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| Issue date:01/08/2009 |
| ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel - Aug 2009 Issue |
| Source:Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel |
| Joany Hao and Pony Liu |
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Like players in other industrial sectors of China, domestic textile machinery producers have been trying to advance their quality rather than focusing solely on quantity of production. Some of them started to see the benefit of innovation especially when the economic environment turned stressful.
像中國其他工業一樣，國內紡織及成衣業界正努力改善其生產質素水平，不僅以量取。部分業界在目前經濟環境已逐步感受到創新帶來的好處，郝瓊與劉春梅報道。 |
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| Domestic textile machinery producers have been trying to advance their quality rather than focusing solely on quantity of production. |
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The global financial crisis since the last quarter of 2008 was like a mild cold to the rapidly growing market of China, a Chinese economist commented at the recent “2009 China Textile Summit”, held in Shanghai this June as the prelude of Shanghaitex 2009.
Giving a theme speech to numerous Chinese textile veterans at the summit, Long Yongtu (龍永圖), trade expert and Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), explained that China did not experience a credit crisis like that in the US last September. The real economy of China has been adversely affected by the global financial crisis to a limited extent temporally, he said. He added that the corporate China should take this opportunity to upgrade themselves for the next economic upturn.
Like other provinces in China, the Henan textile industry grew swiftly in the past few years. In 2008, its textile industry achieved fixed asset investment of RMB26.675 billion, up 16.36% from the previous year and recorded an annual output value of RMB130 billion, up 30% year-on-year.
“In the first quarter of 2009, Henan textile witnessed a growth rate of below 5%. The business gradually returned after this April. Better performance in the second half of the year is expected, giving hope to a full-year growth rate of 10% in 2009,” said Li Shuqin (李書勤), vice president of Henan Industrial & Economic Federation (河南工業經濟聯合會), president of Henan Textile Industry Association (河南省紡織行業協會) and vice president of the China Cotton Textile Association (中國棉紡織行業協會).
In the meantime, over-capacity is found in certain segments of China’s textile and apparel industry, such as the dyeing and finishing sector.
Lu Runqiu |
Rotary screen printing was a rarity two or three years ago in the Chinese market, and suppliers were quick to fill the gap. Now, over 20 suppliers are producing more or less similar rotary screen printers, making the once-underdeveloped segment a crowded one, and such phenomenon is not uncommon in the country, according to Lu Runqiu (盧潤秋), deputy director of the Academic Committee at the China Textile Engineering Society (CTES) (中國紡織工程學會學術委員會) and honorary director of CTES Dyeing & Finishing Special Committee (中國紡織工程學會染整專業委員會).
Despite the current challenges, Gao Yong (高勇), vice president of the China Textile Machinery Association (中國紡織工業協會), identified three directions of development for the next three years outlined in the recent government plan. The fiber consumption of industrial textiles is targeted to represent 19% by 2011 in total that includes garment and home textiles from the current 15%.
Furthermore, research of advanced fibers for mass production and diversified applications will be strengthened, while obsolete production facilities be phased out.
Industry players expressed confidence in some segments like nonwovens.
“The history of nonwoven segment is short (in China), and has plenty of room for progress,” said Liu Bin (劉斌), Marketing Manager at China Texmatech Co Ltd (CTMTC) (中國紡織機械和技術進出口有限公司), a member of China Hengtian Group
(中國恒天集團). Targeting the medium segment in the world, the company manufactures a range of full nonwoven production lines, using aqua jet spunlacing, needle punching or thermal bonding technologies through its subsidiary, Zhengzhou Textile Machinery (鄭州紡機). China Hengtian Group Co Ltd is a large-scale wholly state-owned holding company under the State Council of China, with such members as Zhengzhou Textile Machinery and Jinwei Textile Machinery (經緯紡機). The Group aims to develop as an internationally competitive textile industrial group with a rational company structure and sound corporate governance.
Chinese machinery builders at Shanghaitex 2009
Ah Choi promotes energy-saving dyeing machines
東莞蔡記推廣節能型染色機
Ah Choi Machinery Works (東莞蔡記) highlighted the essence of environmental protection at the stand by presenting its latest energy-saving, airflow dyeing machine. Using high-speed airflow, the new system ensures minimal crease in the dyeing process, explained Vincent Li (李朝舜), Foreign Sales Manager.
