He Jianjun: A craftsman devoted to innovation in the chemical industry

He Jianjun operates production equipment in the workshop.

For more than two decades, He Jianjun has dedicated himself to China’s chemical industry, building a career shaped by persistence, technical expertise and a passion for innovation.

Now serving as head of the calcium cyanamide branch plant at Ningxia Yulin Chemical Co Ltd, He has received numerous honors, including the National May 1 Labor Medal, in recognition of his contributions to industrial production and technological improvement.

Starting from the workshop floor

He entered the calcium cyanamide industry in 2001 at the age of 18, leaving his hometown to begin work on the factory floor.

As a young worker, he believed that hard work alone was not enough.

“A worker should not only work hard, but also learn and reflect constantly,” he said.

Driven by that mindset, He seized every opportunity to study production processes and improve his technical skills. Within three years, he was promoted to team leader and helped his group achieve record production output. In 2004, he became a workshop director.

Years of experience and steady progress led to a new opportunity in 2011, when He joined Ningxia Jiafeng Chemical Co Ltd as deputy head of its calcium cyanamide branch plant. During the day, he worked on the production line. At night, he studied management practices, gradually forming a philosophy that combined technical expertise with management skills.

He Jianjun operates production equipment in the workshop.

Driving innovation through practical solutions

In 2015, He was appointed head of the calcium cyanamide branch plant at Ningxia Yulin Chemical, where he began leading a series of technological innovation initiatives.

Under his leadership, the team obtained 11 national utility model patents. To reduce production costs while improving output quality, He worked with management staff to optimize manufacturing processes, achieving gains in both efficiency and product performance.

One major challenge involved excessive energy consumption in the plant’s air separation workshop, which increased operating costs and reduced efficiency.

After leading a comprehensive inspection and analysis of the equipment, He and his team optimized operational procedures and successfully reduced electricity consumption, saving the company more than 900,000 yuan ($132,000) annually in power costs.

Turning waste into resources

Another issue He focused on was dust generated during calcium cyanamide production.

The discarded raw material dust not only polluted the environment but also resulted in wasted resources.

Determined to address the problem, He repurposed an unused nitriding furnace to install a dust recovery system. The innovation, which later received a patent, enabled the factory to recycle around 300 metric tons of waste dust annually, saving more than 600,000 yuan each year while improving workplace conditions for employees.

His technical improvements also reduced raw material consumption in calcium cyanamide production from 0.76 tons per ton to 0.75 tons per ton, cutting annual production costs by more than two million yuan.

The dust recovery technology helped fill a long-standing gap in the industry, where many calcium cyanamide producers lacked effective methods for handling raw material dust.

He Jianjun inspects equipment in the workshop.

Passing on skills to younger workers

In 2021, He took the lead in establishing the He Jianjun Model Worker Innovation Studio, which was officially recognized by the Shizuishan Federation of Trade Unions the following year.

The studio created mentorship teams pairing experienced workers with younger employees, while encouraging frontline staff to identify technical problems and develop practical solutions.

Supported by the company and driven by teamwork, the studio has since secured seven additional utility model patents authorized by China’s National Intellectual Property Administration.

He Jianjun stands in front of production equipment.

For colleagues, He’s career reflects the spirit of a new generation of industrial workers — people who combine technical skill, innovation and responsibility to solve real-world production challenges on the factory floor.