When a domestically produced loom wove 1036-style electronic fabric stably at 900 RPM on the exhibition floor, onlookers witnessed more than machinery in motion—they saw a new benchmark for Chinese high-end weaving equipment on the global stage. Behind this speed lies a watershed between 'capable' and 'excellent' in composite weaving, and a microcosm of coordinated upgrades across the upstream and downstream supply chain.
Event Background
From September 1 to 3, the 29th China International Composites Exhibition was held in Shanghai. As a key international platform for the composite materials industry, the event brought together enterprises from across the supply chain. Zhejiang Rifa Textile Machinery Co., Ltd. showcased four composite weaving machines, including two air-jet looms for fiberglass, one rapier loom, and one carbon fiber jacquard rapier loom.
On site, the two air-jet looms wove 2116 and 1036 electronic fabric stably at 950 RPM and 900 RPM, respectively. These operational figures were not laboratory results but sustained performance during actual weaving, directly reflecting the equipment's comprehensive capabilities in high-speed vibration control, weft insertion precision, and warp tension management.
Notably, 1036-type electronic fabric demands higher weaving precision due to finer yarns and denser structure. Stable operation at 900 RPM signals that domestic equipment has achieved competitiveness with imported high-end models in terms of fine control.
Industry Impact
From the demand side, rapid development in new energy, aerospace, low-altitude economy, and robotics is expanding the application boundaries of high-performance composites. Electronic fabric, as the core reinforcement material for copper-clad laminates, directly determines the signal transmission performance of PCB boards, while weaving speed and stability dictate production efficiency and consistency.
This means that high-speed weaving is no longer merely about output but is tightly linked to the yield and performance of downstream electronic materials. For buyers, actual operational data holds greater reference value than theoretical parameters in brochures.
From the supply side, the collective showcase of domestic composite weaving equipment sends a clear signal: domestic manufacturers have shifted from single-model imitation to systematic development across multiple varieties and processes. The simultaneous display of fiberglass rapier and carbon fiber jacquard rapier looms indicates that equipment makers are designing differently for various fiber characteristics—such as carbon fiber's brittleness and fiberglass's abrasion resistance.
This expansion of product portfolios offers downstream factories greater flexibility in equipment selection. The past reliance on imported machinery for high-end orders is gradually being broken by domestic technological breakthroughs.
During the exhibition, professional visitors from more than ten countries—including Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, and Brazil—engaged in in-depth discussions on equipment performance, weaving speed, and product adaptability. The keen interest from European and Southeast Asian customers reflects the growing recognition of Chinese weaving equipment's cost-effectiveness and technical service advantages in the international market.
For domestic equipment makers, this presents both opportunity and challenge. Overseas customers demand highly customized process solutions, compelling companies to invest continuously in weaving process databases and after-sales response systems. For domestic composite fabric producers, the rise of domestic equipment means lower procurement costs and enhanced supply chain security, but also necessitates vigilance against quality risks arising from low-price competition.