A new national standard is pushing carbon fiber precursor equipment from fragmented practices to a unified language. The 'Method for Terms, Classification, and Model Numbering of Complete Sets of Equipment for Polyacrylonitrile Fiber Production' has been officially approved and will take effect on February 1, 2027. This follows the implementation of the national standard for carbonization equipment, marking another key regulation in the core equipment domain of carbon fiber.
From an industrial logic perspective, standardizing precursor equipment is even more foundational than carbonization. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor is the precursor to carbon fiber, and its quality directly determines the strength and stability of the final product. The production of precursor involves multiple processes including polymerization, spinning, drawing, drying, and solvent recovery, where equipment precision and intelligence directly affect yield rate and cost. For a long time, the domestic precursor equipment sector lacked unified specifications, leading to inconsistent terminology, classification, and model naming, which hampered efficiency in line design, equipment procurement, and supply chain coordination. The new standard unifies terminology, classification, and model numbering rules for the entire process for the first time, effectively establishing a 'common language' for the precursor equipment field.
From Single-Point Breakthrough to Full-Process Integration
It is noteworthy that this standard is not an isolated event. Previously, the national standard for carbonization equipment, also led by Jinko Technology, was implemented in June 2025. With this addition, both the precursor and carbonization stages of carbon fiber production are now covered by national standards, providing a unified and consistent standard system for China's entire carbon fiber equipment chain.
What does this mean? For equipment manufacturers, unified standards reduce redundant R&D and production investments. Interfaces and parameters from different suppliers are expected to become interoperable, boosting supply chain collaboration efficiency. For downstream carbon fiber producers, the complexity of equipment selection and line design will significantly decrease, potentially shortening procurement cycles and communication costs. More importantly, the establishment of a standard system provides a benchmark framework for subsequent process optimization and intelligent upgrades.
The Industrial Ambition Behind Standardization
From a corporate perspective, it is no coincidence that Jinko Technology and Huachuang Technology led the drafting of these two national standards. Jinko Technology has deep roots in carbon fiber equipment, having launched multiple carbonization systems and continuously invested in precursor equipment technology. Huachuang Technology holds technical expertise in PAN precursor processes and equipment. Their collaboration in standard-setting essentially converts corporate technological advantages into industry rule advantages.
The deeper industrial logic is that standardization is a prerequisite for overcoming 'bottleneck' areas. Currently, China's carbon fiber industry still faces challenges in large-tow, high-performance PAN precursor, and carbonization equipment. Unified equipment standards help concentrate industry resources for technological breakthroughs, avoiding resource waste caused by specification mismatches. Jinko Technology has stated that it will continue to leverage the implementation of both national standards, simultaneously promote the application of group standards, and tackle core bottlenecks in large-tow, high-performance PAN precursor, and carbonization equipment, aiming to help China's carbon fiber industry chain achieve security and self-sufficiency.