As the nonwovens industry shifts from scale competition to quality competition, the carding process has become a decisive factor in line efficiency and product grade. At CINTE26, Jinlun Card Clothing's carding solutions for spunlace, thermal bond, and needle punch processes reflected this trend - equipment suppliers are no longer just selling parts, but providing complete process logic.
Exhibition Trends: From Equipment Display to Process Collaboration
The 19th China International Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition (CINTE26) concluded at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. As a high-profile event in the Asia-Pacific nonwovens sector, the highlight was not just new equipment launches, but exhibitors presenting solutions in the form of 'process packages.' Jinlun's carding solutions for spunlace, thermal bond, and needle punch processes emphasized three goals: high output, high speed, and high quality, directly addressing the common industry challenges of production capacity ramp-up and quality consistency.
At the booth, technical leaders from Andritz, Anhui Jinchun, Shandong Yongxin, Jiangsu Huafeng, and Huafu Group engaged in discussions covering product compatibility, process optimization, line efficiency, and technology iteration. This cross-chain dialogue indicates that competition in nonwovens has shifted from single equipment procurement to full-process collaborative optimization. Carding suppliers are transitioning from 'supporting roles' to 'process consultants.'
Notably, Jinlun's innovative exhibits were featured in the W5 hall's '15th Five-Year Plan' special zone for technical textiles. This is not coincidental - aligning with national industrial policy, it signals that carding upgrades are now integrated into strategic industry planning. For buyers, selecting a carding solution is no longer just equipment selection, but concerns whether the line can align with policy-supported high-end nonwoven categories in the next three to five years.
Industry Impact: How Carding Technology Reshapes the Nonwovens Value Chain
The impact of the carding process on nonwoven products is often underestimated. The uniformity of fiber opening, blending, and web formation directly determines the strength of spunlace fabrics, the bulkiness of thermal bond fabrics, and the density consistency of needle punch fabrics. In the past, nonwoven manufacturers treated carding machines as standard equipment, neglecting the matching of card clothing types, settings, and process parameters. The signal from this exhibition is that with rising demand for high-end medical, filtration, and wiping materials, carding has become the first critical gate for improving output and quality.
From a cost perspective, optimizing the carding process can significantly reduce fiber loss and energy consumption. Jinlun's 'three-high' solutions essentially help companies tap existing line potential without replacing main machinery, through refined design of tooth shape, density, and arrangement. This is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized nonwoven mills under profit pressure - rather than blindly investing in new lines, optimizing existing carding units is more practical.
For upstream fiber producers, advances in carding technology also influence raw material development. When card clothing can handle finer denier and shorter fibers, the application threshold for differentiated fibers (such as bio-based or biodegradable polyester) lowers. This means technological iteration in carding could indirectly accelerate structural adjustments in nonwoven raw materials.