History

1954
Successfully designed and installed its own single colour printing machine.

1956
CDW expanded into new premises with a total floor area of 40,000 square feet, having increased output fourfold, installing a six-colour roller printer and continuous dyeing range. It also formed an engraving department and a design studio.

1957
CDW was the first company in South-east Asia to be granted a license to use the "Sanforized" process.

1959
CDW installed the first automatic flat screen-printing machine in Hong Kong and later added Schreiner calenders and raising machines. It formed its first joint venture with two Japanese companies - Nisshin Spinning Company Ltd. and Nichimen Co. Ltd. - to produce yarn and fabrics.

1964
United Nigerian Textiles Ltd. (UNTL) in Kaduna, Nigeria became the first overseas operation for the newly established Cha Group. CDW set up 'New Territories Textiles Ltd' to process blended fabrics.

1966
UNTL acquired Zamfara Textile Industries Ltd. in Gusau.

1967
Spinning and weaving facilities were added in Kaduna to produce grey cloth from local cotton sources.

1968
Cosmopolitan Textile Company Ltd. (Cosmo) in Winsford, UK was the Group's first foray into nonwovens doing stitchbonding

1971
The Group established one of its largest textile plant, Nichemtex Industries Ltd. (NCTX), located in Ikorodu, Lagos in Nigeria.

1973
Castle Industries Ltd. was established in Isle of Man, UK, to do heat transfer printing.

1977
UNTL became publicly listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

1978
A new vertically integrated factory, Funtua Textiles Ltd. was established in Funtua, and began operations.

1979
Filament Fiber Technologies Inc. (FFT) was founded, making polyproylene yarn.

1980
UNTL acquired the Kaduna plants operated by UK-based Norspin and a subsidiary company - Unitex Ltd. - was established.

1983
Supertex Ltd. was established in Kaduna next to UNTL.

1988
CDW was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as CDW Industries, Ltd.

1989
HDK Industries Inc. (HDK) in Tennessee joined the Group, adding powder-bonding technology to its portfolio.

1990
Ledatec Ltd. in Blackburn, UK was established, making needlepunched products.

1992
A Brunschweiler & Company Ltd. (ABC) in Hyde, became part of the Cha Group.

1993
CDW's new 48,000 sq. metres factory was opened in Yuen Long, Hong Kong. It was the largest floor area ever constructed in Hong Kong for a single manufacturing company.

1994
One of the Group's first China ventures - Hai Xin Textile Co. Ltd. - was established in Haining, Zhejiang province.
HDK expanded to South Carolina, USA and became the sole supplier of powder-bonded fabrics in the world.

1995
Castle Industries expanded to the U.S. with the setup of Castle Industries LLC.
Cosmo Hong Kong Ltd. began operations in China and Hong Kong, making stitchbonded nonwovens.

1996
A spinning and weaving operation in Changzhou, Jiangsu province - Mingly Textiles (Changzhou) Ltd. - was established.
Cosmo acquired Fybagrate Ltd. in Leeds, also doing needlepunching. Cosmo entered the automotive business as a interior trim supplier.
Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc. (FIT) in Tennessee, USA was established, specializing in bicomponent staple fibers.

1998
Castle Industries entered the new field of digital printing in both the U.K. and the U.S.

1999
U.S. needlepunching operations were added with the acquisition of Globetec Inc., in Maryland.

2000
A fully integrated mill was acquired and a new company - Hangzhou Yimian Ltd. - was founded.
Haining Textiles Allied Industries Co. Ltd. in Haining, China was established, making stitchbonded fabrics.

2001
UNTL & Nichemtex merged to form United Nigerian Textiles PLC.
FIT added bicomponent filament yarn capabilities.
HongKong Hi-Tec Enterprises Ltd. was founded as a reseach center, initially making thermoplastic polyurethane chips, filament and tape.
Haining Xin Gao Fibres Ltd., in Haining, China was established, making spandex.

2003
Maver Hong Kong Ltd. was formed as a joint venture with Maver Srl., an Italian leader in digital printing.

2004
FFT was merged into FIT.