University professors spark brainstorming sessions; digital technology empowers the traditional textile weaving industry.

At the recently held First Yuhang District Science and Technology Achievements Exhibition, three local textile enterprises in Yuhang, including "Tengshi Weaving," signed contracts for 34 HT-2688 digital weaving systems developed by "Hengfang Digital" in one go, with a contract value nearing 12 million yuan.

This enterprise, which has been engaged in the research and development of digital textile technology for many years, was founded by several teachers and technicians from Zhejiang University who pooled their own funds and contributed their "intelligence" as equity.

Rooted in Yuhang and Haining, the most concentrated regions for domestic home textile production, the company has installed modern propellers for the most traditional textile industry using the latest digital technology.

Bringing both "intelligence" and "capital" has further fueled the ambition of the entrepreneurs.

The traditional textile industry generally suffers from outdated design and production methods, high labor intensity, and low production efficiency. Taking jacquard looms as an example, the traditional method involves punching holes in pattern cards after pattern design to control the lifting of pattern needles, severely restricting product development speed and quality, and making it impossible to adapt to the rapidly changing market. Several teachers from Zhejiang University, including Zhu Aimin, embarked on entrepreneurship with their respective "technical" expertise in textiles, machinery, computers, and digital intelligence. Because they directly faced "applications," the key equipment for digital textiles developed by the company, such as electronic jacquard looms (including electronic heads), was immediately recognized by the market upon its launch.

The electronic jacquard head is a key piece of equipment for digital weaving technology. The jacquard pattern data files designed through textile CAD technology are directly controlled by a computer to operate the needle selectors of the electronic head. Foreign electronic jacquard looms are prohibitively expensive, leaving domestic private textile enterprises, mainly small and medium-sized, "powerless to act." Developing a set of electronic jacquard heads with independent intellectual property rights that can rival foreign imported products in performance but are significantly cheaper has become a demand for many domestic textile enterprises.

Unlike the entrepreneurial model where teachers provide technology and enterprises provide capital, Zhu Aimin and several other teachers, as partners, not only brought their "unique skills" but also had to invest "real money" of 100,000 or 200,000 yuan each. Zhu Aimin believes that this approach further ignites the ambition of the entrepreneurs.

"The edge of a sword is honed through grinding."

Since 2003, teachers from Zhejiang University have been integrating and synthesizing their wisdom and technologies, including textile technology, mechanical electronics, computer software, and network technology developed in recent years. They have successfully developed electronic jacquard heads in various specifications, such as 1344, 2688, and 6144 needles, with a 12288-needle electronic head currently under development.

The company has also developed high-speed flexible rapier loomsmatched with the electronic heads, with a maximum width of 3.6 meters, achieving integrated production of looms and heads domestically. These products lead the country in various technical indicators, with some reaching international advanced levels, and their prices are only 1/3 to 1/6 of those of similar foreign products, making them highly competitive in both domestic and international markets.

During their years of research in digital textile technology and related product development, teachers from Zhejiang University have transformed from "theoretical" to "expert" types, applying the most advanced technologies to improve traditional industries. They have undertaken several major national research tasks, including the National 863 Project "CSCW-Based CAD/CAM System for Textile Patterns." The research and development team has also received numerous awards, including the Third Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, the Second Prize of the Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, and the National Science and Technology Achievement Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology. They have also obtained more than 10 national authorized patents.