"Different types of lasers produce vastly different effects when interacting with different materials," Yang Shanglu said. It was this physics, with its infinite possibilities, that deeply captivated him.
Yang Shanglu is the head of the new energy vehicle laser processing equipment and process platform at Shanghai Zhongke Shenguang Optoelectronics Industry Co., Ltd. He focused on materials processing research during his undergraduate and master's studies. While pursuing his doctorate in the United States, he stumbled upon a promotional video about laser 3D printing, which sparked his intense interest in "light." He then shifted his research focus to laser manufacturing, a journey that has lasted 20 years.
In automotive manufacturing, aluminum-silicon-coated hot-formed steel is a crucial high-strength material. It effectively strengthens the vehicle body structure, making it less prone to deformation in collisions. It is a key component of vehicle safety and a crucial battleground for both the automotive and steel industries. However, its materials and welding technology were monopolized by foreign technology for over a decade, and high patent fees severely limited the competitiveness of the Chinese automotive industry.
Faced with this challenging technical challenge, Yang Shanglu believed that innovation was the fundamental solution. However, the process proved far more arduous than anticipated. The new welding technology not only required a strong and resilient bond but also had to withstand the complex and demanding service environment-fatigue, three-point bending, corrosion resistance, hydrogen embrittlement... Failure in any of these areas would have prevented the technology from being implemented.
Yang Shanglu, however, remained steadfast in his belief that "difficulties often harbor opportunities." After six years of dedicated research, he led the R&D team of new energy vehicle laser processing equipment and process platforms, ultimately developing a multi-element alloy welding wire and a new laser welding process. "The advantage of this technology lies in the fact that direct laser welding with filler wire eliminates the need for coating removal or gap creation, enabling high-strength joining of aluminum-silicon hot-formed steels from different manufacturers, with different coating types and strength levels." Yang Shanglu explained that this innovative solution is the world's first to achieve direct laser welding of various aluminum-silicon coated hot-formed steels without coating removal. The result was a 2024 R&D 100 award, equivalent to the "Oscars of Innovation" and the "Nobel Prize of Engineering."
Yang Shanglu (right) is optimizing the laser welding process for hot forming aluminum-silicon coatings.
In his repeated experiments and explorations into new technologies, Yang Shanglu not only served as the team's "brainchild" but also shouldered the heavy responsibility of boosting morale. For example, during the development of Pangujie's direct laser-wire-filled aluminum-silicon coated hot-formed steel technology, achieving excellent VDA performance in laser-welded joints became a key R&D challenge. In automotive manufacturing, hot-formed steel welds are a critical point of protection in vehicle collisions, and their weld quality directly impacts overall vehicle safety. However, the VDA performance of such steels often drops sharply after laser welding.
To achieve the goal of a VDA performance exceeding 50 degrees, Yang Shanglu and his team devoted considerable effort to researching the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties and to regulating microstructure. During the two-year R&D process, Yang Shanglu often worked until one or two in the morning, discussing ideas and adjusting experimental plans with the team during the day. Repeated failures undermined the confidence of the young team members, but he remained steadfast in his belief that "difficulty is what makes things meaningful; it is what makes things interesting." With his encouragement, the team gradually learned to listen to the needs of the industry and developed a habit of "acting immediately," rapidly growing through repeated challenges.
Technology must transcend the lab and reach the world.
Beyond achieving technological breakthroughs, Yang Shanglu faces a greater challenge in his research: how to bring technology beyond the lab and toward industrialization. He understands that without upstream and downstream collaboration, a discovery will remain trapped in the lab, elusive for market entry.
Besides his days and nights of intense research and deliberation, he always finds time to play basketball with his team, both for physical fitness and to foster team spirit. More importantly, on the court, he observes each person's true character as they face pressure and collaborate: who possesses leadership, who has endurance, who excels in communication and coordination... This helps him tailor research topics and assign tasks to each person's unique traits, fostering a "1+1>2" team spirit.
"For technology to go global, it must have independent intellectual property rights," Yang Shanglu emphasized. His team has applied for over 200 invention patents and received over 100 authorized patents. Ten of these core technologies have been adopted by companies such as General Motors, CATL, Geely Group, and Weitang Industrial. The company is also in discussions with several international auto parts manufacturers to actively expand into overseas markets.
