Chapter 152: The Distinction Between Injection Molding Machines and Blow-Molded Parts

Zhao Guoyang pondered for a moment and said, "Director Liao, actually, I believe that following the restructuring of your Xiangyang Machinery Plant, this is a prime opportunity for you to adjust your production structure."

"If you can ride this favorable wind to discard some of the plant's formerly crude and backward machining products and instead pivot toward the development of plastic part molds, your chances of achieving success will be quite high."

Liao Jingsheng currently hung on almost every word Zhao Guoyang said. He scratched his head and asked with an expression eager for guidance, "Since Younger Brother Guoyang says so, it must be correct. If we really want to venture into plastic part molds, how do you think we should take this first step?"

Zhao Guoyang smiled faintly, took two mechanical pencils out of his pocket, and placed them in front of Liao Jingsheng.

"These are mechanical pencils, right?" Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong said in unison.

Zhao Guoyang nodded and replied, "That's right, they are mechanical pencils."

"Director Liao, Sister Xiaohong, to be honest, I originally bought these pencils to study, intending to make an effort in this direction in the future. But now it seems you might be even more suited to tackle this product. It would be better to hand it over to you instead."

Upon hearing Zhao Guoyang's words, gratitude instantly appeared on Liao Jingsheng's face. He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Brother Guoyang, since you came up with this idea, if we just take it over, wouldn't that be robbing someone else of their achievement? That wouldn't be right!"

Zhao Guoyang laughed dismissively, saying, "Oh, it's fine. This was just a spur-of-the-moment idea I had, and I haven't even formed a complete train of thought yet. Since you want to get into plastic molds, testing the waters with a small product like a mechanical pencil couldn't be better."

Ning Xiaohong picked up a mechanical pencil and asked with considerable curiosity, "Guoyang, how much profit margin can there possibly be in such a tiny mechanical pencil? What made you think of getting into this?"

Zhao Guoyang rubbed his chin and explained unhurriedly, "Sister Xiaohong, you mustn't underestimate this little mechanical pencil."

"A few days ago, when I was away on business in Songjiang City, I bought a few and it cost me over ten yuan. Moreover, the ones I bought were only the standard models. If the workmanship were more meticulous and the design more aesthetically pleasing, the price would probably be two or three times higher..."

Zhao Guoyang then roughly discussed the production process of mechanical pencils with Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong, and he found that both of them were quite excited.

"Brother Guoyang, according to what you've said, the machining difficulty of the barrel for this mechanical pencil isn't very high," Liao Jingsheng asked thoughtfully.

"Well, that's indeed the case!" Zhao Guoyang nodded.

"Director Liao, you've been to the Xiangyuan Mold Factory in Zhedong Province, so you should know that plastic parts are divided into injection-molded and blow-molded categories, right?"

Without waiting for Liao Jingsheng to speak, Zhao Guoyang continued, "To put it simply, so-called injection-molded parts are, in most cases, solid structures; whereas blow-molded parts are inevitably hollow structures. Furthermore, the surfaces of blow-molded parts are often uneven and feature a blow hole."

"To give an example, the plastic bottles and toothpaste tubes we see in our daily lives are all blow-molded."

"Generally speaking, the structure of injection-molded parts is somewhat more complex, while blow-molded parts are relatively simple," Zhao Guoyang explained in simple terms.

Ning Xiaohong seemed to understand something. She pointed at the mechanical pencil in her hand and said, "Guoyang, following your explanation, shouldn't this mechanical pencil be blow-molded as well? Isn't it a hollow structure, and doesn't it have a blow hole too? The technique doesn't seem complicated either."

Zhao Guoyang smiled slightly, picked up a mechanical pencil, and said, "This is precisely what I want to tell you. Although the barrel of the mechanical pencil looks very much like it fits the characteristics of a blow-molded part, it is actually injection-molded."

"Of course, its structure is indeed relatively simple. If you have an injection molding machine, you could design the mold in half a day."

Hearing this, Liao Jingsheng immediately perked up. He stared pleadingly at Zhao Guoyang and asked, "Younger Brother Guoyang, if our plant really purchases the injection molding machine you mentioned, would you be able to help us design this mold?"

Perhaps fearing that Zhao Guoyang might have misunderstood his intentions, Liao Jingsheng quickly added, "Don't misunderstand, Brother Guoyang. I'm not asking you to do me this favor for free."

"I inquired at that mold factory in Zhedong, and the price of designing a mold is very high. Let's follow the market rate—whatever the design fee should be, we'll give it to you. What do you think?"

Seeing Liao Jingsheng looking at him sincerely, Zhao Guoyang pondered for a moment before speaking, "Well, Director Liao, you don't need to pay me the mold fee for this mechanical pencil. The most urgent matter right now is for you to invest a large amount of capital into the injection molding machine. You must know that the price of a good injection molding machine on the market nowadays is quite substantial..."

"That won't do!" Liao Jingsheng said decisively. "Old Liao doesn't have the habit of taking advantage of others. If I did that, wouldn't I become a petty person who forsakes principles for profit?"

"Hey, Director Liao, listen to me finish first!" Zhao Guoyang pressed both hands downward and said, "It's not about taking advantage of me. In fact, I want to cooperate deeply with you and Sister Xiaohong, Director Liao!"

Seeing the two of them look slightly surprised, Zhao Guoyang explained, "The two of you should also know that a friend and I partnered up to run a small workshop, producing simple small machined parts."

"Yes, I heard Xiaohong mention that. It seems to be doing quite well!" Liao Jingsheng replied.

Zhao Guoyang gave a knowing smile and continued, "If your Xiangyang Machinery Plant really wants to produce mechanical pencils, then besides the outer shell, you will certainly need springs as well. And these springs are precisely what my small workshop is capable of producing..."

Liao Jingsheng caught the implication instantly and stated his position immediately, "That's definitely not a problem! As long as your small workshop can supply the mechanical pencil springs in a timely manner and guarantee the quality, it saves us the trouble of purchasing them externally."

"You can rest assured about that, Director Liao. The quality will definitely be fine!" Zhao Guoyang patted his chest to assure him.

Having interacted with Zhao Guoyang for so long, both Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong trusted him implicitly.

Since he had already spoken up, both of them felt there was no issue at all.

"In addition, I have one more uninvited request!" Zhao Guoyang thought for a moment and said.

"Oh? Please go ahead, Younger Brother Guoyang!" Liao Jingsheng gestured with an open hand and said, "Since we've decided to cooperate, it's best to lay everything out in the open."

Zhao Guoyang's gaze swept over Ning Xiaohong as he said, "Director Liao, you may have heard from Sister Xiaohong that my small workshop is currently a bit short-handed. Production has been quite tense during this period, and I was wondering if Sister Xiaohong could come over to lend a hand after get-off work..."

Liao Jingsheng made the decision on the spot, saying, "That's certainly not a problem at all. As long as the plant isn't too busy ordinarily, Xiaohong can go and help you out. However, Younger Brother Guoyang, you cannot skimp on the wages that should be paid to Xiaohong."

"Of course not!" Zhao Guoyang waved his hands repeatedly.