'This is indeed the main factory.'
The Seongsu-dong Factory is where Daese Shilup began, and the employees take great pride in it.
The floor was so shiny from constant sweeping and mopping.
In the 21st century, they would have used urethane, but in the 60s, the factory floor was an oiled wooden floor.
"Welcome, Sajangnim."
"It's so good to see you."
"Thank goodness, Sajangnim."
The team leaders bowed deeply in greeting.
Though he was still just a rookie factory manager due to his rapid promotion, it was only a matter of time before he became the top textile expert in Korea.
The chemical fibers they were producing would soon be cutting-edge products on a global scale.
"Everyone looks healthy, that's good. I heard the polyurethane sample is out?"
"Yes, we have a sample with 90% polyester and 10% polyurethane. Even with just 10% polyurethane, the elasticity is greatly improved."
Receiving the fabric handed over by the team leaders, he couldn't help but be amazed.
"It's smooth and doesn't have static."
Moreover, when he stretched it, it extended as desired.
It was comparable to 21st-century spandex fabric.
The major drawbacks of polyester, like texture and static, were completely resolved.
The silk-like texture combined with elasticity.
"Besides military supplies, it seems it would sell well as casual wear."
"It's perfect for sleeves and gloves."
"It would be good for making underwear too."
Now, even the team leaders spoke like experts.
Since each factory also sewed clothes, they naturally thought about what products to make based on the fabric.
Selling sewn products was much more profitable than just fabric, and it created jobs for female workers, adding more significance.
"Great, let's try everything."
Given the improved texture and elasticity, it seemed wise to replace existing polytech sleeves with this fabric.
If supplied to the military, the US Army would love it.
Selling both products together would gradually increase new product purchases even if the new one was more expensive.
'Replacing the existing products is a given, but what new item should we make with the Nike label?'
Since it was already December, making winter items was too late.
Making swimsuits or spring-autumn wear seemed better.
Running gear? Swimsuits?
Or maybe underwear would be better?
For now, I'm thinking of boxer briefs.
They weren't around yet, but once men tried them, they wouldn't want to wear anything else.
Given the elasticity, bras for women would also be well received.
The challenge was how to give these products a premium image and sell them at a high price.
It might be best to send samples to Phil Knight and have him contact department stores in New York.
Or I could go myself.
Once any department store was breached, demand would explode.
"Huh?"
While handling the samples and thinking about various things, he noticed an odd fabric spread out on the table next to him.
Could it be described as a light golden fabric?
"What is this?"
Picking it up, it felt bouncy.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll clear it right away."
"No, don't clear it. Who made this?"
"It's not made, but an experimental fabric. It's a yarn failed to be separated from the catalyst, and we're trying to find the optimal blending ratio with polyurethane."
"Haha, you even made gloves for the experiment?"
Next to the golden fabric was a long glove that could be called an evening glove.
"To know the texture, it's best to wear it on the arm."
Team Leader Yonggu put on the arm glove, wiggled his fingers, and pulled the fabric.
"Isn't it incredibly stretchable? It could even be worn on the leg, but... I'm a man, so..."
He scratched his head, looking somewhat playful for an experiment.
"Oh, stockings!"
An idea struck him suddenly.
Stockings could be made immediately.
They were products almost independent of the season, and there was a global mini-skirt craze right now.
They were easier to advertise and would get quick responses compared to swimsuits or underwear.
Moreover, our product, Polytech, is a high-tech fabric with polyester as the base, coated with aramid in polyurethane.
It clings to the skin, feels warm in cold wind, has no static, doesn't get wet, and the texture is almost as soft as cotton or silk, perfectly overcoming the drawbacks of existing stockings.
With such functionality, it was almost the best in the universe.
The subtle golden color was very attractive even without dyeing.
If this subtle golden color was mixed into existing skin-tone or black stockings, it would definitely look unique and luxurious.
With cutting-edge functionality and this color, it could create new demand beyond the existing one.
This was a jackpot.
Who said aramid material is only for bulletproof vests? It could definitely be used in stockings.
"Everyone, let's start mass-producing this Golden Skin. Call Director Lee Sambok too, we'll allocate the quantities right away."
"What, Sajangnim? Are we really mass-producing this right away?"
"Golden Skin? Is that the product name?"
