A technological achievement covering the entire polyester fiber industry chain has recently won the First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. This marks a significant milestone for China's chemical fiber sector, signaling the establishment of an independent and controllable advanced manufacturing system in general-purpose fibers.
Technical Breakthrough: Full-Chain Restructuring from Green to Intelligent
The project was led by Tongkun Group in collaboration with Donghua University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and seven other institutions, after more than a decade of joint research. The core innovations span three dimensions: green manufacturing, featuring a direct PTA-PET coupling low-carbon model and eco-friendly titanium catalysts; intelligent manufacturing, with fully automated equipment upgrades and localized replacement of DCS control systems; and service-oriented manufacturing, using a multi-head, multi-tail polymerization platform for flexible customization and multi-region collaborative production.
To date, the project has generated 76 invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards. An expert panel assessed the overall technology as internationally leading. These results have been implemented in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang, as well as in over ten enterprises, contributing to 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: Strengthening Control Over the 'Industrial Staple'
Polyester fiber is often called the 'industrial staple' of textiles. China produces 70% of the world's chemical fibers, with polyester fiber ranking first among all types. This award-winning project directly addresses strategic needs for industrial chain security and international competition. For downstream fabric and apparel companies, it means greater stability and greener upstream raw material supply, reducing reliance on imported technologies and providing a stronger material foundation for brand development and energy efficiency upgrades.
From an industry perspective, Tongkun Group has been recognized as a national 'zero-waste enterprise' model and a 'national service-oriented manufacturing demonstration enterprise.' This demonstration effect will further drive the transformation of the chemical fiber sector toward high-end, intelligent, and green development. For textile clusters such as Shengze and Keqiao, the promotion of this technology system will accelerate regional industrial upgrades, reduce energy consumption and defect rates, and directly enhance international competitiveness.
International Cooperation: Open Innovation Boosts Global Influence
Simultaneously, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award was granted to Professor Elsa Reichmanis from Lehigh University. She has long promoted Sino-US scientific exchanges and has collaborated deeply with Donghua University's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials since 2013, co-training talents, publishing high-level papers, and serving as chair of the academic committee for multiple international conferences on advanced fibers and polymer materials. This award underscores that while pursuing independent innovation, China's textile industry remains open to international cooperation, accelerating technological breakthroughs by leveraging global expertise.