When 'high-end' becomes a buzzword in the nonwovens industry, the speed of equipment response often determines the success of transformation. At the 19th China International Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition (CINTE26), held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Jinlun Card Clothing showcased carding solutions for three mainstream processes—spunlace, thermal bond, and needlepunch—and entered the '15th Five-Year' special zone in Hall W5. This move is more than a product display; it signals a revaluation of the 'carding' link across the entire nonwovens supply chain.
Exhibition positioning and industry context
CINTE26 is regarded as a high-standard benchmark event in the Asia-Pacific nonwovens sector. This edition focused on technological innovation and high-end industrial transformation, bringing together resources from raw materials, equipment, to end-use applications. Notably, the special zone directly aligned with the national '15th Five-Year' plan, meaning that exhibitors were not just presenting isolated technologies but solutions synchronized with national industrial strategy. For buyers, this dual policy-market drive is changing equipment selection criteria—from pure price considerations to long-term adaptability and technological iteration potential.
Equipment makers' approach and industry pain points
Carding is a critical pre-step in spunlace, thermal bond, and needlepunch lines, directly determining fiber web uniformity and strength, which in turn affects the quality stability of end-use fabrics. Jinlun's showcased solutions targeted common pain points such as fiber entanglement and uniformity fluctuations under high-speed, high-yield conditions. The logic lies in optimizing card clothing tooth geometry, density, and arrangement to improve carding quality without sacrificing speed. This approach of leveraging micro-innovation to boost overall line efficiency is particularly relevant for factories facing rising labor and energy costs.
At the booth, technical and production leaders from Andritz, Anhui Jinchun, Shandong Yongxin, Jiangsu Huafeng, and Huafu Group engaged in in-depth exchanges on product adaptation, process optimization, and line efficiency. This kind of face-to-face technical consultation is replacing traditional buy-sell relationships, fostering a collaborative development model across the chain. For equipment suppliers, it means selling not just products but embedded services that integrate seamlessly into customers' existing process systems.
Policy dividend and market expectation double overlay
Jinlun's presence in the '15th Five-Year' special zone was not coincidental. Technical textiles have been listed as a national strategic direction, providing long-term policy support for nonwovens equipment upgrades. On the demand side, high-end nonwovens are increasingly used in medical, filtration, geotextile, and automotive applications, pushing carding toward finer and more stable performance. This dual engine is accelerating the phase-out of low-end capacity and opening a window for equipment makers with technological reserves.
For downstream fabric buyers, equipment upgrades mean that suppliers' delivery capabilities and quality consistency will diverge. Factories that first complete digitized and standardized carding processes are better positioned to handle high-end orders with stringent uniformity and strength requirements. Conversely, those relying on outdated equipment may lose competitiveness in lead time and pass rates. Therefore, buyers should not only inspect finished product indicators but also pay attention to suppliers' equipment renewal cycles and process debugging capabilities.