The team leaders asked about mass production, but Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim asked about the product name first.
"Doesn't it look like golden skin? It feels like you're not wearing anything, yet it makes you look slim and covers skin imperfections."
"Come to think of it, it's a perfect product name."
"Let's start with stockings, and then vary the yarn thickness for underwear, swimsuits, and sportswear."
"How much quantity are you thinking for mass production?"
"The maximum possible. Outsource all current production quantities."
Especially stockings, if successful, would be a massive hit.
The production cost and labor were minimal, but the production speed and profit margins were unmatched.
Selling for just $1 each would still be highly profitable.
Moreover, even if they tore easily, customers would keep buying them voluntarily.
***
Drururururuk. Drururururuk.
Ding-dong-dang.
"It's break time, everyone stretch your backs and shoulders. Look up to the sky like me... Ahhhh."
The line leader rang the bell for break time.
She then started demonstrating stretches.
Fresh out of high school, the young female workers followed like chicks.
"Bongsook, is it really okay for us to be doing this?"
"What's the problem? Sajangnim said stretching and exercising during breaks prevents pain."
"That's not it, are we really okay just making stockings, panties, and swimsuits? Shouldn't we be making military uniforms and backpacks like before?"
"Polytech is all outsourced now. Sajangnim decided that, what can we do?"
"It's such a waste. We should be doing difficult and expensive work to get good New Year bonuses."
"I don't know, just do as Sajangnim says. He's the best businessman in the country. What are you worried about?"
The young female workers chatted away.
Even the female workers at our company were highly interested in business.
The company's performance was directly linked to vacation pay, kimchi-making bonuses, and holiday bonuses.
"Stockings make more money. Don't worry."
"Sajangnim!"
"Exercise. Stretch your back and shoulders."
"Yes, Sajangnim."
I reassured the female workers who even worried about the company and headed towards Hyesung Nylon.
On the way, I passed the shipping warehouse and thought how diligent not only our employees but the entire country was.
It had only been ten days since we started mass-producing stockings, and the warehouse was already more than half full.
A rough estimate was over 200,000 pairs.
The quantities of swimsuits and panties were over 10,000, so it was time to meet the American buyers.
The key was not just showing them the full Golden Skin product line, but attracting Wall Street with our bulletproof material.
It was time to test it.
***
Hyesung Nylon Factory. It was like the chemical fiber research lab of Daese Shilup.
"Is everyone here?"
"Welcome, Sajangnim."
"Welcome, Woo Sajang."
Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim and Old Man Hwang welcomed me.
"Chansu, is it okay for me to be here? Everyone else are technical experts."
"Sambok, you should know too. Kablar fabric is our company's secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?"
"You'll understand once you see it."
I nudged Sambok towards the back yard of Hyesung Nylon. The most important things should always be hidden in the deepest places.
"Hwang Sajangnim, is the sample process going well?"
"Yes, of course. Just as you said, we dissolved the aramid coating in sulfuric acid to make a thick solution (Dope), and then went through spinning, coagulation, neutralization, and rinsing to draw the yarn. It's amazing how aramid pulp can become yarn."
"This process is possible because the minute amount of polyurethane temporarily connects the aramid pulp. The idea of producing polyurethane and aramid fiber in the same process is truly remarkable."
Polyurethane's polymerization reaction is extremely fast at 3/1000 seconds, and it's difficult to control due to its explosive exothermic reaction.
For mass production, we needed know-how to uniformly mix the raw materials and quickly remove the reaction heat, which Old Man Hwang solved with a wet process and aramid coating.
Aramid material, acting as a coating agent, withstands up to 500 degrees Celsius, is highly insulating, and is five times stronger than steel, bringing the reaction speed of polyurethane to a controllable level.
As aramid fiber is highly insulating, it's challenging to draw into yarn, but by using polyurethane as a temporary crosslinking agent, we could easily draw yarn.
Considering it took over 20 years for domestic
researchers to develop aramid pulp and draw yarn in the 1980s in the original history, we now possessed technology that surpassed 21st-century techniques.
Even if we patent the aramid fiber, this process would remain a top secret.
It felt almost like divine intervention, catching two rabbits at once.
Old Man Hwang's creation of polyurethane and aramid in the same facility was more than luck, it was almost like heaven's help.
