Orders Surge 148.7%: What Hongda Institute's Spunmelt Nonwoven Equipment Growth Signals

The order momentum in spunmelt nonwoven equipment is speaking through numbers. In H1 2026, Hongda Institute saw new contracts surge 148.7% year-on-year, with order backlog growing 86.4%. Against a backdrop of moderate recovery in textile machinery demand, such growth signals a structural expansion in the nonwoven niche. Equipment suppliers' order books often reflect industry investment direction earlier than terminal output data.

Background

Behind the surge is synchronized progress in domestic and international markets. Overseas, project installation and technical services in Turkey and Poland advanced steadily, earning positive feedback on engineering execution. Domestically, the Fujian project passed acceptance, Hebei delivery entered a critical phase, the Zhejiang contract took effect, and interest from new customers in Jiangsu intensified. This multi-point expansion solidified Hongda's leading position in spunmelt nonwoven turnkey equipment.

From a supply chain perspective, this order growth is not isolated. Spunmelt nonwovens are widely used in hygiene, medical, filtration, and other sectors with relatively rigid demand. In H1 2026, the global hygiene materials market, after two years of destocking, saw restocking cycles and capacity update demand overlap. Contracts received by equipment makers are essentially downstream votes on capacity layout for the next three to five years. A 148.7% increase implies that downstream investment willingness in high-end spunmelt lines is being released intensively.

Industry Impact

Beyond orders, technological breakthroughs deserve attention. The ionic liquid solvent bamboo fiber project, after three years of R&D, has fully entered the pilot engineering design phase. 3D modeling and engineering design are on schedule, with construction drawings planned for Q3. The industrialization of this technology could provide a greener solvent route for regenerated cellulose fibers, with potential significance for green substitution in nonwoven raw materials.

Meanwhile, the self-developed wide-width PE/PP bicomponent spunbond line has successfully completed trial production and achieved commercial delivery, with product performance fully meeting standards. Wide-width is a key direction for reducing unit production costs and boosting capacity efficiency; bicomponent technology gives nonwovens superior softness and strength. These advances mean domestic spunmelt equipment is moving from "usable" to "efficient and high-performance," changing the options and bargaining power for buyers.

In terms of competitive landscape, Hongda's breakthroughs are not isolated. Domestic spunmelt equipment makers have been continuously narrowing the gap with international leaders in width, speed, and automation. The commercial delivery of the wide-width bicomponent line may accelerate downstream acceptance of domestic high-end equipment, potentially reshaping the market where imports have long dominated the premium segment. For foreign trade companies, this also means stronger technological confidence for exporting domestic equipment, and success stories in Turkey and Poland could be replicated in more emerging markets.

Practical Advice

For Buyers - Monitor suppliers' order backlogs and delivery records; full order books often mean longer lead times, so early commitments and buffer capacity are essential. - Keep track of pilot-stage technical parameters and cost data for novel raw material lines like ionic liquid bamboo fiber; these will directly impact the economics of raw material substitution. - When evaluating wide-width bicomponent lines, consider not just equipment price but also energy consumption per unit area, waste rate, and maintenance costs for total lifecycle cost.

For Foreign Trade Companies - Leverage equipment suppliers' overseas project experience to explore bundled "equipment + service" export models; Turkey and Poland success cases can be key marketing materials. - Pay attention to certification progress of domestic high-end equipment and prepare for technical standards and compliance in target markets to reduce entry barriers. - Establish joint R&D or technical sharing mechanisms with equipment makers to develop customized processes for emerging markets' raw materials (e.g., bamboo fiber, recycled materials) and build differentiated competitiveness.