needs of new and old kinetic energy conversion and regional development orientation of the enterprise. The strategic cooperation in endless rolling technology for high value-added hot-rolled steel with Northeastern University aims to comprehensively improve Fulun Steel’s product technology, process equipment and energy efficiency standards, and realize a leap for higher level of value chain. It also marks the official entry into the implementation stage of the fourth major strategic transformation and development of the enterprise. Fulun would do its best to complete the technical undertaking and construction of the production line project.
According to Wang Guodong, the endless rolling technology is the representative and cutting-edge technology of the current green hot rolling process. It is of great significance for promoting the independent innovation of advanced short process technology in China's steel industry and improving the research and development level of high quality and special steel materials. Facing the country’s major needs, Northeastern University has carried out in-depth research on the mechanism of liquid-solid rapid transformation, and has achieved important results in basic research such as rapid solidification, high-temperature casting and rolling integration deformation mechanism and organization control mechanism, and developed short process endless rolling process technology for hot-rolled steel with independent intellectual property rights.. Wang Guodong also expressed his hope that this cooperation would accelerate the transformation of new and old kinetic energy of Fulun Steel and realize the green transformation and upgrading of the industry. Through innovative practice, it is also of great significance to promote the cultivation of talents and the sound development of discipline construction in Northeastern University.
Before the signing ceremony, Yuan Guo, Professor of the State Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation of Northeastern University, introduced the background, content and objectives of the cooperation project.
It is reported that the official signing of the project between the two parties marks the official implementation of the first set of hot-rolled steel endless rolling technology and equipment technology with independent intellectual property rights in China. The two sides will jointly explore the road of independent innovation of China's metallurgical process equipment.
