Bergamo, Italy, and Suzhou, China—On July 21, 2026, EFI subsidiary EFI Reggiani signed a multi-year licensing and manufacturing agreement with Danitech Engineering & Solutions (Italy) and Suzhou Danitech Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (China). The deal covers the global production and sales rights for the Mezzera and Jaeggli textile finishing machinery portfolios. This is not a simple brand acquisition but a deep technology licensing and manufacturing localization arrangement.
The Logic Behind the Tech Licensing
The Mezzera brand has over half a century of technical accumulation in textile finishing, particularly in rope dyeing, washing, and chemical finishing processes. EFI Reggiani's decision to license this mature platform to Danitech is driven by the need to reduce Italian manufacturing costs and shorten delivery cycles. The Suzhou factory will handle most production, while Danitech Italy retains engineering design and quality control. For buyers, this means a 15-20% reduction in equipment procurement costs and delivery times slashed from 12 months to under six months, for the same technical specifications.
Blending Chinese Manufacturing with European Craftsmanship
The Danitech Group operates a smart manufacturing base in Suzhou, equipped with precision machining and assembly capabilities. Under the agreement, the Suzhou plant will produce key Mezzera modules—including stainless steel troughs, padders, and tension control systems—according to original Italian technical standards. The Jaeggli continuous washing machines will also be localized. While the "European design + Chinese manufacturing" model is not new in textile machinery, large-scale tech licensing for high-end finishing equipment remains rare. It signals that China's textile machinery supply chain is shifting from OEM assembly to licensed manufacturing with technology absorption.
Direct Benefits for Downstream Dyeing and Printing Companies
China is the world's largest dyeing and printing base, but high-end finishing equipment has long relied on imports. Mezzera machines are widely used in rope dyeing of knitwear, denim washing, and alkali reduction treatment of synthetic fabrics. Previously, Chinese mills faced high import duties, shipping costs, and year-long waiting times. With localized production, the Suzhou factory will supply domestic and Southeast Asian clients directly, and after-sales response times will shrink from weeks to days. For companies pursuing "digital workshops" and "green dyeing" upgrades, this offers a tangible way to reduce capital expenditure.
Potential Shifts in the Competitive Landscape
The global textile finishing equipment market is dominated by German, Italian, and Swiss brands, with Chinese brands holding limited high-end share. The EFI Reggiani-Danitech partnership provides a low-cost channel for Italian technology to penetrate the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Danitech gains a shortcut to fill its finishing equipment technology gap and expand its product line under the Mezzera brand. Over the next three years, Chinese dyeing mills may see more "Italian genes, Chinese-made" finishing equipment on procurement lists, forcing local brands to accelerate their own upgrades.