Zhang Jixiang: Technological Breakthroughs Help Small Valves Enter the Big Market

　　She sports a neat, short haircut with a few noticeable streaks of silver running through it; dressed in simple blue overalls, she’s busy working on the front lines of valve production—recently, a reporter met Zhang Qixiang, the manager of the Technical Department, at the production workshop of Ningbo Rian Valve Co. ,Ltd. Amidst the roar of machinery, she and the workers were inspecting a valve product: “How did the sealing test turn out for this valve?” Zhang Qixiang asked, examining the data and materials while inquiring about the product’s details.

　　Zhang Jixiang is from Jiangxi Province. She majored in Mechanical Design and Manufacturing in college, and right after graduation in 1996, she was recruited by a Ninghai-based company, where she has been working ever since—spending a total of 28 years in Ninghai. “I feel deeply connected to Ninghai,” Zhang Jixiang said softly as she recounted her ties with the city. “Right after graduating from college, I joined a Ninghai-based company and began working in the field of mechanical engineering. From my initial role as a mechanical technician all the way to my current position as manager of the technical department, I owe much of my career growth to the nurturing environment provided by my ‘second hometown.’” Speaking about her connection with Ninghai, Zhang Jixiang explained that Ri’an Valve’s products are mainly exported to Europe and the U.S., and given that different countries have varying technical standards, the company offers thousands of different valve models. On the production line, she can glance at a product and immediately identify which model it is and pinpoint exactly where any potential issues might lie.

　　In recent years, in order to elevate the technological sophistication of valve products, Zhang Qixiang has often devoted herself day and night to tackling critical technical challenges. Thanks to her and her team’s efforts, they have invented a ball valve featuring an extended stem with adjustable opening degrees. This innovation overcomes numerous existing shortcomings and problems—such as inconvenient opening and closing, difficulty or limitation in adjusting the opening degree, and inconsistency in maintaining a stable opening—making it the company’s flagship product.

　　For over 20 years, she has developed deep bonds with the company, often transcending the boundaries of a mere employment relationship to become more like “close partners.” “Rian Valve places great emphasis on talent development. It has introduced incentive programs for R&D achievements in the technical department, as well as management regulations for R&D projects. Moreover, it has formulated a series of incentive policies to recognize and reward technical staff for obtaining professional titles and receiving awards. As a result, every one of our technical personnel feels fully confident,” said Zhang Qixiang. With the support and encouragement from the company and relevant departments, in recent years, she and her team have designed over 2,000 new products, obtained more than 50 patents, and participated in the drafting of over 10 national and industry standards for valves. She also took the lead in establishing the company’s provincial-level R&D center, helping the company become a national high-tech enterprise. The company’s annual output value has grown from over 70 million yuan to nearly 300 million yuan, with an annual sales growth rate reaching 15%. Meanwhile, Zhang Qixiang herself has been honored as a Model Worker of Ningbo City, one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young People in Ninghai County, and among the first batch of “Goucheng Craftsmen.” She has received numerous awards, including the County Science and Technology Innovation Award and the Municipal Science and Technology Achievement Award. Holding multiple invention patents and utility model patents, she has made significant contributions to the company’s development.

　　“She’s extremely conscientious and highly responsible, with an exhaustive knowledge of all the company’s products. She’s a regular visitor to the workshop and has helped us solve numerous production problems.” Qu Hongying is an inspector in the metalworking workshop at Rian Valve. Having worked alongside Zhang Qixiang for over ten years, Qu describes Zhang as “meticulous” and “rigorously professional.” When speaking about Zhang Qixiang, Dai Chaobo, a member of the Technical Department, sincerely admires her professional competence: “Engineer Zhang devotes herself wholeheartedly to product research and development. She translates a great deal of frontline overseas information and English-language materials and then shares them with everyone, guiding our team to keep improving together.” It is understood that, as the vice-chairperson of the Rian Valve union, Zhang Qixiang actively creates opportunities for employees’ growth and development in her spare time. Each time her team successfully overcomes technical challenges, she turns the knowledge gained into practical, rationalized suggestions—transforming them into new driving forces for the company—and selflessly shares these insights with her colleagues, thereby promoting their skill development and helping the company advance together.

　　Today, Zhang Qixiang not only enjoys a comfortable and fulfilling life in Ninghai but has also brought her parents and family members to live here. “I think Ninghai is a very livable city—its environment and cuisine are both things I love. Over the past two decades, I’ve witnessed Ninghai’s rapid development in economy, culture, and transportation. I’m truly proud of my second hometown,” said Zhang Qixiang.

　　Editor: Yang Jinjin

　　Reviewed by: Xu Jianquan