Speaking of Kaijiang Claw Hammer, it is a household name. This kind of small hammer is named after two claws. During its glorious past, it had exported to Southeast Asia countries such as Vietnam and Laos, and had a place in the European tool industry. It was one of the few foreign exchange companies in Dazhou and even Sichuan Province; Kaijiang Hardware Factory, which produces claw hammers, was once listed as an export by the State Council’s mechanical and electrical office. The base was awarded the “Silver Prize of the State Ministry of Light Industry”; it became the first Sichuan exporter of tool products, the first Sichuan foreign exchange enterprise, the first Kaijiang Daqing-style enterprise and many other honorary titles. The media even used “ The Claw Hammer strikes the door of the world, and it is a long-time report, praising the local brand with brilliant performance. However, over time, the products that once had a brilliant reputation have now completely withdrawn from the stage of history.
What are the reasons leading to the decline of this old brand? In the history of the dust in the Kaijiang Hardware Factory, what happened to the claw hammer? What does the ramming hammer's sinking bring us? To this end, this reporter conducted an in-depth investigation to try to find the answer.
The millennium brand, mass production, "claw Hammer's predecessor was the small hammer, it is a representative of our Kaijiang foundry industry." In 1984, he was the deputy head of the Jiangjiang Hardware Factory who was the cleaver hammer and labor union member Li Rensen. At the age of 73, when I talked about the history of Kaijiang Claw Hammer, I was proud of myself.
According to Li Rensen’s introduction, as early as the middle of the Ming dynasty, Kaijiang’s choppers, hammers, hammers and other production tools were well-known in the country for their durability and durability. Among them, the second hammers and small hammers were the most mature technologies. However, it was all workshop-type production at that time. There was no scale, influence and production were limited.
“We opened the Jiangjiang Hardware Factory to the Kaijiang Farm Tools Factory. I joined the farm tool factory in 1956. At the time I was only 15 years old and there were only 26 people in the factory.” Li Rensen’s old man talked about the history of the hardware factory. After the leap, there was no hardware factory in Daxian County, and at that time, the District 2 Light Bureau decided to use the Kaijiang Farm Tools Factory as a base, and built a hardware factory in Kaijiang. In this way, on March 7, 1959, the state-owned company of Kaijiang County was established. The hardware factory was formally established."
“At the time, the plant was only 300 square meters and development was limited. For this reason, in 1960 the government decided to merge the hardware factory with the Kaijiang State-owned earthworks with 200 employees. This merger will provide a huge space for hardware development. At that time, the hardware factory mainly produced screws, wire racks, and silk plates."
In 1968, the country was making great efforts to develop hardware tools. At that time, the Gong Chief of the Second Light Bureau was responsible for organizing the production of claw hammers, and took back samples from Shanghai. However, at that time, the factory was producing on two red furnaces, and the quality and output of the products could not go up. In 1970, Su Yunsu (who passed away) was sent to Shanghai to study for a month. After returning, he made seven or eight gantry punches with hardware technicians. However, production technology still needs to be improved. In 1971, the factory also sent people to Shanghai for a second visit. After this visit, the first claw hammer production line of the hardware factory was formally established, and a second production line was built a few years later. In addition to the production of claw hammers, there are more than 30 varieties and more than 100 specifications such as tubular hacksaw frame and various types of pliers.
From the production of small hammers in private workshops, the Kaijiang Claw Hammer has a history of at least six or seven hundred years. However, the mass production of state-owned factories has undoubtedly made Claw Hammer an advantage in the market. In 1973 and 1974, the claw hammer produced by the hardware factory officially opened its market.
Make foreign exchange brand, repeatedly create brilliant "to look at the entire Sichuan, the occupant hammer only Kaijiang Hardware Factory." Li Rensen said.
Since it was a purely handmade era, claw hammers were very popular in the market and the customer's reputation was very good. “Foreign trade companies in Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, and Guangdong have all placed orders with us at Kaijiang Hardware Factory. The products have also been exported to Vietnam, Laos and other Southeast Asian countries and European countries. In 1985, due to the large foreign exchange earned, Hunan Machinery Import & Export Corporation The company also rewarded a hardware factory with a double row of Mitsubishi Motors. With the rapid increase in the efficiency of the hardware factory, the plant has also expanded and it has grown to an area of 20 acres per year. In 1995, the production value was tens of millions.” Speaking of the glorious history of the hardware factory where he had worked for more than 46 years, he was particularly excited. “At that time, the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee visited the factory. He looked at the numerous trophies, medals, and award flags displayed by the factory and gave him high praise. After visiting the entire production process, the provincial party committee fully affirmed the production, operation and management of the factory."
