China Strengthens HMLS Yarn Capacity Amid Growing Global Demand

Barmag commissions new systems as China scales high-performance yarn output

Barmag will install three new HMLS yarn systems in China as the country expands production to meet rising global demand for high-modulus polyester yarns.

Barmag, part of the Swiss-based Oerlikon Group, is set to install three new HMLS yarn production systems featuring a total of 30 positions at major technical yarn manufacturers in China within the next three months.

A significant highlight: two of these contracts come from HMLS producers who previously sourced their systems from competitors. “They were convinced by our process technology, which ensures the efficient production of premium-quality HMLS yarns,” explains Sales Director Oliver Lemke, who, along with the local team, supports customers in the technical yarn segment. The advanced material derives its unique performance characteristics during the spinning process. High production speeds help establish a stable molecular alignment within the polymer that forms the yarn. This internal molecular chain orientation ultimately determines the dimensional stability of the finished yarn.

Growing Demand for HMLS Yarns

Industry forecasts indicate rising global demand for HMLS yarns in the coming years. This trend is largely driven by the shift toward lighter tires. Previously, high-modulus polyester yarn (HMLS) was used primarily in high-speed tires, but its attributes now allow tire manufacturers to replace steel cord with polyester even in the carcass construction of small vans. HMLS yarns combine exceptional tensile strength with high elasticity, thermal resistance, and excellent dimensional stability.

Another major driver is the continuous global increase in vehicle registrations. In China especially, the rapid expansion of local automobile manufacturing in recent years has contributed significantly to the growing need for additional HMLS capacity.