The order curve of spunmelt nonwoven equipment is becoming a leading indicator for the nonwoven industry. In H1 2026, Hongda Research Institute saw new contracts surge 148.7% YoY and orders on hand grow 86.4%. This growth far exceeds the industry average, signaling that downstream customers' replacement demand for high-end equipment is being released intensively, rather than a simple repeat of capacity expansion.
Structural Reading of Order Growth
Breaking down the data reveals uneven distribution. Internationally, projects in Turkey and Poland progressed efficiently in on-site installation and service, with technical service capability recognized by clients. Domestically, multiple markets blossomed: the Fujian project passed acceptance, Hebei project delivery made substantial progress, Zhejiang project contract became effective, and Jiangsu new client interest warmed up.
This simultaneous strength at home and abroad indicates that the institute's competitiveness does not rely on a single market. For buyers, whether an equipment supplier's overseas service network is complete directly affects response time during line shutdowns, which has become a key factor in contract negotiations.
More notably, the gap between new contract growth (148.7%) and orders on hand growth (86.4%) suggests that delivery cycles are lengthening, and capacity bottlenecks may become a potential challenge in the next 12 months. For factories planning to purchase, this means the time window from order to startup needs reassessment.
How Technology Reserves Translate into Order Premiums
Behind the order surge is the monetization of years of technical accumulation. The ionic liquid solvent bamboo fiber project, after three years of research, has fully entered the pilot plant engineering design stage, with 3D modeling and engineering design completed as scheduled, and construction drawings planned for Q3. Once industrialized, this technology will change the raw material route for regenerated cellulose fibers, offering downstream fabric makers new differentiated material options.
Meanwhile, the self-developed wide-width PE/PP bicomponent spunbond line successfully completed trial production and achieved commercial delivery, with product performance fully meeting standards. Wide-width lines mean higher unit output and lower energy costs, which are particularly important for competitive markets like hygiene and filtration. Multiple breakthroughs in specialty fiber spinning processes provide a technical foundation for entering high value-added niche segments.
These technology reserves are not isolated; they are transformed into reproducible engineering capabilities through the full launch of SAP and BIP systems and the revision of 11 institutional rules. For the industry, this signals that competition among equipment makers has shifted from simple cost-performance to a comprehensive contest of 'technology premium plus delivery capability.'
Industry Transmission: Impact on Nonwoven Capacity Landscape
The order surge at Hongda is a microcosm of the spunmelt nonwoven equipment market. From an industry chain perspective, equipment purchases typically lead actual capacity deployment by about one year. The current concentrated orders indicate that new domestic nonwoven capacity will enter a dense commissioning phase in 2027, especially in bicomponent spunbond and specialty fiber fields.
For downstream factories, this means two things: first, supply of mid-to-high-end nonwovens will increase significantly over the next two years, potentially intensifying price competition for homogeneous products; second, production lines with technological differentiation (such as bamboo fiber or bicomponent) will command a premium. Buyers should focus more on technology iteration capability rather than mere initial investment cost when selecting equipment.