#Knitting & Hosiery

2019-12-13

Rapid ordering of spare parts – it’s in your hands!

KARL MAYER is expanding its WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS platform in order to support its clients in their day-to-day operations even more effectively. With a number of new functions, this online ordering platform is now even more useful. This manufacturer is “beating the publicity drum” even harder – to disseminate more information about it. A new film was being premiered at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona, showing the webshop, together with its functions and advantages.

An upgrade of the WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS platform is on the starting line

The WEBSHOP was also celebrating a first for the warp preparation sector at this leading trade fair. It was being successfully presented to clients with all the existing functions, together with the web shops that have already been installed. Webshops for the KARL MAYER’s business units are also being presented at specific trade fairs. The Webshop for Technical Textiles was being promoted at the JEC World exhibition in March 2019, which generated a great deal of interest.

Extending the online procurement of spare parts for technical textiles

The WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS for Technical Textiles began on a small scale in 2017, and has been expanding gradually ever since. By the end of 2018/19, the range covered more than 3,200 items – so it was time for a relaunch. The ordering platform, with specific actions, was presented to a wide circle of customers and was very well received. The webshop for KARL MAYER Technische Textilien is now being used by customers from 13 countries. “We are extremely pleased, and we are increasingly expanding our spare parts business via our webshop,” said Jessica Schwabe from KARL MAYER Technische Textilien in July 2019. She found a new innovation, which was unveiled at ITMA, particularly useful: this was the setting up of the central access address, shop.karlmayer.com, which directs the user straight to the webshop that has been made available to him. Alternatively, he can select the webshop that he wants to use via a landing page.

An upgrade that increases efficiency

In the latest upgrade, the WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS has been extended by the ability to specify the delivery times. In addition to the standard delivery times, an additional display now also gives information on the current availability of selected items, as a function of the number of pieces required. This new function gives the customer optimum support when planning his requirements. The WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS for Warp Knitting also offers some new functions that go beyond the conventional procurement of spare parts. This extended feature relates to work on the machine operations of the customers on site. KARL MAYER has linked service packages for standard applications to meet the requirements of its customers.

The focus here is on the mechanical and electrical work, which can be booked via a contact at KARL MAYER. For example, if a customer is intending to change the gauge on his HKS machine, or if he is planning to update the software, he can obtain information on the type and extent of the work and which person to contact in the webshop under the heading of SERVICE Packages. In addition to the use of personnel on site, the package includes selected web seminars from the KARL MAYER online training programme. The cross-selling features have also been extended as part of the process for expanding the contents of the webshop. This now contains even more cross-references to the associated products.

k.maintenance iPhone X (c) 2019 KARL MAYER

Easy access and switching

To provide additional support, the procurement of spare parts has also been made more mobile. For example, the k.maintenance app from KM.ON allows direct access to the WEBSHOP SPARE PARTS. This practical app can also be used for the Scan-to- Order function for simple ordering, and the Check Parts function for quickly checking the authenticity of the spare parts. A special symbol in the delivery note enables a switch to be made easily from conventional ordering to online ordering. Every product shown in the document, together with its availability in the webshop, is marked by a shopping cart symbol. By specifying a code, subsequent orders can also be placed very easily using the Scan-to-Order function. This practical symbol will soon be transferred to other documents.

Maximising efficiency and halving loss

KARL MAYER has developed 2"-guide units with separable 1"-segments for maximum efficiency when threading the ground guide bars of its warp knitting machines. These long units reduce the time needed for rethreading the guide bars compared to the current 1"-types, and they eliminate the disadvantage of the current 2"-units in the event of any damage. Previously, the entire 2"-unit had to be changed if there was a defect in a guide, but now just the 1"-section with the defect can be removed easily and replaced separately.

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.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

ITM 2026: Mayer & Cie. Global presents itself successfully at international industry trade fair

Mayer & Cie. Global has used ITM 2026 in Istanbul for its first major international appearance since the restart. Together with the Turkish representative Mayer Mümessillik, the company presented its premium circular knitting machines "Made in Germany", explained its future positioning within the group of companies and held talks with customers and representatives from numerous markets. The response to the restart was positive. The clear orientation of the company, the reliable worldwide network of representatives and the resumption of service and spare parts supply were welcomed by customers.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

HKRITA signs MoU with Jeanologia and Looptworks to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem

The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) yesterday officially signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two key global partners, Jeanologia and Looptworks, to establish the Green Machine Circular Textile Ecosystem – a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate the large-scale recycling of blended textiles.