Episode 093: Treasure Hunt
“What should we do first?”
“Give me a job.”
“Give me a job, boss.”
People surrounded me asking for work.
“Boost Factory Manager, people are asking what to do first?”
“Am I the factory manager?”
Böst looked at me in surprise.
Who other than you is making the factory manager here?
I just made the obvious choice.
“Is there anyone who knows the work of the steel mill better than Mr. Böst?”
“Then we have to clean up first. The factory must be clean. That way I can start anything.”
“The factory manager will clean it up for you.”
“Waaa!”
He introduced Böst to the employees as the plant manager.
no one objected
Work was what the staff needed.
Voest was the one to give them the job.
“Let’s tear down the stopped equipment, remove the rust, and grease it. Organize the materials in the yard, and move the parts to the material warehouse.”
“Wow!”
Sambok translated Voest’s words in real time, and people rolled up their sleeves and started cleaning.
Wöst Lee, this man was unexpected.
When I asked him to work, he immediately started cleaning.
Since he must have signed a comprehensive technology agreement with Sambok on mutual confidentiality, it seemed like he would ask for a detailed contract with me, but he was an unusual foreigner.
‘This man was also hungry for work.’
It seemed to suit Korea well.
***
Seongsu-dong Plant, President’s Office.
The three of us came back from cleaning at Incheon Steelworks and sat together.
On the table lay a memorandum of confidentiality and a comprehensive technical agreement signed between Wöst and Sambok.
Sambok has already signed on behalf of the general trend, so the only thing left is the special agreement that Boost will present.
“There is only one special drug?”
We talked in the car on the way, and he said that there was only one special drug that Boost wanted.
“Yes, one thing. I heard from SB that my technology is also being used at the integrated steelworks.”
“you’re right. As mentioned earlier, Böst’s fluidized furnace technology is one of the three core competencies.”
In the 21st century, the direct reduction type fluidized furnace technology, called the Pyrex process, is an innovative steelmaking technology along with sheet casting and by-product gas recycling technology.
“You said that one day you would build a steel plant overseas, right?”
“It will.”
“I would like Austria to be the first overseas destination. I will invest all the royalties I receive in building the Austrian steel mill.”
In the comprehensive technology agreement, it is stipulated that a permanent license is obtained for the Böst patent, and the royalty is 1% of sales.
In the plant industry, royalties are 3% on average and the minimum is 0.5% depending on the importance of technology, so it was somewhat favorable to the general trend.
I thought he would want a rate adjustment or a stake in Incheon Steel as a condition of a special contract, but it was unexpected.
“I’d love to hear it, but I can’t. Overseas steel mills are not something we can say we will build, but we have to receive an order from Austria.”
“Austria is also going to build a high-tech steel mill someday.”
“I guess so. But, if you sign a special contract, doesn’t that mean you won’t be able to win orders for other overseas plants until you build a steel mill in Austria? It’s a special contract that both me and Mr. Wöst have no choice but to lose.”
This man was a naive technical man.
Somehow, someone who should have been rejected in the 21st century didn’t appear in the media.
“Ah… that… I see. However, the wish of my grandfather and father is to build a steel mill in Austria in the name of Wöst.”
“We sign a special contract to build before 1990. How is it? At that time, we will be able to mobilize Austrian investors directly on our own.”
“1990? We have another 20 years left.”
“I don’t think we will be dead by then. And even before that, if you succeed in building a few integrated steelworks, investors may gather more quickly. Even if you can’t build it first, you can definitely build it.”
I said with a calm expression.
The steel mill in Austria was originally not in my big picture, and it was not particularly beneficial, but since I recruited Wöst myself, I can express my sincerity to that extent.
“good. I sign.”
Voest filled out the special contract and signed it.
I also signed under that rider.
Böst took it for granted to work together as a plant manager at Incheon Steelworks.
I only wanted to get a license through a comprehensive technology agreement, but to work with Boest, it can be said that heaven helped.
“Mr. Wöst, my friend is really a genius. No matter how you say it, in about 5 years, not 20 years, they will ask you to build a steel mill in Austria.”
“Huh, really?”
“Leave it. Whether my words are bluffing or not.”
“Haha, SB’s words give me strength. Then, I will show you my blueprint as soon as possible.”
Voest opened the suitcase.
I brought the suitcase that I had in the car with me.
It was stuffed full of rolls of paper.
It is said that there are 4 more carriers like this in the dorm.
“That’s great.”
It was like a blueprint that had been written over three generations.
