#ITM 2018

2018-04-25

Getting close to the Turkish market

Greatly demanded fabrics and machines – KARL MAYER’s stand at ITM 2018 in Istanbul © 2018 KARL MAYER

Turkey is one of KARL MAYER’s most important markets; accordingly well prepared was the company when travelling to the country’s leading trade fair in the field, the ITM. From 14. to 17. April 2018, the world market leader presented itself in Istanbul on a newly designed booth and with contributions that met the market demand precisely and completely.

No trend was forgotten. So, the machines and technology presentations for the denim warp preparation sector and for the HKS machine range were just as densely surrounded as the decoration islands for displaying selected textile developments for different applications. „Especially the terry topic attracted the customers‘ attention“, said Oliver Mathews, the Sales Director of KARL MAYER’s Business Unit Warp Knitting.

But also the stylish articles for the fashion sector were on everyone's lips, and hands. „The visitors looked at the various garments, they reached for the fabrics, touched and examined them“, explained Gabriela Schellner, Head of Textile Product Development.

She was happy about the success of her fabric experience concept. She was, like the entire exhibition team, constantly in demand. Nearly 250 qualified discussions were conducted at the KARL MAYER exhibition stand, with customers from all over the world, but mainly from the host country and from Iran.

The conversations showed a very good mood within the line of business: „The willingness to invest among our existing customers is high“, said Bastian Fritsch, Senior Sales Manager of KARL MAYER’s Business Unit Warp Knitting. He met all his customers, and usually had intensive discussions about specific projects, with legitimate hopes for contract conclusions.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.