180 microns! He cut out the world's thinnest silicon wafer

In the Baoding Yingli Group's wafer workshop, 29-year-old Han Wei is known as a master of precision. Using a steel wire that's just 140 microns thick, he can slice through a silicon wafer like cutting hair. His work has generated 168 million yuan in annual profit for the company and earned him the National May 1st Labor Medal this year—making him the first recipient from the photovoltaic industry in China. The key to his success lies in a 20-micron reduction in the thickness of the silicon wafers. By thinning them from 200 to 180 microns, each saw can produce 600 more wafers, increasing output from 4,200 to 4,800 per cut. This innovation not only saves on raw materials but also boosts efficiency significantly. When I met Han Wei at the workshop on May 26, he was working with a new Swiss-made HCT-B5 wire saw machine. The steel wire he used was extremely fine—only 140 microns thick—and breaking it was a real risk. Yet, Han Wei handled it with steady hands, carefully placing the wire on the machine wheel. “Every cut determines the quality of 4,800 wafers,” he said. “One mistake, and everything goes wrong.” Han Wei’s deep understanding of the process comes from years of observation and refinement. The team at Yingli continuously improves their cutting standards, and Han Wei plays a crucial role in ensuring every step is precise. He knows the exact number of wafers produced and the quality they meet, thanks to rigorous testing and optimization. Thinning silicon wafers is no small feat. At 180 microns, they are among the thinnest in the world, and even the slightest flaw can cause breakage. When I picked up a sample, it shattered in my hand. Han Wei explained that the main challenges were “jumpers” and “cutting skews”—issues that occur during the slicing process. Solving these required patience, trial and error, and creative thinking. To tackle “jumpers,” Han Wei added filter buckets to the equipment, reducing impurities that caused the problem. For “cutting skews,” he modified imported Swiss parts using the principles of wire saw cutting, which greatly improved the accuracy. These small but impactful changes made a big difference. After successful trials, the new procedures had to be implemented across all machines. The data collection process was tedious, but Han Wei and three other technicians worked tirelessly for six months, tracking shifts and gathering results. Their efforts led to a full-scale rollout of the improved method throughout the plant. Han Wei didn’t start out in the photovoltaic industry. His major was network technology and information processing, and joining Yingli was initially an accident. In 2007, when the company came to his vocational college for recruitment, he decided to take the job because it was close to home. At first, he felt out of place—surrounded by noise and unfamiliar tasks—but he quickly adapted. He recalls his early days with a mix of humor and humility. “I wasn’t excited about the work at first. I worried about the noise and wasn’t happy.” But his mother’s words stayed with him: “No matter what you do, you have to work hard. Don’t be afraid of effort or suffering.” That mindset helped him push forward. Over time, Han Wei became a dedicated worker, always eager to learn and improve. When a test machine broke down, he didn’t hesitate—he climbed under it, got dirty, and fixed it himself. His persistence earned the respect of his colleagues, and he soon developed effective solutions to many problems. Through hard work and dedication, Han Wei has achieved remarkable success. Over the past seven years, he has received numerous awards, including the title of "Chief Employee" at Yingli and the "Golden Worker" award in Baoding. He has also mentored others, helping two of his peers become workshop leaders and group chief employees. “Everyone can shine through hard work,” he said. “It’s not about talent, but about perseverance and passion.” Han Wei’s journey is a testament to the power of dedication and the rewards that come from it.

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