Even though only the flow furnace and melting furnace parts were separated, the dimensions of the drawing, as well as the material of each part, the process flow chart, the piping diagram, and the size of the refractory bricks were marked on a piece of paper that was well twice as large as the A1 paper.
It seemed that he had squeezed in as much information as possible on a single drawing.
“It’s a compact but trial-proven fluidized furnace design. If this is finally connected to a melting furnace, it can replace the existing blast furnace.”
“The number of flow furnaces is four.”
I was thrilled to see the Pyrex construction method, which I had only heard about, as an actual blueprint.
I thought that if I had made this by heading to the ground without Voest’s blueprints, I would have had a really hard time.
I only knew that a fluidized furnace and a melting furnace were made separately to replace the blast furnace, but I did not know that there were four fluidized furnaces.
“Yes that’s right. Even if low-grade anthracite and limonite are used as raw materials, high-quality molten iron can be extracted through four fluidizing furnaces.”
“How should I design the capacity?”
“Considering the annual production of 1 million tons, four 800-ton fluidized furnaces can be placed sequentially. That way, we can reduce construction costs.”
The numbers also popped out.
With Voest’s abilities, it seemed that with such a blueprint, it would be possible to operate it immediately after building it.
“If the by-product gas from the melting furnace is turned into a fluidized furnace, the efficiency will be higher.”
“I will. President Woo patents it.”
Even if you hide the number of flow channels and by-product gas secrets, it seems that others will not easily follow you.
“Is this a flow path? I heard that the iron pot I saw in Mr. Wöst’s backyard looked familiar, but I think I saw this somewhere.”
“Where are you seeing it? The fluidized furnace concept is the secret of the Wöst family.”
“I know that, but the company that uses this type of squid-shaped blast furnace… Samcheok? Oh right. Samhwa! I said Samhwa Steel.”
“Samhwa Steel?”
Was there a place called Samhwa Steel in Korea?
I know that before Pohang Iron and Steel, there were no proper steel mills except for Incheon Steel.
“It used to be a steel mill in Samcheok, but it must be on the verge of bankruptcy because the iron ore mine was exhausted and the facilities were worn out. I must have heard a rumor that Daesei was taking over Incheon Steel, and an employee of that company came to see me right before I went on a business trip to Europe. Please, ask me to take over Samhwa Steelworks.”
Sambok searched for the seat and brought the documents.
“Did something like that happen?”
“Sorry, I was supposed to report it, but I put it off because of a business trip to Europe. Anyway, look at this picture. Isn’t the design similar to the fluidized furnace? It looks like a squid with its legs cut off.”
As Sambok said, it looks really similar to the blueprint.
In the black and white photo, six blast furnaces were lined up. It was hard to tell how old it was because it was an old photo, but it looked fine.
On the back of the photo, along with the address, specifications were also written: 25 m in height, 3 m in diameter, and 30 tons in capacity.
‘There was a blast furnace like this in my country?’
At 30 tons, it was small enough for Pohang Steelworks, but it was usable for Incheon Steelworks.
“Chief Wu, this looks good as a fluidized furnace.”
“I see.”
It was a used blast furnace, but it was no different from a treasure to us now. It seemed that it could be installed at Incheon Steelworks to test the fluidized furnace.
Even if it was a well-made Go-Stop, it didn’t seem easy to fit in like this.
It seemed that the sky was helping to build the steel mill.
It was as if they were telling me to start the steel mill.
“Uhahaha, isn’t this a total luck? They say they’re playing, but we can take over.”
In the original history, Samhwa Steel seems to have been forgotten by Incheon Steel and Pohang Steel.
Since the company is located in Samcheok, it seems that the local area was also out of interest.
In fact, it is the first time I have even heard that there was an iron ore mine in Korea.
“let’s go.”
“What? Where are you going?”
“Samcheok! The factory here is Samcheok.”
“now? Curfew soon?”
“I have this, do you think it will catch us?”
I waved the ‘appointment letter for the general steelworks promotion chairperson’ signed by the president himself.
It was no different from a pass that would lightly let go of the curfew.
“Uh… wait, wait! Chansu, do you have the takeover payment? Aren’t you just taking over this time?”
“Damn it, don’t worry. 20 million dollars extorted from West Germany. Of that, 10 million dollars will go to the integrated steelworks, but the rest is Incheon Steel’s reconstruction cost, so I think that’s enough to take over Samhwa Steelworks?”
To be honest, you could buy it for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Gogo! Gogo!!!”
“Oh, I might as well.”
“Of course, Gogo! Gogo!”
