The technological barrier of European high-end finishing equipment is being broken by a cross-border licensing agreement. EFI Reggiani and Danitech Group signed a multi-year licensing and manufacturing agreement, transferring the entire Mezzera and Jaeggli textile finishing machinery portfolio to Suzhou Danitech Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. in China. This means Chinese dyeing and printing plants may soon source core equipment locally that was previously only importable from Italy.
Industrial Logic Behind the Licensing
Mezzera has a history of over half a century in textile finishing, with its continuous washing, dyeing, and drying equipment holding a stable share in European high-end fabric mills. EFI Reggiani, as a subsidiary of EFI specializing in digital printing, is leveraging the Mezzera and Jaeggli asset portfolio to seek new growth in the finishing segment. For Danitech, gaining access to complete drawings, manufacturing processes, and quality standards effectively bypasses the lengthy R&D cycle required to start from scratch.
From an industrial cluster perspective, Suzhou and the surrounding Yangtze River Delta region host a large concentration of dyeing and finishing capacity. Previously, factories wanting Mezzera-level equipment had to bear high import tariffs, long shipping times, and delayed after-sales response. With technology landing in Suzhou, equipment lead times could shrink from 12-18 months to 6-8 months, and unit costs may drop by 20%-30%. For dyeing plants under persistent margin pressure, this is a tangible cost benefit.
Dual Impact on Dyeing and Finishing Process Upgrades
Technology licensing is not simple replication. Chinese factories obtain manufacturing licenses, but whether core process parameters, software control systems, and application databases are transferred simultaneously will determine if the final product matches Italian original quality. Industry public data shows that over the past decade, many finishing technologies imported from Europe have faced stability issues during localization, mainly due to differences in operating environments and maintenance habits.
However, this agreement includes provisions for collaboration between Danitech Engineering's design team in Italy and the Suzhou team, which is uncommon in pure equipment trade. If the technology transfer covers a complete process package, Chinese dyeing plants will have the opportunity to directly benchmark European standards in continuous washing and low-liquor-ratio dyeing. For apparel fabric orders destined for Europe, this means some finishing steps can be removed from overseas subcontracting, shortening the supply chain.
Reshaping Regional Competition
Suzhou is not the only base for dyeing equipment manufacturing in China. Shaoxing, Foshan, and Shishi also have mature capabilities in equipment imitation and improvement. The localized manufacturing of Mezzera technology will first impact the pricing system of equipment suppliers in Suzhou and surrounding areas. Domestic mid-to-low-end finishing equipment that has long relied on price advantages may be forced to accelerate technological iteration or shift to more niche markets.
On the other hand, other European finishing equipment brands—such as Biancalani, MCS, and Lafer—may reassess their China strategies. They could either follow the licensing route or strengthen high-end customization services to maintain differentiation. For buyers, this means the range of available finishing equipment will expand significantly over the next two years, providing more room for negotiation.