Yang Gang, founder and general manager of Xi’an Jingwei Drilling Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., was honored as one of the 2018 “Top Ten Craftsman Stars of Xi’an”. Established by the Xi’an Government, this prestigious award recognizes outstanding skilled professionals and industrial innovators. For Yang Gang, it reflects decades of dedication to PDC drilling technology and his lasting contribution to China’s mining tools industry. As a key pioneer in China’s diamond composite bit industry, Yang Gang has focused on the research, development, and application of PDC drilling tools after graduating from Chengdu Institute of Geology in 1992 with a degree in Drilling Engineering, he joined the Xi’an Branch of the China Coal Research Institute, where he became the youngest project leader for the PDC anchor bit project. After years of fieldwork in major and technically challenging coal mines across China, Yang Gang developed the world’s first PDC roof-bolt bit for mining applications, addressing challenges in complex strata, gas drainage, abrasive formations, and roadway support. This product combines the wear resistance of diamond with the weldability and structural adaptability required for demanding underground drilling conditions, driving the large-scale application of PDC technology in the fields of coal mine support, gas drainage, and geological drilling. In 1998, as the inventor of the diamond composite segment anchor drill bit, Yang Gang founded Genway Drilling and has continued to drive the research, development, manufacturing, and industrial application of diamond composite segment drill bits and mining PDC tools. His expertise covers multiple areas, including drill bit structural design, PDC materials, specialized welding, and on-site drilling application guidance. He holds more than 40 patents across invention, utility model, and design categories. Today, Genway has grown into a leading manufacturer in China’s PDC mining tools industry and maintains a strong position in the domestic market. The company’s long-term commitment to craftsmanship and technological innovation continues to support the development of PDC drilling and cutting tool technology.