Technological breakthroughs

With his initiative to research and redesign blast furnaces by altering the H/D ratio to enhance the productivity of fused phosphate semi-finished products, Mr. Nghiêm Đức Toản, Deputy General Director and Head of Technical Department at Van Dien Fused Phosphate Joint Stock Company (VAFCO), has contributed to technological improvements, cost reduction, and generated over VND 6.3 billion in benefits. This is among the outstanding initiatives recognised with the Creative Labour Certificate by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in 2025.

Innovating Blast Furnace Design to Boost Production

In the production of fused phosphate fertiliser, the blast furnace plays a vital role, directly impacting the output and efficiency of semi-finished products. From August 2024, Van Dien Fused Phosphate Joint Stock Company implemented the initiative "Researching and developing blast furnace insulation technology to ensure productivity and improve blast furnace production efficiency". Following its application across various blast furnaces, operations stabilised, with average productivity in the first half of 2025 reaching 10.80 tonnes per hour.

To achieve double-digit growth in 2025, the company needed to further increase productivity, raise output of semi-finished phosphate, and simultaneously control and reduce production costs. In response to these practical requirements, Mr. Nghiêm Đức Toản and his team researched, designed, and implemented a solution to alter the H/D ratio of the blast furnace, where H is the height and D is the diameter. Based on calculations and equipment structure adjustments, the solution aimed to increase furnace productivity by 5–10%.

The innovation lies in adjusting the ratio between the height and diameter of the blast furnace to improve operating conditions and enhance equipment productivity. Beyond increasing output, the new design also aimed to maintain stable operations, prolong continuous production time, and reduce fuel and energy consumption.

After research, design, fabrication, and installation, the initiative was applied to three blast furnaces at the company. Actual operations showed that the furnaces ran stably, with fewer technological incidents, thus improving working conditions for employees. Notably, consumption rates for coal, firewood, and electricity decreased, thereby reducing the cost of producing semi-finished phosphate.

Clear Economic Results Affirming the Value of the Initiative

The effectiveness of the initiative is evident in both production results and economic value when implemented simultaneously across three blast furnaces. Calculations show that the total benefit before deducting costs exceeded VND 7.54 billion. After deducting labour and material costs over three years, amounting to over VND 811 million, the net benefit remained above VND 7.27 billion.

Importantly, during the assessment process, the company excluded benefits related to the previously implemented furnace insulation initiative to accurately determine the unique contribution of the H/D ratio modification. The resulting net benefit attributable to the new initiative was VND 6,309,832,298.

These results demonstrate that the innovation delivers not only technical improvements by enhancing equipment productivity but also tangible economic efficiency by increasing semi-finished output and reducing raw material, fuel, and energy consumption. Furthermore, minimising technological incidents and maintaining stable furnace operations has improved production organisation and working conditions.

As Deputy General Director and Head of Technical Department, Mr. Nghiêm Đức Toản, together with the technical staff and related units, translated research into practical production results, turning technological improvement requirements into concrete outcomes. The initiative is a testament to proactive research, innovation, and the application of technical advances in production at Van Dien Fused Phosphate Joint Stock Company.

Receiving the Creative Labour Certificate from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in 2025 is a worthy recognition of Mr. Nghiêm Đức Toản’s contributions, while also promoting the movement of creative and technical innovation throughout Vietnam National Chemical Group.