Core Insights - Liao Yuan City is recognized as the largest cotton sock production base in China, with an annual output of 3.5 billion pairs and a total annual output value of 12 billion yuan [1] - The sock industry in Liao Yuan is transitioning towards intelligent factories through mechanization, digitalization, and automation to achieve high-quality development [1][5] Industry Overview - Liao Yuan has a well-established sock industry, with 1,210 enterprises in the Northeast Sock Industry Park, including 299 manufacturing companies and 375 e-commerce firms [3] - The park has a complete industrial chain service system, providing support for raw material supply, manufacturing, research and development, and logistics [3] - The industry employs approximately 45,000 people, including over 4,000 university graduates starting their own businesses [3] Technological Advancements - Companies in the Northeast Sock Industry Park are increasingly adopting smart equipment, such as automatic sock machines, to enhance production efficiency [5][6] - The introduction of automatic sock machines has streamlined the production process, reducing time and errors, and improving product quality [6][7] - The goal is to upgrade to around 4,000 automatic machines, achieving fully digital production [7] Intellectual Property and Innovation - The Northeast Sock Industry Park holds 725 intellectual property rights, including 11 invention patents and 81 utility model patents [4] - Continuous investment in research and development is crucial for companies to remain competitive in the market [3][4] Brand Development - Liao Yuan's sock industry has registered 838 trademarks and aims to enhance brand recognition to escape low-price competition [8] - The collaboration with sports champions for brand endorsement has significantly improved market visibility and brand reputation [8] - "Liao Yuan Socks" has been recognized as a regional brand by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, marking a significant milestone in brand development [8] Future Goals - Liao Yuan aims to cultivate a national sock textile industry cluster, with plans to invest over 50 billion yuan by 2027 and over 100 billion yuan by 2030 [9] - The focus will be on expanding production scale, optimizing structure, strengthening brands, and enhancing cooperation within the industry [9]