When the 29th China International Composites Exhibition closed in Shanghai, the industry remembered not just the exhibitor list but a specific number: a domestic air-jet loom for fiberglass fabric running stably at 900 picks per minute. What does this speed imply? It pushes domestic equipment from 'usable substitute' to 'efficient production tool', giving global buyers a hard benchmark when evaluating Chinese composite weaving machinery.
The logic behind the speed
At the expo, four machines ran simultaneously; two air-jet looms wove 2116 and 1036 style electronic-grade fabric at 950 and 900 rpm respectively. Electronic fabric is the core reinforcement for copper-clad laminates, and its weaving quality directly affects signal transmission in downstream PCBs. Historically, this field was dominated by Japanese and European equipment, with domestic machines limited to coarse yarn products. Now, reaching 900 rpm on finer yarns like 1036 style indicates that domestic equipment has crossed a critical threshold in high-speed insertion, tension control, and shedding precision.
For buyers, speed translates directly to capacity: more output per machine over the same period, lowering depreciation and labor costs per unit. For manufacturers, it's not just an engineering feat but a ticket into high-end supply chains—only stable running data can alleviate composite plants' concerns about downtime and defect rates.
From composite heat to equipment race
The expo gathered global players, and booths like Rifeng's attracted professional visitors from over ten countries including Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, and Brazil. This international interest isn't accidental. Expansion in new energy, aerospace, low-altitude economy, and robotics is driving demand for carbon and glass fiber fabrics. For example, low-altitude aircraft structures use large amounts of carbon fiber composites, whose upstream weaving requires specialized equipment that handles brittle fibers and complex jacquard patterns.
Traditional textile machinery makers extending into high-performance fiber equipment is a natural industrial leap. But composite weaving differs fundamentally from ordinary fabric: fibers are brittle and prone to fuzzing, demanding precise coordination of let-off, take-up, and shedding. The carbon fiber jacquard rapier loom on display was developed specifically for such challenges. Its presence signals that domestic equipment is moving from 'modified general models' to purpose-built R&D around material characteristics. This shift will directly influence composite plants' equipment selection—they may no longer need imported machines to achieve desired process outcomes.
Expo impact and industry transmission
The high-speed runs were more than demonstrations; they released a wave of confidence across the sector. For upstream component suppliers, this means potential orders for high-precision shedding mechanisms and insertion systems. For downstream composite plants, it means recalculating capital budgets—if domestic machines can deliver 90% of performance at 70% of the price, capital efficiency rises significantly.
A deeper effect lies in the pace of technological iteration. International expos are dense hubs of technical exchange. When domestic machines are tested by global visitors at their own booths, feedback directly enters next-generation development. This year's interest from European and Southeast Asian clients already hints at potential project collaborations. In the next two years, high-speed electronic fabric looms and carbon-fiber-specific machines are likely to become new growth points in equipment exports, while the domestic composite supply chain's self-reliance will strengthen.