Ma Shaohua (馬少華), the company’s advisor, is confident with the future of these eco-friendly machines. He also supported the idea that the authorities should continue their efforts in promoting the use of green equipment in the sector of dyeing and finishing.
Premium products of Changzhou Hongda sell better
常州宏大的優質產品銷情較佳
“The performance of our conventional products is affected by the global financial crisis by 20-30%. The total output value actually increased due to better sales in premium products,” said Gu Ren (顧仁), Chairman of Changzhou Hongda (常州宏大).
Major exhibits from the company included MAX-300 auto detection and dosing system on alkaline concentration; MSC-U2 online moisture content detection and control system; PH-500 online PH value monitoring system; HawkvisionTM 2000 automatic registry control system for rotary screen printer; and MSC-X online moisture control detection system.
Mr Gu also holds two positions in the mechanical and electrical engineering working group under the Dyeing & Finishing Committee at the China Textile Engineering Society (CTES), as well as the automation & chemical working group under the China Textile Machinery & Accessories Association (CTMA).
Changzhou Pexing provides wide range of spindles
常州培星提供多元化錠類產品
Changzhou Peixing (常州培星) is a producer of spindles for an array of applications, including cotton spinning, wool spinning, silk-cloth, chemical fiber and fiberglass. It demonstrated such exhibits as high-speed cotton spinning spindles and a spindle cleansing/lubricating unit.
Fang Jianxin (方建新), Chairman, said: “The spinning spindle market suffered a slide last year. About half of the inventory (of spindles) in Jiangsu was not yet sold out and a downward price pressure is expected in the second half of this year. Currently, specific and quality products are more popular than the general ones. For example, our fiberglass and flax spindles are selling well.”
“At Peixing, the output was down about a third, and we are seeking for new products while upgrading our existing ranges,” he said, adding that the company supports the strategy of industry optimization, and will focus more on developing low-consumption, high-efficiency, high-stability products in years to come.
Changzhou Runyuan fills up vacancy in China
常州潤源填補國內空白
More Chinese users are glancing at the use of multi-axial fabrics, which feature higher tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, outstanding drapability and higher shear strength. They are often made of composite materials applied for technical textiles.
China annually demands approximately 200,000 tons of these fabrics, which majority of them are imported due to insufficient domestic supply.
Changzhou Runyuan Warp Knitting Machinery (常州潤源) pioneered in the China market to unveil its RCD multi-axial warp knitting machine last year. At this year’s Shanghaitex, Wang Zhanwei (王占偉), deputy general manager, told ATA Journal that the product has been well received in the market. Its annual output is projected to be 40 units. In other words, this made-in-China system is able to save the country’s foreign exchange expenditure of about US$52 million and save domestic firms from about RMB200-million fixed investment.
For technologies involved in this new machine, the company applied for 19 patents, including 10 invention patents in China. Each year, Changzhou Runyuan spends exceeding several million RMB yuan on product research. Mr Wang revealed that the company will be working on mass production of multi-axial warp knitting machines, followed by possible study on carbon fibers and seamless warp knitting.
Dongfei Marzoli glances at central and west China
東飛馬佐里注視中國中西部
Dongfei Marzoli Textile Machinery (東飛馬佐里) introduced the DTM149 compact spinning frame at the exhibition, which is one of the most advanced models of its kind among China-made machines.
Zhu Peng (second left), president, and Wang Guohai (second right) |
“Since the cooperation with Italian Marzoli in year 2000, the company experienced an outstanding technological progress. With product innovation achieved by independent intellectual property rights, it is a leader in the Chinese industry,” said Wang Guohai (王國海), Assistant to General Manager.
“About 85% out of China’s top 100 cotton spinning enterprises have adopted our machines as they upgraded their equipment. We supplied some 300,000 spindles to Shandong Luthai,” said Mr Wang.
He added that the company is looking at the central and western parts of China as the national development goes westward and the labor-intensive textile industry will inevitably relocate inland. Sichuan Huanan Textile Mill in Southwestern China recently purchased 33,000 spindles of the DTM139 long spinning frames. Additionally, spinning frames and combing machines for a recent Chongqing facility of Shandong Ruyi Group were provided by Dongfei Marzoli, Mr Wang said.
