When will I have a long tassel?

"Wait, let me think."

Duan Rufei interrupted Zhang Lingwei. He thought for a few seconds and then said: "What Mr. Zhang means is that there are two aspects. First, if you use foreign machine tools, you can prove that your products comply with international standards. This will make it easier for Western countries to An airworthiness certificate has been issued to you.”

"Yes, this is indeed one aspect." Zhang Lingwei said.

"The second aspect is that when you buy foreign machine tools, it is equivalent to paying for foreign diplomacy. For the sake of this money, Western countries will also agree to issue you airworthiness certificates." Duan Rufei continued.

"Buying road money..." Zhang Lingwei's face was a little embarrassed, but he still said bravely: "That's pretty much what Assistant Duan said, but generally it wouldn't be said to be buying road money. This is considered a shared benefit. Western aircraft-specific machine tools , is monopolized by an investment institution called the Weill Consortium. The Weill Consortium has strong lobbying capabilities in the EU and the United States. We use the machine tools of the Weill Consortium, and they are obliged to obtain airworthiness certificates for us. .”

"So that's it." Tang Zifeng understood. No wonder Zhang Lingwei said that this matter was decided when the large aircraft project was approved. It turned out that there was such a consideration.

Liao Tong said: "In fact, it's not just machine tools. Many parts on our aircraft are also purchased globally. We also consider these two factors. One is to make foreign countries think that we are using mature parts that can be used for our aircraft. There is more trust in the products. The second is to give up part of the profits to aerospace parts manufacturers in Western countries to reduce their resistance."

"It's so frustrating." Duan Rufei said bitterly.

Tang Zifeng waved his hands and said: "This is inevitable, after all, we are latecomers. If others eat well at the table, we must also serve them and share their dishes, without making any gestures. In the final analysis, our strength is still not strong enough.”

"Yes, yes, it is a huge victory for us to be on the table. As for giving some profits to Western suppliers first, this is a strategy." Zhang Lingwei said.

Tang Zifeng said: "It's really not easy for you, Mr. Zhang."

"Thank you for your understanding, long live your understanding!" Zhang Lingwei said, and he bowed his hand to Tang Zifeng.

"In that case, what does Mr. Zhang want to talk about when he comes to our company today?" Tang Zifeng changed the topic and returned to today's topic.

"We need the help of business opportunities. We hope that business opportunities can help us develop a complete set of aircraft machine tools to replace the equipment of the Weill Consortium." Zhang Lingwei said.

"What does this mean?" Duan Rufei was stunned.

Zhang Lingwei explained for a long time why it was necessary to use the equipment of the Weir Consortium. Business Opportunity had just accepted his explanation, but he suddenly said that he hoped Business Opportunity would develop a complete set of aircraft machine tools. This statement did not match up.

Tang Zifeng understood a little bit, and asked, "What happened to your introduction of machine tools?"

"Something has changed." Zhang Lingwei said, "The United States has launched a high-tech embargo against China. Large aircraft manufacturing equipment should actually be the first to bear the brunt, because aircraft machine tools are all high-precision, oversized, and overweight machine tools with very high technical content. High. In addition, large aircraft technology has always been dual-use, both military and civilian. If the United States and the European Union ban our equipment on this basis, it is completely in line with their current policies."

"In other words, they have not issued a ban on these devices so far? This should be the power of the Weir Consortium at work." Tang Zifeng guessed.

"Mr. Tang's vision is so sharp." Zhang Lingwei raised a thumbs up and praised, "When the United States and the European Union began to impose a technology embargo on China, we were really nervous for a while. Later, the Weill Foundation informed us that They have convinced the US government and the European Commission to exclude the large aircraft core processing equipment agreed with us from the embargo list, and our transactions will not be affected."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple, right?" Tang Zifeng said with a smile.

Zhang Lingwei sighed again and said: "Mr. Tang was right again. When the Weir Foundation notified us of this, they also said three things. First, in order to have an explanation to the United States and the European Union, they told us Data collection devices must be installed on the main equipment provided to ensure that these machine tools are not used for military purposes.”

"This is also an old trick." Tang Zifeng commented.

The installation of data collection devices on imported equipment is nothing new. China's technology is inferior to others, and some high-tech equipment has to rely on foreign countries. If they agree to sell it to you, it is already a great gift. Adding a data collection device to it to monitor your usage is An offer you can't refuse.

Not to mention the disgusting aspects of the data collection device, the key point is that it can also steal your technical secrets. All the details of the parts you process with this machine tool will be recorded, which is equivalent to sending the drawings to foreigners. You can't help them how they want to use it.

