When electronic fabric weaving approaches one thousand revolutions per minute, the technological ceiling of traditional textile machinery is being redefined. At the recently concluded 29th China International Composites Expo, domestic glass fiber air-jet looms demonstrated stable operation at 950 rpm and 900 rpm while weaving 2116 and 1036 electronic fabrics. These figures not only reshaped perceptions of Chinese looms but also signaled that competition in composite weaving equipment has shifted from mere capability to speed and precision.
Event Background
The expo, held from September 1 to 3 in Shanghai, gathered global composite industry players. Zhejiang Rifa Textile Machinery Co., Ltd. showcased four composite weaving machines, including two glass fiber air-jet looms, one glass fiber rapier loom, and one carbon fiber jacquard rapier loom. During live demonstrations, the air-jet looms ran steadily at 950 rpm (for 2116 fabric) and 900 rpm (for 1036 fabric), becoming the technical highlight of the booth.
Notably, weaving 1036 electronic fabric requires extremely uniform tension and precise beat-up. Achieving stable operation at 900 rpm indicates mature control over weft insertion, shedding, and electronic take-up systems. The simultaneous display of rapier and jacquard looms covered a spectrum from 2D fabrics to complex carbon fiber structures.
International visitors from Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, Brazil, and over ten other countries engaged in in-depth discussions. Several European and Southeast Asian customers expressed strong interest in further technical exchanges and potential cooperation, reflecting global demand for efficient weaving equipment in the composite sector.
Industry Impact
The high-speed data mirrors profound shifts in downstream demand. The expansion of new energy, aerospace, low-altitude economy, and robotics is driving high-performance composites from niche military applications to large-scale industrial use. Electronic fabric, as a core reinforcement for copper-clad laminates, directly affects the capacity elasticity of the PCB supply chain. At 950 rpm, a single loom can increase annual output by roughly 10%, offering practical relief to the tight supply-demand balance in premium electronic fabrics.
For machinery manufacturers, speed is not the only battleground. The debut of a carbon fiber jacquard rapier loom indicates a transition from single models to integrated solutions combining material, structure, and process. Carbon fiber yarns are brittle and prone to fuzzing, demanding special tension control and shedding mechanisms. Few global players can weave such fabrics reliably. Domestic breakthroughs may lower production costs for carbon fiber prepregs and shaped parts, influencing downstream pricing.
From an export perspective, inquiries from multiple countries signal that Southeast Asian and South Asian markets are shifting from price-only decisions to comprehensive value, while European clients prioritize process consistency in high-end electronic fabrics. Chinese machinery exports cannot rely solely on low prices; they must be backed by verifiable performance data. The live demonstrations at the expo served as a global stress test for domestic equipment.