Could it be that his earnest wishes reached heaven?
"Haha, I didn't even know it was aramid. I thought it was the coretex you mentioned."
"It's more expensive and important than coretex. I'll file a patent under Old Man Hwang's name."
"Under my name?"
"Of course, you're the inventor."
Polyurethane was already on the market, and its properties varied completely depending on the molecular weight, chemical composition of the raw materials, and mixing ratio, so not patenting it was the right choice.
But this aramid must be patented.
The aramid fiber itself was new, and we'd need it when trading with the Americans.
"Wow, Old Man Hwang might be called Doctor somewhere with this patent."
"Hey, Lee Director, try to get on my good side. Buy me a drink, and I'll take you as a disciple."
"Haha. Is a drink the only tuition? Are you a fake doctor?"
"Then buy snacks too. Haha."
As Old Man Hwang and Sambok joked nervously, Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim stacked several layers of Kablar.
Temporarily glued together, about 12 layers gave the feeling of a bulletproof material.
Hwang Sajangnim remembered my advice that Kablar should be layered with the grain alternating to make bulletproof vests.
"Now, it's time to test the bulletproof material."
"Sajangnim, are you sure about drilling through it? Isn't it better to shoot an arrow?"
"The reason Kablar is called bulletproof material is not that it deflects bullets but stops them. It will get pierced if you use weapons without rotation, like a knife or arrow. It catches rotating objects like bullet fragments by coiling around them."
"Bullet fragments, not just bullets?"
"Of course. During World War II, more soldiers died from shrapnel than direct bullets. Just as stated in this MIL STD 662F."
I showed them the US military standard.
It was one of my trophies obtained from the Engineers Corps. My father had sent it carefully organized.
"Oh, I see."
"Unless it's a formal fragment test, using a drill is better than an arrow."
"Wow, let's try it. Let's do it."
Sambok was the most excited.
He roughly knew how huge a military supply contract would be if this succeeded.
Old Man Hwang and Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim were looking at it purely out of technical curiosity.
Wiiiiing, clunk.
"Oh, the drill... is stopping?"
"Release it and try again. Full power."
"Yes, Sajangnim."
It was amazing. The result was beyond expectations.
I thought it would get somewhat pierced, but even a 350W desktop drill, which could pierce a 6mm steel plate, couldn't get through it.
The drill bit couldn't even spin a few times before stopping.
I expected it to pass if the speed slowed down, but this was incredible. It seemed it could withstand a direct bullet, not just fragments.
Wiiiiing, clunk. Clunk.
"Wow, do you see this? The threads are grabbing the drill bit and not letting go."
"Chansu, isn't this a jackpot? The big jackpot you always talk about."
"What are you talking about? It's a super jackpot!"
"Super jackpot! Super jackpot! Wow!"
"Super jackpot? Woo Sajang, does this mean big money? Is that it?"
"Of course, Old Man. Show this to the Americans, and they'll bring money right away."
"Eolssigu Jihwaja Good! Eolssigu!"
Old Man Hwang danced energetically.
Not to be outdone, Hwang Hyesung Sajangnim grabbed a steel plate and banged it like a gong.
"What's this, Old Man? Are you asking for a drinking table?"
From somewhere, the Madam peeked out from the door.
"Were you here? Hurry and set the table."
"It's because Woo Sajang is here. It's not for you to drink."
The Madam had already prepared the table.
She had generously sliced beef into the hot soup. The makgeolli was full in the jar.
"You first, Madam. We're rich now. Woo Sajang says he'll make a fortune with this."
"Oh, you, we've been rich for a while."
The old couple filled their glasses first, so we gathered around.
There's nothing like makgeolli after hard work.
The taste was unbeatable.
"May you both live long and prosper."
"Why live long?"
"Hey, what are you saying? You have to see Woo Sajang and Hyesung become wealthy."
"Today, you're speaking so nicely. Even giving blessings to your son."
"Hahaha."
This atmosphere felt like walking on clouds.
It was the image of a harmonious extended family I had always imagined.
In the original history, only Korea, the US, and Japan possessed aramid bulletproof materials, but in this history, the number would decrease to two.
It was time to fly to America.
TL/n -
Hey everyone!
From now on, there'll be regular updates — one chapter every day.
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