In the past few days, in the ceramic production workshop located in Ying County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, the thousand-year-old "hometown of wooden pagodas", Liu Shanghui and dozens of workers are rushing to produce a batch of handmade ceramic products sold to Russia, Turkey and other countries. Teapots, seasoning boxes... The mud went through a series of processes in their hands and turned into exquisite pieces of daily porcelain.

【Commentary】Liu Shanghui, born in 1984, is the person in charge of the grouting workshop of a porcelain industry company in Yingxian County, and has been engaged in the ceramic industry for more than 10 years.

【During the same period】Liu Shanghui, head of the grouting workshop of a porcelain industry company in Yingxian County

At that time, we just came out of society, and we went to Chaozhou to do the ceramic industry with a master, and we must have been very nervous at first, and the pass rate at the beginning must be completely low, and we had to be taught by others.

【Explanation】The whole process of the grouting workshop includes pulping, screening, iron removal, pulping, demolding weighing, installation, repair and washing and other 9 processes, each step needs to wait for the mud to dry to the right time before the next step, only a set of grouting process takes at least 8 hours, after the completion of the glaze, baking, a piece of porcelain can be formed.

【Commentary】Liu Shanghui, who has been repeating this process for more than ten years, does not dare to say that he is completely proficient in grouting into porcelain, but he is more proficient in this piece.

【During the same period】Liu Shanghui, head of the grouting workshop of a porcelain industry company in Yingxian County

We will definitely be slower at the beginning of doing this, but also a certain process, if you learn, half a month you will slowly be, as long as you have patience, confidence to do a good job.

【Explanation】It is understood that the thickness of the pouring affects the shape and style of the porcelain fired, and the grouting and shaping must be operated manually, and the thin thickness of the product is controlled according to the weight of the variety. In addition, demolding is also more difficult, especially for porcelain with utensil type and shape, when demolding and taking the blank, it is necessary to control the dry humidity of the green body, handle it gently, and prevent the deformation of the green body.

【During the same period】Liu Shanghui, head of the grouting workshop of a porcelain industry company in Yingxian County

We grouting this piece, must be made by hand, all aspects to grasp in place, that is, the thickness of the pouring, affect all aspects of its burning. Customer needs are different, some people want to be thick, some people want to be thin.

【Commentary】Liu Shanghui worked porcelain industry Co., Ltd. began production in October 2017, 10% of the company's ceramic products are exported, sold to more than 98 countries and regions such as Central Asia, Europe and the United States. At present, according to the demand of overseas markets, the company mainly develops and produces special-shaped ceramics, with annual sales of 50 million yuan and an annual output of 1 million pieces.

【During the same period】Liu Shanghui, head of the grouting workshop of a porcelain industry company in Yingxian County

On our side, one person does more than 100 a day. The number of small pieces will be done a little more, because it is demolded and removed faster, and if it is large, it will be slower, and we now do more than 500 grouting a day, and the pass rate can reach more than 95%.

The reporter learned from the local Bureau of Commerce that as the "daily porcelain capital of northern China", Yingxian has a large output of daily ceramics, many varieties and good quality, and its domestic market share is close to 30%. The pace of international market development is relatively fast, and it is sold in Eastern Europe, West Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, North America and other markets. Since 2023, export orders for ceramic products in the county have grown steadily.

Reporting from Shuozhou, Shanxi

Responsible Editor: [Zhou Chi]