Chen Liang, an advanced technician from Wuxi Micro Research Co Ltd, is the only recipient of Jiangsu province's national Most "Beautiful" Worker Award for 2019.

The honorable title was granted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions at an award ceremony held on April 21 in Beijing.

Chen was born in 1984 in Suqian city, Jiangsu. After graduation from the Vocational College of Information Technology in Wuxi, he served as an apprentice at Wuxi Micro Research Co Ltd, a company providing systematic precision manufacturing and smart production solutions for the high-end heat exchange industry and the automobile parts manufacturing industry. The high tech enterprise then witnessed his growth from a green hand to a master at operating milling machine in the subsequent 17 years. Chen also taught himself manipulation methods of computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines.

With sophisticated skills learned and refined over a long period, Chen was entrusted with an important post and became vice-monitor of the company's processing center.

A few years ago, Wuxi Micro Research cooperated with Tsinghua University to develop high-end fuel spray nozzle manufacturing equipment, a key project listed in the national "863" program. There was no ready-made set of references but success came in just half a year thanks in part to Chen's leadership, craftsmanship and innovative spirit. The company and university have made the first high-precision micro-nozzle processing machine with independent intellectual property rights in China, winning the first prize of the China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Awards. The product's originality is recognized by Jiangsu experts.

Chen also explored localized production of pull tab moulds and received the Excellent Mould Award first prize from the China Die & Mould Industry Association.

Willing to teach his skills to others, Chen has become the youngest leader of Wuxi's master craftsmanship studio. "An individual's excellence is nothing but a team's excellence shining brightly," Chen said. Since he started receiving apprentices in 2005, more than 30 technical backbone workers have been trained, and nine of them have also obtained technician certificates.

Chen has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including the Leader of Jiangsu Skill Master Studio, the Jiangsu May 1st Labor Medal, and the National May 1st Labor Medal, all won last year.