Mr. Cuong, you can do it!
Only 2 months away, the largest hydropower project in Southeast Asia will be inaugurated. About 12,000 workers have been working non-stop for the past 5 years to make this work. There will be many stories of dedication, creativity and sacrifice to achieve this success. Among them, it is indispensable to mention that the Labor Hero Nguyen Tang Cuong built a 1,200-ton crane.

Mr. Nguyen Tang Cuong and his team of technicians
The story is like a "science card" where the risk is much higher than luck, the gain-lose, win-lose often cannot be said until the final result is palpable, eyes see, headphones.
Meeting Nguyen Tang Cuong four years after the decision to "bet" as a 1200 ton crane in Son La hydropower plant, he thought: "At that time, I only had the thought, if I did not make up my mind, I would never have chance to prove that Vietnam can make heavy cranes, master the technology of manufacturing super-weight and super-weight lifting equipment? ”
He said: "If Son La hydroelectricity offers a bid for heavy crane equipment, it is certain that China will win the bid, because it is cheap. But technology, quality is a question mark. If we buy foreign goods from G7 countries, we will have to pay up to 36 million USD. As for me, I only sell for over 10 million USD and I believe I will meet all quality conditions! ”
The price problem sounds very attractive. But what did Mr. Cuong and his company have to prove to EVN, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Science and Technology ... about their words ?.
Introducing achievements in technology innovation
In fact, at that time, although he was quite famous, it was only known that Mr. Cuong had been crowned 500 tons at Se - San 3 hydropower plant within 2 months of 15 days. As a result, it has saved the construction work before the goal when it is possible to pay the overdue loan interest of VND 250 billion because of the slow delivery of a foreign partner for more than 1 and a half years. This makes the electricity industry unexpected and "unimaginable" as "Mr. Cuong can say, can do it".
Mr. Cuong has also been dubbed the "steel king" when providing a series of equipment and spare parts made of special steel in cement plants, chemicals, shipbuilding ... He was conferred the title of Labor Hero. in the renovation period, received the First-class Labor Medal ...
But it seems that all is still not enough to break the prejudice. "Vietnamese enterprises cannot build a crane to 1,200 tons!" This is almost a challenge, a science and economic game full of risks. Because no one in Vietnam, including Mr. Cuong, needs 1,200 tons of care. All are in front of choices: This is a national key project, if successful, it's okay, if it fails, the disaster will be great. So maybe, there are people who support you but don't dare to speak out!
At that time, in a seminar on Son La hydropower, it was strongly opposed to Nguyen Tang Cuong because "if unfortunately the crane had a technical malfunction, broke the dam, 28 million people downstream, including Hanoi city will be submerged in the sea of water, who will be responsible? ”
Nguyen Tang Cuong is equally harsh: "In the downstream, I still have siblings, but my colleagues and comrades, I am not responsible?" I do it because of Vietnamese national pride! I bet with all my life, assets and the title of Labor Hero to confirm that I can do it! ”
Then he said: "The Party and the State aim to 2020, Vietnam will become an industrialized and modern country. If I don't do anything, there is nothing to prove that goal is achieved. ”
"Now that it is successful, the rotor-mounted crane for 6 units has never been broken, I just let out a sigh of relief," he said.
Innovations on the site of the century
For outsiders, it's hard to explain why being a 1200 ton crane is so special. But just know that the level of safety and accuracy for this device must be absolute. A sloppy rotor weighs a thousand tons into the engine hole, only "leaving" the 8mm gap, if it is wrong, the crane moves away, bumping into one side is considered a failure of the whole construction, a disaster . In the world, the problem of installing rotors due to cranes is not small.
When talking about the crane that helped the Son La hydropower plant to go ahead 2 years early, Nguyen Tang Cuong said: “Every hydroelectric project has 2 construction parts and an installation part. If you want to use any technology, then it must be the same for the new year, according to the very clear process ”.
But the problem 2 years early here is the initiative to change the process of installing that machine technology. According to the appraised solution, when the dam was built to the top of 228 m, it was just started installing the crane, trying 17,000 tons of valve gates to see if it was tight and tight. After that, the new State Acceptance Council took about 9 months to collect water, taking 11 months to test, installing the crane for 3 months. So the whole process will normally take up to 23 months. ”
But then, another solution was proposed. That is when up to 162m elevation, Mr. Cuong installed a "crippled crane" of the crane, built it, tried the van to always go there, rolling the 2 in 1 show. year.