Sambok quickly took the lead, and secretary Ki was also waiting in the car waiting for me to leave.
“Secretary Ki, please go to Samcheok. Address here.”
“Yes? Yes. president.”
I handed over the black and white photo, and Secretary Ki immediately drove off.
***
Similar perspective, Jongno Cheongungak.
“Oh, Kim Sang!”
“Haha, Sensei Yatsui.”
Yatsui and Kim Joong-pil patted each other on the back and shook hands happily. The two had to meet urgently.
It wasn’t long after the Japan Steel Enterprises Association (JG) proposed a technical service to the General Steelworks Promotion Committee, because information that it had succeeded in attracting investment from the United States came first.
“Hehe, I heard that the nobles who went to America to borrow money made pretty good results?”
“It is. Still, the real achievement is when the money is deposited. Western guys said they would lend me money, and how many times have they pulled their feet?”
As Kim Joong-pil tilted his glass as if it were nothing special, Yatsui was slightly annoyed.
It didn’t seem like something I could just watch.
“Still, the petrochemical complex did not proceed successfully? Somehow, the attitude of the South Korean government toward the Korea-Japan agreement is also unconventional.”
“If you are worried about it, Japan should first put out the blueprint and put pressure on the propulsion committee. Wouldn’t the US be willing to hand over the blueprints for the steel mill? How difficult was Japan?”
Kim Joong-pil said with a smile as if he knew everything.
“That’s right. Honestly, who would give me the original technology? Japan has a brother and sister relationship with Korea, so we are helping them.”
As always, Yatsui started with the words that came out of his mouth as if he were being patronizing.
“Are you saying this? Design technology, as well as facilities made in Japan, are the cheapest and have the best performance. Japan also needs to win orders for Korea. I will actively help.”
Kim Joong-pil knocked on the table with a drinking glass, telling him to trust only himself. Yatsui politely bowed his head and filled his glass.
“You mean to use your hands first. Are you saying that if we give you the blueprint and start construction first, you can naturally win the order for the integrated steelworks?”
“Hahaha, that’s right. It will be like Japan taking over the construction with American money. In Japan, it’s like blowing your nose without touching it.”
Kim Joong-pil was proud as if he had successfully won the order.
“What should I do first to secure an order for the integrated steelworks?”
“There are several proposed lands, but I will end up building them in my hometown, Biin District, South Chungcheong Province.”
Kim Joong-pil conveyed his intention to purchase the Biin district in advance, but Yatsui slightly frowned.
“It is difficult to buy land. There is also a history of Suseong being stabbed in the back in Ulsan. How hard was it for Mitsui Corporation to shut down the fertilizer plant? Money is also money, and I put a lot of effort into the political world to smooth things over without making a fuss.”
“Then, Sensei Yasui, come up with an idea. I don’t want Chan-su Woo to stab him in the back.”
“How about this? The blueprints will be handed over cheaply anyway, isn’t it supposed to spend 30 million dollars this year out of the 200 million dollars paid in the Korea-Japan agreement? spend that money Not the land, but building part of the steel mill first.”
Kim Joong-pil was shocked by Yasui’s proposal.
When the Korean government requested it, they said that it would be difficult to spend it on the steel mill, taking it back and forth.
“Thirty million dollars?”
“Yes that’s right. To operate a steel mill, pre-processing facilities, namely an iron ore sintering plant and a coke plant, are essential. The construction cost of the two factories is just about 30 million dollars.”
“If you offer to build a pretreatment plant, the Promotion Committee will have no choice but to inform you of the plant site.”
“Exactly. And just in case, I’d like to stab Woo Chan-soo with some money. There is no business in front of money.”
Kim Joong-pil nodded at Yatsui’s words.
You will not be able to refuse to build a pretreatment plant, and if you build it, you will be able to put pressure on the main project.
“Huh, my job is to make Japan spend money first before American money comes in.”
“you’re right. If Sang Kim agrees, we will take the initiative. After that, our JG will dispatch a large technical team, so the promotion committee can be made into a scarecrow. After that, it’s completely a flower-viewing game.”
“Ha ha ha ha ha! nice I will report to the Blue House and push hard at the National Assembly.”
Kim Joong-pil and Yasui toasted and laughed.
It was rewarding to meet Korean and Japanese people in a hurry.
Somehow, it became a competition to see who would spend money first between the US and Japan.
Not too long ago, both countries said that it would be difficult to build an integrated steelworks in Korea.
Who caused this to happen this way was already erased from their minds.
