Rope factory secures new business with tech

A worker checks a net produced in a factory in Lizhuang town of Binzhou, Shandong province. "My grandfather has been involved in the rope industry since the 1990s, and my father, along with fellow villagers, has been instrumental in advancing the rope and net industry in our town," Zhang said. "There was a period when our products struggled to meet market demand due to the similarity among products produced by rope and net manufacturers in our town. Energized by technological advancements, local companies are transitioning toward specialized functional rope nets, including weed control nets, deep-sea cage nets and high-performance polymer drag nets. To propel the rope and net industry toward cutting-edge advancements, the town will develop more cooperative relationships between businesses and research institutions, said Li Peng, Party secretary of the town.