Moving forward, he remarked that further development in compact spinning technology is expected by Chinese machine builders.
Fujian Hongqi focuses on economical solutions
福建紅旗強調實惠方案
Wang Yuanhui |
A number of customers inquired the newly-introduced, digitally-controlled, flat knitting machines of Fujian Hongqi (福建紅旗), according to Wang Yuanhui (王源輝), Export Department Manager, who saw bright business prospects.
Introduced this March, the new model is economical, meeting demands of various basic patterns. It also agrees with the trend of upgrading the textile industry not only in China, but also across Asia, e.g. India and Bangladesh, as manual and semi-automatic models no longer suit today’s needs, noted Mr Wang.
Looking ahead, more research efforts on the core parts of machinery like control systems are needed, he remarked.
Eura Drives presents special frequency converters
歐瑞傳動電氣展示特殊變頻器
Based in the Chinese province of Shandong, Eura Drives (歐瑞傳動電氣) promoted its latest programmable logic controller (PLC) and man-machine interface equipment.
Jiang Zheng (姜政), Marketing Manager, explained that the company had developed man-machine interface equipment with touch screen and text display. It also provides the systematic solution by additionally integrating with our frequency converter and PLC.
Frequency converter is widely applied in the textile industry, but it requires some special attention to work well with textile-specific devices, such as warp winder. Specific frequency converters were hence developed by Eura Drives, he said.
Despite the global financial crisis, Eura Drives predicted a bright year in 2009 and projected a 20% increase in sales by 20%.
Hangzhou Honghua Digital launches market-oriented products
杭州宏華數碼產品迎合市場需要
Hangzhou Honghua Digital (杭州宏華數碼) exhibited two upgraded versions with 2.5m and 3.2m respectively, which were built on its 1.6m VEGA inkjet printer launched last year. “We sold three VEGA systems at the fairground (of Shanghaitex 2009) and met plenty of potential customers,” said Du Sien (杜斯恩), Marketing Manager.
Mr Du elaborated that the VEGA system now works faster than 140m2 per hour, and reduces its ink consumption by about a third compared to conventional models.
Rather than adopting a downsizing strategy amid the current economic downturn, the company is looking to grab expansionary opportunities. Mr Du considered the recent three-year development plan Chinese authorities announced for the textile industry a chance. “The government policy provided us confidence and support. As pointed out by the official textile plan, China will phase out the manufacture of 7.5 billion meters of old-fashioned fabrics. In view of this industry target, enterprises need to possess up-to-date equipment to stay in the market. We are preparing ourselves to expand our market share when the economy recovers. The official textile plan can be considered as a catalyst for a revolution in the digital printing segment in the country,” he said.
Jiangsu Xinlian underscores high efficiency and high quality
江蘇新聯著重高效益及高質素
Jiangsu Xinlian (江蘇新聯) exhibited a new open width mercerizing machine for knitwear. It is under manufacturing and will be installed in near future. It also presented energy-saving and discharge-reducing technologies, as well as a LMH649 color developing soaper, said Yin Yongxiang (印永祥), General Manager.
Major clients of the company include Qingdao Phoenix-Hitarget (青島鳳凰東翔) (wax dyeing), Shandong Aoyuan (山東沃源), Haining Bafang Fabrics (海寧八方布業) (jeans making) and PT.Kahatex (printing and dyeing in Indonesia). The dyeing and finishing sector has changed rapidly in recent years. Large-volume production is no longer the way to the future, but quick-responding, small-batch manufacturing has become key for success, commented Mr Yin.
Jinan Tianqi sells quality China-made belts
濟南天齊銷售優良中國製平面傳動帶
General Manager of Jinan Tianqi Special Type Flat Belt (濟南天齊特種平帶), Wang Lanxi (王蘭喜) was excited about the rapid growth of the company, which markets its products at a price level even higher than internationally established enterprises of its kind.
Wang Lanxi |
He said: “For instance, our bid prices to Huamao (華茂) and Weiqiao (魏橋) (two textile giants in China) were higher than those given by international names, but these Chinese users are ready to cooperate with us because of our superior quality.”
