The biggest technological suspense in the textile chemical fiber sector this year was resolved on July 8, when the first prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award was awarded to a project titled 'Key Technologies for Green and Smart Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain.' This marks the first time the award has covered the entire polyester fiber industry chain, signaling that China's polyester fiber industry, which accounts for 70% of global chemical fiber output, now has a fully autonomous and controllable technology system from source to end.
Background
The winning project was led by Tongkun Group as the primary unit, in collaboration with ten research and industrial entities including Donghua University and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, after over a decade of joint research. The project's first lead, researcher Wang Huaping from Donghua University, was joined by academician Zhu Meifang and others. The core focus was on three technological dimensions: green manufacturing, smart manufacturing, and service-oriented manufacturing.
In green manufacturing, the project pioneered a PTA-PET direct-coupled low-carbon model, developed eco-friendly titanium-based catalysts to replace traditional high-pollution processes, and established a full lifecycle green standard. The smart manufacturing dimension achieved domestic replacement of DCS control systems, enabling integrated process and quality management. Service-oriented manufacturing, through a 'multi-head multi-tail' polymerization platform, enabled modular customization and agile production of differentiated products.
To date, the project has formed a complete intellectual property system with 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards. The overall technology has been appraised by an expert panel as internationally leading. Results have been promoted in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, with cumulative new sales exceeding 200 billion yuan, profits and taxes over 10 billion yuan, and export earnings of 1.8 billion US dollars.
Industry Impact
For buyers, this technology system means significantly improved supply stability and quality consistency of polyester fibers. Cost fluctuations previously dependent on imported catalysts and control systems are expected to be mitigated by domestic alternatives. Meanwhile, the establishment of green manufacturing standards will force upstream raw material suppliers and downstream dyeing companies to accelerate environmental upgrades, making the entire supply chain's carbon footprint more transparent.
For factories, the project's smart manufacturing system provides a replicable 'China solution.' Tongkun Group has been selected as one of the first national 'Zero-Waste Enterprise' and 'National Service-oriented Manufacturing Demonstration Enterprise,' and its experience can be directly extended to other chemical fiber companies. Reduced energy consumption and defect rates will directly translate into improved gross margins.
From an industry structure perspective, this award completes the final piece of the puzzle for China's textile industry's self-innovation technology system. Previous first prizes were won for individual technologies like carbon fiber and yarn dyeing, but the full-chain breakthrough in polyester fiber fills the gap from basic materials to terminal equipment. This means China's chemical fiber industry now has a stronger technological foundation to face global supply chain restructuring and 'dual carbon' pressures.