The Pyongyang Mechanical Pencil Factory is pepping up production by introducing a variety of technical innovation plans.

According to Kim Song Ho, chief engineer of the factory, it has increased production by strengthening its own technical force.

The factory runs its sci-tech learning space every day to improve technical knowledge and skills of employees through the discussion of matters helpful in carrying out tasks according to kinds of work and according to time.

In contact with the Sci-Tech Complex, State Commission of Science and Technology and Central Information Agency for Science and Technology, the sci-tech learning space established a database for tens of thousands of technical data on production of all kinds of plastic goods, badly needed working methods and latest sci-tech data and obtained many sci-tech books. Workers and technicians of the factory can find solutions to the problems arising in current production thanks to the learning space.

At present, more than 40 employees attend online lectures under the study-while-you-work system.

They have helped the factory solve many knotty sci-tech problems.

Recently, technicians of the factory have updated the automatic feeding and flowline drying devices of semiautomatic palette printer to make the previous semiautomatic work automated. Finally, the output has risen three times with labour saved by 50 percent.

Meanwhile, the factory automated gel-ink pen production by employing new modes of designing in making the relevant assembling machine, part feeder and transfer device, thus solving several technical problems and making it possible to reduce workforce to a fifth a year.

By intensifying the research to solve such technical problems as the mixing ratio of locally available raw materials to make mechanical pencil leads of different sizes and kinds, the factory ensured the domestic production of the necessary raw and other materials. It also contrived a new design for the mould of mechanical colour pencil and made the relevant equipment to renew the shape of the pencil. The pencil of new shape and structure uses parts different from the previous ones to be free from the technical problems that previously arose in assembly and become better in quality, thus promoting the convenience of users.

In addition, the factory invented and introduced more than 30 kinds of technical innovation plans including those for recycling gel-ink pen nibs by means of ultrasonic cleaner and establishing a field management system based on image recognition.