Moreover, about one-third of the company comes from overseas sales to Italy, Spain, the US, South Korea and other areas.
This year, Jinan Tianqi showcased the latest TE serial polyester belts to meet the demand for special flat driving belts.
Jinjiang Jeeone seeks to expand overseas markets
晉江聚旺致力拓展海外市場
Qiu Liangliang |
This year, Fujian Jinjiang Jeeone Printing and Dyeing Machine (Jinjiang Jeeone) (福建晉江聚旺印染) delivered its 2009 model Vinci circular screen printer with substantial improvements in key parts, allowing it to perform more accurately and environmentally friendlier.
Qiu Liangliang (邱涼涼), Sales Manager, told ATA Journal that the company targeted to expand overseas by allying with more agents in Argentina and India. She expected to boost the company’s international sales from the current 30-40% to about a half later this year.
Ningbo Yuren underlines advances in flat knitting machines
寧波裕人注重改善針織橫機技術
Ningbo Yuren (寧波裕人) is recognized as a “Prestigious Trademark in China”, “Famous Brand in Zhejiang” and “Technical Brand in China” in the flat knitting machine sector. It debuted the first computerized flat knitting machine in China this June and recently achieved a monthly output of up to 900 flat knitting machines, according to Fang Guoting (方國聽), Assistant to the Chairman.
The company’s output value multiplied in these years from RMB6 million in 2004 to RMB 800 million in 2008. Mr Fang attributed the success to the company’s commitment in product quality and good price-performance balance.
“Only price is no longer adequate to win the heart of rational machinery buyers. Our company is serious with healthy development; therefore, our R&D input exceeds RMB20 million every year, making us a leader among similar enterprises in the country.
The company has more than 1,000 employees and exports its products to such areas as Indonesia, Cambodia, the Middle East, East Europe and Central America, according to Xu Hongming (徐紅明), Corporate Development Manager.
O&G brings quality textile machines into China
歐機引進先進紡機到中國
To produce truly quality fabrics, Chinese enterprises are encouraged to pay attention to both machinery and mentality, according to Vincenzo Xu (徐光輝), President of O&G Business Consultant (Shanghai) [歐機商務諮詢(上海)] representing a number of European textile machinery manufacturers in the market of China.
“Fabrics manufactured in Europe usually undergo a process of pre-shrinking using stream to improve the fabric appearance. Chinese enterprises often omit this detail and possibly miss chances (in business). Those who have brought in the procedure are able to gain more acceptance and recognition in the European continent,” he explained, adding that many enterprises can indeed achieve better with a small step.
He also expected more intense competition from countries in the Pacific ahead, as their textile industries progress. For instance, Indian makers are upgrading their machinery and have imported more automatic mixing systems to measure accurate portions of dyes and auxiliaries. In comparison, Chinese enterprises attach lower importance to automation, he said.
Being an importer of international textile machinery, Mr Xu hoped he will be an exporter of Chinese textile machinery in future when domestically made systems is a synonym of excellence.
Shaoxing technology center takes China-developed machines to market
紹興科技中心將國產機器帶進市場
Shaoxing Textile Science & Technology Center (紹興輕紡科技中心), based in Zhanjiang (浙江) province, has successfully developed on their own a number of machines, including a LD BLU-RAY screen-making machine.
Three units of the machine were sold after its launch this April, according to Jimmy Lou (婁建淼), Deputy General Manager, adding that 10 units of the machine is estimated to sell out by this year-end.
It took 1.5 years to develop the new product and Mr Lou was thrilled to explain that it requires only eight minutes to produce a screen on it, compared to about 35 minutes on some overseas products. Secondly, it saves more energy as cool air is used.
Currently, Pakistan and Indonesia are among major buyers of equipment from Shaoxing Light Industry & Textile Technology Center, Mr Lou said.
Sinoca expects technical progress in the East
中加貿易預期中國技術提升
Energy conservation and emission reduction are two key directions for improvement of printing and dyeing industry in China and Sinoca Trading (中加貿易) represents international textile machines builders such as Lafer to fulfill these market needs.
