The production center of gravity for Italian high-end textile finishing machinery brands Mezzera and Jaeggli is shifting to China. EFI Reggiani and Danitech Group have signed a multi-year licensing and manufacturing agreement, granting Danitech's Suzhou facility exclusive rights to produce and manage the supply chain for the entire portfolio of Mezzera and Jaeggli finishing machinery—including continuous dyeing ranges, washing machines, and dryers. This is not simple OEM but a deep integration of technology licensing and regional manufacturing capacity.
Event Background
The signatories include EFI Reggiani (Italy), Danitech Engineering and Solutions Srl (Italy), and Suzhou Danitech Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd (China). The core content: Danitech obtains exclusive manufacturing and sales rights for Mezzera and Jaeggli finishing equipment in the Chinese market, covering the entire chain from design and component sourcing to final assembly. Mezzera's history dates back to the early 20th century, with mature technology in continuous rope dyeing, washing, and wet finishing; Jaeggli specializes in drying and setting machinery. Previously, all manufacturing was done in Italy, with delivery lead times typically 6-9 months and after-sales response hampered by cross-border logistics.
Suzhou Danitech had already established a presence in textile machinery automation; this partnership allows it to directly inherit core European finishing technology. From an industry perspective, this is not an isolated case—over five European textile machinery brands have set up production bases in China through licensing or joint ventures in the past three years. However, Mezzera's scale and historical significance make this agreement a landmark.
Industry Impact
For China's dyeing and finishing industry, the most immediate change is equipment delivery time. A continuous rope dyeing machine, for example, previously took an average of seven months from Italian factory shipment to Chinese port clearance, installation, and commissioning. With local manufacturing in Suzhou, this cycle is expected to shrink to under four months—a reduction of over 40%. For mills in clusters like Shaoxing, Wujiang, and Shishi, this means significantly reduced uncertainty in capacity planning.
Cost benefits are equally clear. Italian-made equipment typically costs 30-50% more than comparable domestic machines due to labor, logistics, and tariffs. Local production in Suzhou is expected to narrow this gap to 15-20%, while retaining Italian-sourced core components. This is particularly important for mid-sized dychouses that previously opted for domestic alternatives due to price barriers—they can now access European brand process capabilities at near-domestic prices.
However, technology adaptation risks must be considered. Mezzera's continuous dyeing process has specific requirements for water quality, steam pressure, and operator skills; original design parameters are based on European factory environments. Whether the Suzhou production line will adjust key components (e.g., nozzles, temperature control systems) during localization, and the impact of such adjustments on process reproducibility, will be key evaluation points for buyers.