Established in 1940: The 1st Grinding Wheel Factory

(The picture shows at that time, grinding wheel molding were either made by mud casting or by hand.) 

History of the Factory

The 1st Grinding Wheel Factory (SuJiatun Grinding Wheel Factory) was initially formed in 1940, when Japan invaded an occupied northeast China. At that time, it was set up in "Manchukuo" (Japanese puppet regime in Northeast China). After Japan surrendered, the factory was taken over by the Chinese Kuomintang government. On 8, Nov, 1948, Shenyang was liberated. China Northeast Military Control Commission of the People's Government assigned representatives to take charge of the factory, which was renamed "The 6th Subsidiary Plant of Shenyang 1st Machine factory" and "The 13th China Northeast Machinery Factory". In Apr, 1949, the people's government of China acquired a small grinding wheel factory in Dandong (Set up by Japan). Four years later, the 13th China Northeast Machinery Factory was under charge of "The 1st Machinery Industrial Department" and "The 2nd Industrial Administration", and it was renamed "SuJiatun Grinding Wheel Factory". In 1995, according to the 1st Machinery Industrial Department, the factory was renamed again as "441 Factory". In 1962, the factory was eventually named "The 1st Grinding Wheel Factory".

Tough Beginning

Before liberation, the 1st Grinding Wheel Factory remained small in scale: equipment was obsolete and the single product it could produce was ceramic grinding wheel. Abrasive grains were exported from Japan and North Korea. Grinding wheel molding were either made by mud casting or by hand. Because there were no check equipment for finished product, the factory's highest annual output reached 180 tons.

Since the factory was not capable of producing abrasive grains, abrasives were dependent. After the Korean War broke out, western capitalist countries enhanced economic blockade to China. Just like the saying goes, "One can't make bricks without straw", the 1st Grinding Wheel Factory confronted with extremely tough situation. What's worse, to resist U.S. aggression and support Korea, China war industry was in desperate need of abrasive grains and abrasive tools. It was under this situation that the 1st Grinding Wheel Factory took on the heavy responsibility to abrasives trial production.

Amazing Achievements

The good news was that around 1950s, the factory managed to produce black silicon carbide, brown fused alumina, green silicon carbide and white fused alumina. So far, except for white fused alumina, the other three types of abrasive grains had been put into production. The factory's amazing achievement had solved the problems and enhanced China's ability to be self-sufficient in abrasives industry. It was a huge step. The 1st Grinding Wheel Factory is also home to China silicon carbide industry production.

In 1955, the factory succeeded in producing China's first electric heating component—silicon carbide rod. From 1953 to 1965, resin bonded abrasive tools and rubber bonded grinding wheel were successfully developed. The factory also completed the first grinding sintering kiln and a series of grinding wheel device, all of which had contributed to China abrasive tools production.

With the factory developing and growing stronger, it has accumulated valuable experience that can be learned from by others. The special historical role of the factory has made it the first technical training base in China. From 1953 to 1957, nearly 900 employees received training in the factory.

The 1st Grinding Wheel Factory played a effective role in guiding China's abrasives and abrasive tools industry in the initial stage. Although the factory applied for bankrupt in 1996 due to poor management, its contribution was universally recognized. It is undoubtedly that the 1st Grinding Wheel Factory has laid the foundation of China abrasives industry.