DEVELON

There are both glamorous urban areas and isolated country areas in China, a country with the third or fourth largest surface area in the world. The April issue of Doosan introduces Qinlong Yu of DICC (Doosan Infracore China Co., Ltd) who provided repair and technical support for construction equipment in the Qinghai region, located near the Tibetan plateau, for six months.

In China, there are famous high plateaus. A case in point is the Tibetan plateau in western China. The Qinghai region located near Tibet is also at such a high elevation that some people suffer from altitude sickness. Altitude sickness usually involves headaches, car sickness and a ringing in the ears. In more serious cases, however, a person may experience loss of appetite, nausea, a feeling of suffocation, shortness of breath, blue lips and even death. Woldal is a new dealer based on the plateau in Qinghai, so it is designated as a dealer that requires special care and support by the Product Support & Aftermarket Team. For six months from February to August 2013, I engaged in technical support activities with two of my colleagues.
11 Hours on the Road
Service work in the Qinghai region is always tough not only due to high elevation, but also poor road conditions. Working in a place called Muli, among others, is even tougher. At the request of our client to repair the DH500 excavator in the Muli Coal Mine in March 2012, I traveled 600km. The first 400km was bearable, as it took only five hours, but the remaining 200km took us a whopping six hours due to poor road conditions. When we arrived at the site, it was already 2 a.m. The owner of the mine was both surprised and pleased to see us so late at night.

Even Uncooked Instant Noodle is Good in Fulfilling the Task
When we arrived at the site, quality accommodations were nowhere to be found. There was only a building resembling a dormitory. After spending 11 hours on the bumpy road, all we wanted to do was sleep. The company cafeteria inside the mine was already closed, and there were no restaurants nearby. We ended up relieving our hunger with uncooked instant noodles, which boils at 70°C due to the low air pressure at high altitudes.

Short of Breath with Temps Below -32°C
The temperature of the Muli Mine, located 4,300m above sea level, is below zero throughout the whole year. During our stay, temperatures during the day were below -32°C, so you can imagine how cold it gets. Despite the tough environment, we started the repair work. The first case was pretty simple, as it was a minor malfunction when the engine started, but the second problem required replacement parts. While disassembling the pipe, my hands were so cold they went numb and I accidentally bumped my hand on the equipment. I also had difficulty breathing due to the high elevation, so I had to take a break in between the work. After a week, we finally completed our task and went back to the hotel in Xining, the capital of Qinghai province. I immediately took a hot bath. I felt true happiness at that moment. There are many times when we are out in a tough atmosphere to repair equipment. Even though conditions are tough, I take great pride in my work, seeing customers and dealers smile and show appreciation.

“It’s tough, but we are happy with our job.”
Because working in PS requires long term overseas trips, we can’t spend much time with our families. I feel especially indebted to my wife. At the same time, the one who cheers me the most is my wife. She is understanding and supportive of my job. Also, when I come back from overseas business trips, PS & AM leaders show concern about us and try to solve any difficulties we may have. Sometimes, they try to pass down their work knowhow and lifestyle tips they gained from experience. Their care helps me build a great sense of pride.