TANG Xiaoyu, born in March 1985, is of Manchu ethnicity and a member of the Communist Party of China. He graduated from the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) in 2008 with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He currently serves as a Technical Supervisor (Level III) at the Converter Workshop of Hanbao Steelmaking Plant, Handan Iron and Steel Company, HBIS Group.
Over the years, TANG Xiaoyu has received numerous honors, including “National Model Worker” (2020), “National Youth Model for Excellence and Integrity” (2018), “National Youth Post Expert,” and recognition on the “China Good People List” for dedication and service. He has also been named a Model Worker of Dedication at the provincial level in Hebei.
Committed to excellence on the production front line, TANG has demonstrated outstanding technical skills and craftsmanship. He won the championship in steelmaking at the 2017 National Simulation Steelmaking and Rolling Competition and led his team to the overall championship in the enterprise category. In 2018, he achieved global recognition by winning the professional category at the World Steel Association’s Simulation Steelmaking Challenge Finals in Mumbai, India.
Rooted on the Production Line: Aspiring to Be the Best Steelmaker
In July 2008, TANG Xiaoyu joined Hanbao Steelmaking Plant under HBIS Group, where he began his career as a raw material operator at the converter workshop. Though initially unfamiliar with the work, he made full use of every opportunity to learn from experienced workers. Within just a few months, he had gained a solid understanding of the role.
Driven by diligence and guided by mentorship, TANG progressed rapidly. In just over two years, he advanced from a material operator and alloy worker to an experienced steelmaker and converter foreman. He also participated in the commissioning and hot testing of the No. 2 converter, gaining a deep understanding of equipment performance.
At a time when the company was striving to benchmark against industry leaders in product structure, process optimization, and quality control, TANG tackled one technical challenge after another. His team ranked first among 12 steelmaking groups for the entire year, and he set a remarkable record by maintaining internal control standards for molten steel composition for ten consecutive months—a record that remains unmatched.
As he once wrote early in his career:“Study hard, integrate theory with practice, and strive to become the best steelmaker in my workplace.”His achievements have brought this aspiration to life, and he remains firmly committed to working on the front line.”
Driving Innovation: Advancing High-Quality Production
Since becoming a technician, TANG has focused on technological innovation and process optimization. In 2013, as HBIS Handan Steel promoted low-slag steelmaking—a method that requires maintaining multiple key indicators simultaneously—many teams struggled to adapt.
To overcome this challenge, TANG conducted extensive research and combined it with his practical experience. He pioneered the application of a “slag-retention steelmaking” process, which improves early slag formation and enhances dephosphorization efficiency. This approach ensured the successful achievement of multiple performance indicators and led to the development of a systematic method for 260-ton converter operations. He became the first steelmaker at the plant to reduce lime consumption to 15 kg per ton of steel and successfully promoted the method across teams.
Another of his breakthrough innovations is the “high-temperature, high-oxygen slag splashing technique.” Traditionally, maintaining converter lining integrity was a major challenge, especially during the early stages of low-slag steelmaking.
Through meticulous data analysis and repeated experimentation, TANG developed an innovative slag-splashing method using limestone as a substitute material. By optimizing lance positioning and process timing, he significantly improved furnace protection while reducing costs. This method was later recognized as an advanced operational practice at the company level.
Rising to the Top: A World Champion in Steelmaking
Through years of dedication and perseverance, TANG Xiaoyu’s achievements have steadily accumulated. Since 2015, he has received multiple honors within the steel industry and at the municipal level.
In November 2017, he won second place in the professional category of the China regional competition of the 12th Simulation Steelmaking Challenge organized by the World Steel Association. With one of the top results globally, he advanced to the world finals.
On April 10, 2018, in Mumbai, India, TANG Xiaoyu achieved a historic victory by winning the global championship in the professional category. Standing on the podium wearing a badge of the Chinese national flag, he represented not only his company but also China’s steel industry on the world stage.
Reflecting on his journey, he once wrote:“On the African savanna, there is a type of grass known for growing the tallest—because its roots extend as deep as 28 meters. I hope to be like that grass.”He added,“I will continue to root myself deeply on the production line and dedicate myself to building a more competitive steel enterprise.”
