The order growth rate for spunmelt nonwoven equipment is sending signals far above the industry average. In the first half of 2026, Hongda Research Institute saw new contracts surge 148.7% year-on-year, with backlog orders up 86.4%. These figures are not an isolated corporate update but reflect strong downstream demand for high-end nonwoven capacity—while conventional equipment enters stock competition, manufacturers with core processes and delivery capabilities are reaping incremental dividends.
The Logic Behind the Order Boom
The surge is the result of synchronized expansion in both domestic and international markets. Overseas, projects in Turkey and Poland progressed with efficient installation and service, earning client recognition that translated into repeat orders and referrals. Domestically, a project in Fujian passed acceptance, deliveries in Hebei made substantial progress, a contract in Zhejiang took effect, and interest from new customers in Jiangsu warmed quickly. This multi-point growth indicates demand is not reliant on a single region but reflects a global wave of upgrades to spunmelt nonwoven production lines.
Such growth is no accident. Applications of spunmelt nonwoven materials continue to expand in hygiene, medical, filtration, and other fields. Increasing requirements for width, speed, and uniformity in high-end hygiene and industrial filtration are forcing downstream companies to lock in advanced capacity early. With backlog orders up 86.4%, visibility extends beyond a year, providing certainty for supply chain scheduling. This also implies that numerous new lines will come online in the next two years, potentially reshaping regional nonwoven supply patterns.
How Technological Breakthroughs Reshape Competitiveness
The order boom closely tracks the pace of technological breakthroughs. The ionic liquid solvent bamboo fiber project, after three years of R&D, has entered the pilot engineering design stage, with 3D modeling and engineering design completed on schedule and construction drawings planned for Q3. This signals that green fiber production is moving from lab to industrialization. Once scaled, it could alter the raw material route for regenerated cellulose fibers, posing potential substitution pressure on traditional viscose processes.
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. Bicomponent spunbond technology is key to producing high-softness, high-elasticity nonwovens, and domestic breakthroughs reduce procurement costs and shorten delivery cycles. Additionally, multiple special fiber spinning processes have achieved breakthroughs, indicating a shift from single-point technology catch-up to platform-based capability building—a systemic advantage difficult to replicate in long-term competition.
For buyers, equipment selection is shifting from "usable" to "good and sustainable." Once the ionic liquid bamboo fiber project lands, it will provide biodegradable, low-carbon footprint fiber options, helping downstream brands meet EU environmental regulations. Wide-width bicomponent lines enable product differentiation and added value. Technological leadership not only drives orders but also pricing power and customer stickiness.
Management Upgrades and Industry Transmission
The order surge also imposes higher demands on internal management. Hongda established party member pioneer posts and temporary party groups in innovation platform construction and wide-width line development, using organizational support to drive technical breakthroughs. SAP and BIP systems were fully launched and continuously optimized, with 11 new or revised systems, enhancing risk control and refined management. These measures may seem internal, but they affect delivery stability—for downstream buyers, a supplier's management maturity directly impacts project timelines and market windows.
From an industry perspective, Hongda's order boom is not an isolated case but a microcosm of the upgrade toward intelligent and green spunmelt nonwoven equipment. As global hygiene giants and emerging market countries accelerate capacity deployment, equipment makers must simultaneously possess rapid delivery, localized service, and continuous innovation. Those still competing on low prices will face shrinking orders and widening technology gaps.
Practical Recommendations
For Buyers - Prioritize equipment makers with strong backlog orders and proven delivery records to reduce delay risks. - When evaluating technology, focus on bicomponent, wide-width, and green fiber processes to avoid investing in soon-to-be-obsolete capacity. - For overseas projects, verify the supplier's service network and spare parts availability in the target market to ensure long-term maintenance.
For Exporters - Seize demand in emerging markets like Turkey and Poland by partnering with equipment makers to offer bundled "equipment + process + service" solutions, boosting export value. - Monitor progress of green technologies like ionic liquid bamboo fiber and prepare export certifications for sustainable nonwoven products to address trade barriers such as EU carbon tariffs. - Leverage the cost-effectiveness of domestic equipment to promote turnkey line exports in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, capturing international market share.
Order numbers are just the surface; the real takeaway is the pace of technological iteration. When a company signs nearly 1.5 times more contracts in half a year, it is betting not only on the current market but also on technology roadmaps for the next three to five years. For the entire spunmelt nonwoven supply chain, this may mark the beginning of a reshuffle.