The CHTC Fong’s Group is currently making a huge investment in the infrastructure and advanced automation technology required for manufacturing next-generation Industry 4.0 dyeing and finishing machines in China.
With sales of €399 million in 2018 and 4,500 employees worldwide, CHTC Fong’s is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of dyeing and finishing equipment. It produces some 250-300 stenter frames and 1,000-1,200 discontinuous dyeing machines every year, including those made by its European companies and brands Monforts, THEN, Fong’s, Goller and Xorella, all of whom will contribute their know-how to the new developments in China.
Speaking at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona, CHTC Fong’s CEO Ji Xin said the company is making a very substantial investment in infrastructure in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, as the base for its new subsidiary, CHTC Fong’s Intelligent Printing and Dyeing Machinery. It has purchased some 76,000 square metres of land in Shaoxing City as the base for this new company, and in addition has recently completed the second phase of construction at its new Monfongs plant in Zhongshan, Guandong.
The new Zhongshan plant has a dedicated Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) for customer trials, as well as a miniature smart dyeing factory.
Mr. Ji said: “The trade wars between the US and China have had a significant impact on the world economy and led to uncertainty in the market. But we believe high efficiency, energy savings and environmental protection, enabled by full automation and smart manufacturing processes, are the way forward in the long term. Fully intelligent dyeing and finishing equipment will provide the high quality and inexpensive textile products of the future.”
New technologies presented at ITMA 2019 by the members of the CHTC Fong’s Group included the new Monforts CYD yarn dyeing system, Montex stenter with integrated MonforClean exhaust air treatment and the latest texCoat coating unit; Fong’s Tecwin hydraulic high temperature dyeing machine; THEN Smartflow TSF hydraulic high temperature dyeing machine; Goller Knit Merc for the highest quality mercerization of knitted fabrics; and advanced automation concepts for conditioning and heat setting from Xorella.