CSMA Conducts Field Research on Sewing Machinery Enterprises in Qingxian, Hebei

To gain an in-depth understanding of the current development and transformation of the heavy-duty sewing equipment industry in Qingxian, Hebei Province, a delegation led by Wu Jiling, Vice Chairman of the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA), visited Qingxian on September 17–18. The delegation visited nearly 10 complete-machine and component enterprises, including Zhiqiang, Shuangxing, Youtian, Qinggong and Jiahe. On the workshop floors, they looked into the enterprises' technical equipment and product development. They held in-depth discussions with company leaders on production and operations, market expansion and transformation strategies. They also met with officials from the Qingxian Federation of Industry and Commerce and Pangu Town, together with enterprise representatives.

The research found that in recent years, sewing equipment enterprises in Qingxian have stayed focused on their core sewing equipment business. They have continued to raise quality and upgrade products in their two signature product categories, bag closing machines and extra-heavy-duty sewing machines. Leading enterprises such as Zhiqiang and Shuangxing are accelerating product restructuring and business model innovation. Key enterprises such as Youtian, Qinggong and Jiahe are concentrating on niche segments such as bag closing machines and strengthening customized solution development. Each enterprise's differentiated strengths are becoming increasingly clear, and the industry is developing well. However, Qingxian's heavy-duty sewing machine capacity shows clear signs of structural overcapacity. The region also faces a series of problems and challenges, including an inadequate supporting component supply system, a relatively weak manufacturing base, talent shortages and slow product innovation.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Wu Jiling offered recommendations based on current industry trends and the development direction set out for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. He noted that Qingxian's heavy-duty sewing machine industry has developed over more than 50 years and has a distinctive character. He called on the industry to seize the opportunities presented by digital and intelligent transformation and by emerging markets, accelerate product innovation and upgrading, and expand overseas sales channels more quickly; pursue specialized and distinctive development, focus on improving quality, and deepen service innovation; integrate industrial livestreaming, cross-border e-commerce and independent brands, moving beyond acquiring customers through online traffic toward remote operation and maintenance and long-term brand building; strengthen industrial coordination and division of labor, with leading enterprises setting the direction and government departments providing oversight, to promote orderly competition and cooperation across the industry.