Mr. Li Lin is nearly 1.8 meters tall, a fine figure of a man, though nearly 56 years old still full of energy. His gentle and square shape face makes him approachable, and there is tenacity in his eyes.

In Fangda Group NHI, Li Lin is an inspirational celebrity. He is well-known because he has been an ordinary employee who grows up to be the chief expert of TBM pipe assembly. His inspiring story has influenced many young people.

Determined to be a Good Worker, Shouldered the main Responsibility

In 1985, Li Lin graduated from Shenyang Heavy Machinery Skilled Workers School with excellent distinction. He walked into the enviable door of Shenyang Heavy Machinery Factory as what he dreamed, the predecessor of Northern Heavy Industries Group Co., Ltd. From then on, Li Lin aspired to be a good worker. A few years later, he quickly emerged in young workers due to his diligence and hard-working. He became the production backbone in the factory.

TBM is the first high-end machine that NHI has introduced advanced technology and broke the foreign monopoly. It is high technical machine integrating mechanical, electrical and hydraulic system. There are many and complex high and low pressure pipelines with high-level technical requirement for installation. Building a pipeline installation team is the most important key point for TBM production. Who can take on this task?

Opportunity always favors those who are hard-working and aggressive. Mr. Li Lin, who is practical, familiar with all kinds of products, has many years of experience in product assembly and is full of innovative spirit, has been selected by the leaders to take on the responsibility of pipeline assembly team leader.

He has secretly determined that "Leaders and workmates trust me so much, I must do something to proof myself.", when he became the head leader of the team.

In order to grasp the key technology of the high and low pressure pipeline installation of TBM as soon as possible, Li Lin led the newly established-team from the zero-based to develop and innovate TBM pipeline installation technology.

Lived up to Expectations, He Brought out a Team to Fight a Hard Battle

When the team was newly established, it undertook the task of installing the high-pressure pipe of TBM for right line section construction of Shenyang Metro Line 1 from Yunfeng Street Station to Shenyang Railway Station for China Railway 18th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. Neither the knowledge of pipeline installation technology, nor the guidance from professional technicians, Li Lin led the team to learn and summarize experience during working. Once he encountered difficulties, he immersed himself in the data and made bold explorations. In order to get to know and master the assembly technology of high and low pressure pipeline of TBM as soon as possible, he spent almost every day around the TBM exploring and studying the pipeline assembly technology and method of piping assembly till midnight, sometimes he just slept in the workshop.

Where there is a will, there is a way. After one and a half months hard work and study, the quick-witted Li Lin lived up to his expectations, he comprehensively mastered assembly technology of high and low pressure pipelines of TBM. He led the team staff successfully complete the assembly task of pipelines for the first TBM and successfully passed the acceptance inspection.

"A man should be ambitious, even more aggressive." Li Lin always says it. Under the lead and influence of Li Lin, team staff study hard and practice skills. Everyone is trained with a unique skill. The pipeline assembly team has also become a high-quality innovative team capable of completing various types of TBM pipe assembly with the highest efficiency, the lowest cost and the best quality, excellent technology, good style of work, bearing hardships and hard work, and daring to fight a hard battle.

In the past 10 years, Li Lin led the team to overcome difficulties and challenges, continuously overcome problems and make innovations to accomplish assembly high and low pressure pipelines for nearly 100 sets of various types of TBM. It has made outstanding contributions to building a world-class TBM manufacturing base for NHI.

Continuous Production and Tackling Problems, Be a Pioneer in Technological Innovation

Li Lin, full of spirit of tackling key problems and innovation, never shrink from difficulties no matter what difficulties he encountered in production. He has courage to face difficulties and challenges directly, takes the lead in technological and process innovation, boldly explores and innovates the solutions.

In 2015, NHI manufactured the largest TBM in Asia with 14.1 meters diameter for Liantang Project in Hong Kong with huge body and complex system. In particular, piping assembly is the most difficult. In order to ensure the construction period and assembly quality, Li Lin led the production backbone to repeatedly explore and study the assembly process routine. One technical obstacle after another and one difficulty after another were all overcame. They completed the pipeline assembly task on schedule. When the TBM passed the test acceptance, even the foreigner gave him a hearty thumbs-up.

Speaking of that Li Lin led the team to overcome the difficulties and achieve innovative results, it can speak on a subject with great familarity. The foam static generator for TBM blade and earth lubrication was imported from abroad before and its cost is very high. On the basis of the imported foam static generator, Li Lin designed and manufactured new foam static generator. The spraying effect completely reached the level of the imported equipment, which was not only a simple structure, but also greatly reduced the cost of foam static generator. He applied new technology to replace the original low-pressure pipeline welding and screw thread connection, which not only saves material, but also reduces the installation difficulty, and improve the assembly efficiency; the cooling water of the main drive motor and reducer is changed from pipe fitting to ring pipe, which solves the problem of narrow space and inconvenient maintenance. In the past 10 years, he led the team to achieve more than 60 technological innovations, saving the production cost more than RMB 20 million. The Work Instruction of High and Low Pressure Pipeline for Earth Pressure Balancing TBM compiled by him, it not only standardizes the operation of employees in the pipeline construction process and improves the quality, but also fills a blank in the process document of Northern Heavy Industries Group Co., Ltd.

It has been 36 years since he joined in the work, Li Lin, as chief expert of pipe assembly who grew up with TBM has always practiced the spirit of craftsman in the new era with practical actions of tackling key problems and innovation.

In 2012, Li Lin was awarded "Excellent Team Leader of State-owned Enterprises" by Liaoning Provincial Federation of Trade Unions. In 2014, he was awarded "Model Worker" of Shenyang City. In 2017, he won the title of "Model Worker" of Liaoning Province. The team led by him has also successively won the honorary titles of "Innovative Team", "Worker Pioneer" by the Shenyang Advanced Group of Shenyang Machinery and Light Chemical Industry Association.