Nick Fu (middle), and Carl Bengelsdorff (left), director of sales of Lafer |
The Lafer-made liquid ammonia mercerizer is applied for shirt fabrics, trousers and denim fabrics, according to Nick Fu (符寧), Managing Director of Sinoca Trading, who believed that this technology will possibly replace the alkali mercerizing in a few years. Due to the good performance and better quality attained, finishing equipment from Lafer continued to be popular in the mainland market, and was not much affected by the global financial crisis, he added.
Additionally, Mr Fu held the opinion that high efficiency and machinery that requires less labor are also important in the future market.
Son-tech hopes to top in Chinese dyeing machinery
三技精機望製造中國精品染色機
Son-tech Precision Machinery (三技精機) launched a new airflow dyeing machine, TexPro ASL, applying the innovative aerodynamic technology. It also offers a low liquor ratio of 1:3.
“We aim at developing ourselves as a top-tier dyeing machinery builder in China. We catch up with counterparts in the West by adopting modular design in our equipment to meet today’s market needs,” said Danny Zheng (鄭永忠), General Manager of Son-tech.
Positioned as a premium supplier of knitted fabrics dyeing technology in China, the company exports its machines to Southeast Asia, South America, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. Due to the global financial crisis, Son-tech’s international sales accounted for 30% lately, but it targets to export half of its outputs when the overseas markets get better.
“Being an innovator, the company spends about 10% of its annual output value in research and development and offers a taste of new experience to our customers in software and hardware every year,” said Mr Zheng, adding that in 2008, the company maintained an output value at about the same level in 2007 (at RMB 160 million).
S&S Technologies targets higher end users
煙台宋和宋以高端用戶為目標顧客
Yantai S&S Science and Technology Application Engineering Co Ltd (S&S Technologies) (煙台宋和宋) promoted its integrated solutions of jacquard weaving machine that produces towels, said Song Risheng (宋日升), General Manager.
While others were concerned over the quiet market, Mr Song was delighted with a 50% increase in sales during the first few months of 2009. He thanked for the industry upgrade that has prompted more textile manufacturers to higher end products from S&S Technologies.
Song Risheng |
Facing the weak import demand abroad and modest domestic demand in China, Mr Song believed that manufacturers need to find a way out, and jacquard is an option for them. Elsewhere in Asia, the company is actively marketing their products across Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan and more, where a growing demand of textile machinery is seen following more factories being relocated there (due to low production costs).
Besides, Mr Song saw potentials in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and so forth, as he is confident with the company’s machine quality, competitive prices and internal talent.
The company continues its research efforts, lately in the single-needle jacquard knitting technology, which is expected to be available in the market by year-end 2009, he added.
Taifan respects corporate responsibility
台帆恪守社會責任
A Chinese circular knitting machinery builder, Taifan Machinery Industry (台帆) displayed fast double-side knitting machines (TF-D2F2 and TF-D2F4 series) at the exhibition this year.
The TF-D2F2 knits a variety of fabrics such as twills, air-layered fabrics, silk-covered cotton fabrics and small jacquard fabrics, with needle cylinder diameters of 16-35 inches. On the other hand, the TF-D2F4 has needle cylinder diameters ranging from 16 to 40 inches.
“These new models have gone through numerous tests in 2008 before being taken to the market this year. Stringent internal monitoring is adopted to ensure performance of our products,” said Hong Honking (洪清電), Vice President, who projected annual sales of 100 units of these machines.
Wuxi Dongbao balances price and performance
無錫東寶平衡價格與表現
A newly-engineered, high-temperature airflow-dyeing machine was highlighted by Wuxi Dongbao Machine Manufacture (無錫東寶).
Zhu Tingru (朱廷如), Engineer, explained that the machine saves water by 50-70% proven by test, compared to conventional models. Consumption of chemicals and auxiliaries is also reduced, with dyes being cut down by 20-30%. Although the price is higher than that of conventional models, Mr Zhu affirmed that users will be able to recover the investment cost in about half a year.
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| Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Any party needs to reprint any part of the content should get the written approval from Adsale Publishing Ltd and quote the source "ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel", Adsale Textile English Website - www.AdsaleATA.com. We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprints any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiry, please contact Editorial Department. |
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