“That initiative is made by Mr. Nguyen Ba Tan, an experienced specialist of Power Engineering Consulting Company 1, who is very good and has great contributions to Son La hydropower. I am only an executor under the approval of the Management Board and Thai Phung Ne, ”Mr. Cuong emphasized.
When installing the first rotor in Son La hydropower, Nguyen Tang Cuong was also nervous but he said, it is still not the same as the first crane installation in Sesan 3 hydropower. Because that is the time, he has never worked for hydroelectricity. electricity.
Also starting here, EVN has cooperated with Quang Trung Mechanical Enterprise in supplying cranes for a number of other hydropower projects such as Dong Nai 3, Dong Nai 4, Song Tranh, Huoi Quang and Ban Chat. Hua Na. At this point, Lai Chau Hydropower was also approved by the Prime Minister for Quang Trung Mechanical Enterprise to work as a heavy crane.
Vietnamese manufacturing mechanical brand
Nguyen Tang Cuong has made the world of mechanics manufacture respectable machines! Because he said it, he could do it. He showed people the "power" of 5 crane manufacturing solutions such as designing and making travel gearboxes; fabrication of rotating wheels for base cranes; inverter-type cage motor controller; Post-tensioning for structural products and precision casting technology in vacuum.
The cranes he built have a 90% localization rate. And now, not just 1,200 tons, this "king" of the crane could produce cranes of 5,000-6,000 tons "made in Vietnam" at a price more competitive than the price of neighboring countries.
Looking at those majestic machine building works, few would have expected, the Labor Hero - this scientist would not have earned a title of any major academic degree. He studied mechanics from tools at home, spent 3 years working as a mechanic. In his youth, he used to open a bike repair shop. After that, he entered the profession of making materials, making iron and steel.
The scientist who was just awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize, then read the Russian guidebook on how to cook steel, but did not understand "what is other carbon steel in carbon content? What is carbon?" "And did not cook" steel grade ". So Mr. Cuong explored and studied himself. At times, he failed miserably. The most complete day is the supply of equipment for Bim Son Cement Plant. Just put into operation, this device plate has broken. So, there are 2 engineers and technicians in the factory because he is seriously disciplined.
Once upon a time, how many assets accumulated, he threw all the jobs. Until, he can cook all kinds of special steel grades made in details in the harsh environment for cement plants, chemicals ... profits gained a lot, the skill level is high, it is also time. , he realized "this shirt is too tight!" Must go into a synchronous and Vietnamese-branded mechanical product!
With such great ambition, Mr. Cuong started to work on cranes, gradually localized and modularized, and so far, his business can make up to 50 different types of cranes. .
In the beginning, before successfully manufacturing commercial mechanical products, sold, cheap, good quality, Nguyen Tang Cuong took 10 years to only "spend" money as the main, research and manufacture. then ... failed. A Nguyen Tang Cuong used to be considered "crazy" because he rushed into the rock now proved that, with ambition, passion, perseverance, he could succeed.
For a long time, going to many workshops on mechanical engineering in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, there were many investors of industrial projects complaining that the localization rate is low, then Vietnamese products have not yet gained national certification. economic, then the price is still high, Vietnamese enterprises are not professional ... so it is difficult to choose domestic goods, "forcing" to "bite teeth" imported.
Therefore, Nguyen Tang Cuong still suffers from why Vietnamese mechanics, why are they so stagnant, so stubborn, even though the key mechanical policy has been issued. He said that the State still lacked long-term strategic planning for this sector, lack of professional and professional investment by specific policies and preferential capital. Industry and technology potentials are not in government departments but in enterprises themselves.
Because "if you do nothing, when will Vietnam become a modern industrial country by 2020?".
See more at: http://www.tapdoanquangtrung.com/ban-lanh-dao/tong-giam-doc-tap-doan-cong-nghiep-quang-trung-369.html
- According to Pham Huyen - Vietnamnet.vn -