When 'high-end' transforms from a slogan into tangible exhibits, the competitive landscape of the nonwovens industry has fundamentally changed. In September 2026, the 19th China International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens (CINTE26) concluded at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, sending a clear signal: competition across the supply chain is no longer about production capacity but about process precision and system integration. Carding, in particular, has become a critical variable determining the quality ceiling of nonwoven fabrics.
Exhibition Trends: From Standalone Machines to System Solutions
This edition brought together equipment and auxiliary suppliers for mainstream nonwoven processes such as spunlace, thermal bonding, and needle punching. Notably, leading card clothing manufacturers no longer display products in isolation; instead, they present comprehensive solutions covering the entire 'carding–web formation–bonding' workflow. Jinlun Card Clothing, for example, showcased carding solutions directly targeting the pain points of high output, high speed, and high quality. This shift indicates that equipment makers are evolving from 'selling parts' to 'selling processes.' Behind this transformation lies the broadening application spectrum of nonwovens—from medical hygiene materials to filtration media—where demands for uniformity and strength are increasingly stringent, forcing carding links to offer more refined engineering services.
In-depth exchanges at the fair also revealed a new normal of industrial collaboration. Representatives from Andritz, Anhui Jinchun, Shandong Yongxin, Jiangsu Huafeng, Huafu Group, and other upstream and downstream enterprises engaged in discussions on product compatibility and production line efficiency, reflecting a transition from linear procurement to joint R&D within the nonwovens chain. For buyers, this means equipment selection is no longer a one-off transaction but the starting point of a long-term technical partnership.
Industrial Impact: Resonance Between Policy Direction and Market Demand
A highlight of this exhibition was the inclusion of innovative exhibits in the '15th Five-Year Plan' special zone for technical textiles in Hall W5. This detail carries dual implications: on one hand, it signals that the alignment of corporate technology roadmaps with national industrial guidance is becoming an invisible threshold for market competitiveness; on the other, it hints that the nonwovens sector will receive increased policy support over the next five years, especially toward high-end nonwoven upgrading. Companies like Jinlun, which showcased highly stable carding equipment, are perfectly aligned with this rhythm—their operational performance directly impacts production line uptime and product consistency, which are the most valued indicators for high-end clients.
From downstream feedback, cost pressures on nonwoven manufacturers remain unabated, but the competitive focus has shifted from 'price competition' to 'yield competition.' Issues such as card clothing wear and gauge drift often lead to uneven webs, thereby downgrading product grades. Consequently, equipment suppliers who can provide precise process parameters and rapid response are gaining pricing power. For factories, upgrading carding systems entails higher upfront investment, but if it reduces downtime and waste rates, the payback period is typically shorter than expected.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - When evaluating suppliers, prioritize their capability in process diagnostics rather than merely examining equipment specification sheets. - Request case studies of carding solutions tailored to specific products (e.g., spunlace for medical hygiene, needle-punched felt for filtration). - Incorporate total lifecycle costs (including card clothing replacement frequency, energy consumption, maintenance hours) into the comparison model.
For Foreign Trade Enterprises - Monitor regulatory trends regarding grammage uniformity and strength indicators for nonwoven products in target markets, and adjust production line processes accordingly. - Collaborate with domestic equipment manufacturers to develop carding solutions adapted to overseas raw materials (e.g., recycled fibers), creating differentiated competitiveness. - Leverage platforms like CINTE to establish technical credibility, highlighting process stability data in export negotiations.
The 'high-end game' in the nonwovens industry is no longer conceptual hype but an inevitable evolution driven by policy, market, and technology forces. As a pivotal link between upstream and downstream, the upgrading path of carding equipment offers a microcosm for observing the entire industry. In the future, those enterprises that can transform process know-how into systematic service capabilities will seize the lead in the next round of industry reshuffling.