A single sheet of printing paper cost only 1.5 yuan in the 1990s, capable of being reused five to eight times, with the first print covering all costs—this was the reality of Keqiao's printing industry. Three decades later, the so-called 'money-printing era' has faded, replaced by the tough battles of smart manufacturing, globalization, and high-value transformation. Chen Biao, a typical 'second-generation textile entrepreneur' and general manager of Shaoxing Hongxin Printing Co., Ltd., is redefining the family business founded in 1990 using AI tools, patented technologies, and an industrial park ecosystem.
From Million-Asset Factory to Smart Production: A Quantum Leap in Capacity Logic
Hongxin Printing started in 1993 on the back of reform-era textile opportunities. By 1995, the company had upgraded equipment for 24-hour continuous production, and by 1996, assets exceeded one million yuan. At that time, the factory was located near the market, with customers coming directly—a classic 'good wine needs no bush' model. But after Chen Biao took over, this logic was completely rewritten.
In 2006, Chen led the construction of a 16,000-square-meter standardized plant on 15 mu of self-owned land, dramatically improving space utilization. More critically, he rejected the crude expansion of simply adding more machines. Currently, the workshop can finish 8,000 meters of fabric printing in 10 hours, but the core driver is digital and smart equipment iteration, not sheer machine count. This targeted investment approach stands in sharp contrast to the industry's widespread blind expansion.
Customized Global Markets: 90% of Products Exported to Three Continents
Initially focused on domestic sales, Chen led a structural shift in market strategy. Today, 90% of the company's printed products are exported to South America, the Middle East, and Africa. Tailored solutions are developed for each region: South American buyers prefer clean, minimalist 'stone fabric,' while the Middle East favors high-saturation dark prints. This strong market adaptability has become the company's core competitive advantage, breaking traditional local limitations.
Rapid response to overseas orders relies heavily on digital tools. Chen introduced an AI fabric mini-program developed by the China Textile City Group. Traditional pattern sampling required engraving, sample sewing, and physical photography—a time-consuming process. Now, with AI fabric visualization, uploading one image automatically generates realistic fabric texture and application videos. The company independently develops 1,000 to 2,000 new patterns annually. AI generates initial drafts, but manual selection, adjustment, and professional color optimization are still necessary to meet diverse global customer needs.
Patent Barriers Against Low-Price Competition: Industry-Academia Collaboration and Park Ecosystem
Facing industry-wide low-price homogenization, Chen chose a 'differentiated competitive advantage through patented technology.' The company plans to collaborate with university research resources, focusing on unexplored market gaps to develop functional printed products such as cooling and anti-radiation fabrics. By integrating these functional technologies with traditional printing, the per-meter profit margin can be significantly increased. This strategy aims to escape the low-end competition trap and build a core competitiveness moat through technical barriers.
To further amplify the effect of technology, Chen proposed an 'industrial park ecosystem' concept. The company will revitalize idle resources within its existing park by introducing upstream and downstream partners such as printing and laminating facilities, creating a complete industry ecosystem. Through collaborative production within the park, cross-factory logistics, communication, and coordination costs can be substantially reduced, while raw materials, equipment, and customer resources can be shared. This shift from single-product quality improvement to full-chain efficiency enhancement is rare among Keqiao's textile clusters.