Over the past 30 years, more than 7000 layered vessels using at-ribbon-wound cylindrical shells have been manufactured in the People's Republic of China. Theoretical as well as experimental investigations show that there are distinct economical and engineering advantages when using such vessels. The vessel provides the industry with a competitive design suitable for use in the oil refining, chemical and petrochemical fields. The present state of art in strength, design method and some related areas of development of such vessels are described.