"What are the honours of the hardware factory?" In the face of the author's curiosity, Li Rensen made an embarrassing expedition: "The first Sichuan exporter of tool products, the first Sichuan foreign exchange enterprise, and the State Department of Light Industry Silver Award The number of times that the State Council’s export office of the Electrical and Mechanical Office was awarded “Provincial Excellence” has been inconceivable.
The factory sold, the glory no longer, however, the glory did not last for several years, the hardware factory gradually went down. The last factory manager of the hardware factory told the author about the situation.
In 1997, Kaijiang Hardware Factory was converted into a joint-stock system. In 2001, it entered the restructuring period. In March 2002, the production of nuclear assets was stopped across the board.... In March 2004, employees were arranged.
That year, the hardware factory was auctioned at a price of 5.5 million. Wu Shengwen of Chongqing Everbright Dongfeng Steel Rolling Co., Ltd. bought a hardware factory for 4.4 million. "At that time, Wu Shengwen promised that after buying the hardware factory, he will reappoint 200 employees and invest funds to continue production." Shuai said that the county took into consideration the brand of the hardware factory and could solve the 200 laid-off workers' employment. Such a low price was sold to Wu Shengwen. Unexpectedly, after Wu Shengwen took over, the delay in hiring 200 employees to work has not been seen. Later, it was discovered that Wu Shengwen was disposing of equipment, products, inventory, and workshops in the factory. So all factory workers prevented this act of selling. In 2006, the hardware factory relied on the grounds of breach of contract to sell the property and forced Wu Shengwen out of the hardware factory. In August 2006, the hardware factory re-auctioned and was acquired by Sichuan Yinang Investment Co., Ltd. for 12 million. In 2008, the hardware factory completely cleaned up and reformed the system. In-service formal employees were bought out of service, and retired employees had to pay “three fees” such as funeral expenses, medical expenses, and pension fees. Afterwards, the author found the old factory site of the hardware factory after several setbacks. The glory of the hardware factory has completely disappeared. A passing aunt told the author that several of the 10 multi-storey high-rise commodity buildings in front of him were built a few years ago from the site of the hardware factory.
The survival of the fittest and innovation is the soul. “We have thoroughly analyzed the reason why the Claw Hammer has retired from the historical stage.” A person in charge of the Kaijiang County Economic and Trade Commission told the author that the Kaijiang Claw Hammer’s declining outcome has caused them to take pains It is hoped that we can find some inspiration for the current production companies.
"The end of the claw hammer era seems to be accidental, but in reality it is inevitable." The person in charge said that the claw hammer originated and flourished in the purely handmade era. At that time, many industries needed a claw hammer, which had great market prospects. However, With the advent of the mechanical age, people began to use nails and nail guns. At this time, if our claw hammer producers follow the pace of the market and design and produce these tools, they may not be eliminated by the market. Unfortunately, at that time, the team did not move with time, but lay in the past achievements and honors to sleep, stagnant, so it eventually became necessary to withdraw from the stage of history.
“Hardware industry is an industry with high labor costs and low added value. If there is no innovation and no strategic development vision, it will eventually be eliminated by history and the market.” The person in charge worriedly stated that Darwin’s “survival of the fittest by the fittest”. It applies to any era, any industry, any product. To create an enduring brand, we must grasp market trends, constantly introduce new products, innovate products, innovate management, and innovate corporate culture. Including the Yongxing Hardware Tools Factory, which is still engaged in the production of hardware, paying more than 3 million yuan a year, and the Baota Iron Works, which has taxed more than 1 million, despite the potential for development, they all face difficulties in lack of talents and funds. "In today's increasingly labor-intensive industries, we will not innovate new products with high output value. The future of the hardware industry is the outcome of Claw Hammer today."
Yantai Tianbing Construction Machinery Co., Ltd
