A National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize often signals a comprehensive leap in an industry's technical system. In 2025, the textile chemical fiber sector took center stage: the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain,' led by Tongkun Group as the primary completing unit and jointly developed with ten institutions including Donghua University and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, won the First Prize. This marks the third time the textile industry has received this top honor, following carbon fiber in 2017 and automated yarn dyeing in 2014, but the current achievement is unique in covering the entire polyester fiber chain—the 'industrial staple' of textiles.
Background: A Decade-Long Breakthrough
Polyester fiber accounts for the largest share of China's chemical fiber output, which itself represents 70% of global production. Upgrading this industry directly affects the supply chain stability and cost structure of downstream fabrics and garments. The project, led by Researcher Wang Huaping from Donghua University and key enterprises like Tongkun Group, took over ten years of collaborative research to build an independent advanced manufacturing system. Core breakthroughs include:
- Green manufacturing: A PTA-PET direct coupling low-carbon model, development of eco-friendly titanium catalysts, and full lifecycle green standards.
- Intelligent manufacturing: Domestic replacement of DCS control systems, and an integrated process-quality management system.
- Service-oriented manufacturing: A 'multi-head, multi-tail' polymerization platform enabling modular customization of differentiated products.
To date, the project has generated 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national/industry standards, with expert appraisal confirming it as internationally leading. Results have been applied in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and over 10 enterprises, accumulating over 200 billion RMB in new sales, 10 billion RMB in profits/taxes, and 1.8 billion USD in export earnings.
Industry Impact: Ripple Effects from Source to End
For the textile industry, this breakthrough's significance extends beyond the award itself. First, the green manufacturing technology for polyester fiber—the 'industrial staple'—will directly reduce the carbon footprint of downstream fabric producers. For buyers exporting to environmentally stringent markets like Europe and Japan, this means lower compliance costs: no need for separate carbon calculations for each fabric batch, as upstream fiber already carries a green label.
Second, the domestic replacement of intelligent manufacturing systems breaks foreign monopolies on DCS controls in the chemical fiber sector. Previously, production lines relied on imported systems with high costs and constrained upgrades. Now, a replicable 'China solution' is available, expected to accelerate the industry's equipment renewal cycle within 3-5 years.
Third, the service-oriented manufacturing model allows downstream buyers to customize fiber properties flexibly. Instead of choosing from standard specifications, buyers can now adjust strength, elongation, moisture absorption, etc., via the modular system, enabling small-batch, multi-variety agile manufacturing. This significantly boosts supply chain responsiveness for fast-fashion brands and functional fabric companies.