|

Precision machines spin out industrial membranes in Haining county-level city, Jiaxing. [Photo/Tide News]

In March, China completed its first 9,000-ton inflatable grain silo — a national first in size and design. The key component was a white outer shell made of membrane, produced by Zhejiang Hontex New Materials Co in Haining county-level city, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province.

"It looks like a giant balloon, but it works like a high-tech jacket," said Pu Yifeng, general manager of Hontex. "Traditional silos are like cotton coats. This one's a down parka."

Unlike steel or concrete, the gas-inflated membrane keeps the grain insulated and airtight. The pressure half-life — the time it takes for internal air pressure to drop by half — reaches 4,312 seconds, over 10 times the 300-second industry standard.

The silo takes just 33 minutes to inflate, two months to build, and costs one-fifth of a traditional facility.

Inside Hontex's Dingqiao factory, fine threads go through weaving, biaxial stretching, multi-layer coating, and stress testing before becoming rolls of white membrane.

These materials are already exported to over 20 countries for use in storage structures and space-frame buildings. The firm's annual output tops 100 million yuan ($13.82 million), with daily production reaching 50,000 square meters.

The firm is now trialing a new TPU-based membrane for use in food processing and medical-grade enclosures, with mass production expected in the second quarter of 2025 and another 100 million yuan in projected output.