In recent years, the level of domestic equipment technology has been continuously improved, and many imported equipment have had substitutes. Even though there is still a gap in quality between these alternative products and imported equipment, they still give users another choice. With choices, users can have the confidence to negotiate with foreign manufacturers and refuse the other party to install data collection devices, or require the other party to disclose the working principle of the data collection device to ensure that it does not have the ability to steal secrets.

Domestic large aircraft involve a large number of technologies with independent intellectual property rights, and these technologies need to be kept confidential. Previously, when Pufei and the Weill Consortium were discussing the introduction of production equipment, they made it clear that data collection devices could not be attached, and the Weill Consortium agreed. But now, taking advantage of the trade war, the other party has added this clause.

"The second meaning is that their manufacturing costs have increased, so the equipment quotations have to be increased by 10% to 30% on the original basis." Zhang Lingwei continued.

Tang Zifeng sneered: "Isn't this called taking advantage of the situation?"

"That's not all." Zhang Lingwei said, "The most disgusting thing is the third item. They said that the policies of the U.S. government and the European Commission are unstable. Now they promise not to ban this transaction, but in the future they may Change of opinion.

"In order to avoid the impact of the government's change on the transactions between the two parties, especially to avoid affecting our future production plans, they suggested that we turn batch procurement into one-time procurement and merge the procurement plans for the next five years into one contract. Sign and execute now.”

"So, how big is this contract?" Tang Zifeng asked.

"It's equivalent to RMB 80 billion to RMB 100 billion." Zhang Lingwei said.

"It's actually so big!" Duan Rufei exclaimed from the side.

Liao Tong spread his hands and said: "There is no way. Outsiders think that building airplanes is a loss. In fact, the aircraft company is helping your machine tool company make money. The price of a 20-meter-stroke milling machine for processing frame and beam structures is 100 million."

"A special machine tool for processing landing gear costs 20 million yuan each. Each machine tool can only process less than 10 landing gears per year. If we produce 100 aircraft per year, we will need at least 10 such machine tools, which is 2 Hundreds of millions.

“Only one company in the world can produce small precision five-axis turning and milling compound machine tools for processing engine fuel nozzles. One piece of equipment costs 5 million, and our purchase quantity is at least 40 units.

"It can be said that the workshop of the aircraft manufacturer is simply a house of gold, which is piled up with gold. The RMB 80 billion is only our first-phase investment, and it may not be enough. By the second phase, we will have to form an annual To achieve a production capacity of 300 aircraft, the number of equipment will be doubled."

Tang Zifeng asked: "With so many special equipment, does the Weill Consortium have such a strong technical level? Why haven't we in the machine tool industry heard of this company?"

Zhang Lingwei said: "Weil Consortium is not a machine tool company. It is an investment company. It has stakes in dozens of machine tool companies, holds their products related to the aviation industry, and specializes in the business of aircraft manufacturers."

"He has a very good business vision." Tang Zifeng commented, "Controlling the aviation-specific machine tools of dozens of companies, unifying external quotations, and also possessing the ability to lobby outside the hospital, he is unrivaled in this industry."

"Yes, including Airbus and Boeing, they all have to look at its look." Zhang Lingwei said.

Tang Zifeng said: "I'm afraid the credibility of Westerners has to be questioned. When the West was strong, it really liked to flaunt that it had a spirit of contract and was a moral model. But now that the West is declining and is precarious, they are ready to take action at any time. It's possible to tear off your face and use it as a rag to wipe your feet.

"If you consolidate five years of procurement into one contract, it is entirely possible for them to take the money and run away, or send you a batch of completely substandard equipment. This loss is something we cannot afford."

Zhang Lingwei nodded and said: "That's right, this is what we are worried about. In fact, there is another point, that is, even if the Weill Consortium does not breach the contract, the US and EU governments may suddenly increase the intensity of the embargo, and the Weill Consortium will also This result cannot be changed.

"If this happens and our production has already started, we will be in big trouble. Our leaders have instructed us to be fully prepared for possible emergencies and not to place all our hopes on others."

"Yes, it is very dangerous anytime core technology is in the hands of others." Tang Zifeng said, "Our country has been frugal and frugal for so many years but has cultivated its own machine tool industry because we are worried about the situation that Mr. Zhang mentioned. .

"Specifically in the large aircraft industry, you can still discuss whether to use imported equipment. But while using imported equipment, we must have our own backup mechanism so that we can not panic, and there are other things like this The bargaining power of the Vail consortium.”