#Knitting & Hosiery

2020-05-28

Customer proximity despite social distancing

The KARL MAYER Academy goes online, in order to provide its customers with the necessary know-how, even in times of corona-caused travel restrictions. For the short-term start into the World Wide Web, the company’s own Qualification Center offers webinars lasting one hour and intended for not more than six to eight participants, because it relies on dialogue. „We don’t want any frontal teaching but interaction.

In this way, we can better answer individual questions and support the development of new ideas“, explains Robert Kuna who develops KARL MAYER’s e-training concept. Moreover, the course instructor hopes to get fresh impetus for webinar topics thanks to the close cooperation of all parties involved. In addition to basic knowledge of warp knitting, divided into small units, the clients should acquire special know-how that is meant to further support them in their market situation. Especially now, many warp knitting mills have enough time for the qualification of their employees.

The new webinar series was successfully started by Roland Bämpfer by mid-May 2020. Via video, the Indian customers received from this course instructor a detailed description of the possibilities of producing fabrics which are suitable for making everyday face masks. For many companies, the production of urgently needed sanitary articles represents an exception from the nationwide corona shutdown. Regarding the content of the online events, Roland Bämpfer says: „With the participants, I discuss different lapping techniques and suitable yarns for the commonly used tricot machines in India. In this way, everyone can produce those articles that are most suitable for his business.“

Further webinars are being prepared. More information about this issue, registrations and suggestions on topics can be obtained from the KARL MAYER Academy via its e-mail address academy@karlmayer.com.

In addition to the webinars with flexible content, from next year on, the company will also offer online training courses, to support the previous Academy courses with their permanent elements. The new offerings should contribute to increased efficiency in know-how transfer.

Navin Agrawal from KARL MAYER's agency A.T.E. in India attending the first KARL MAYER Academy webinar (c) 2020 KARL MAYER

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

KARL MAYER strengthens partnerships in the composites industry at JEC World 2026

KARL MAYER further strengthened its role as a reliable and competent partner to the composites industry at JEC World 2026. The global market leader in textile machinery manufacturing used the trade show to meet key customers, establish numerous new contacts, and engage in in-depth technical discussions.

Driving WARP KNIT Inspiration

KARL MAYER sees performance fabrics and next-level textile solutions in particular as potential growth drivers for its customers, as a motor for business development and as real game changers for the entire textile industry. Innovation does not happen by chance. It is the result of close exchange with customers & brands, textile expertise and competence in textile machine engineering. This is why KARL MAYER is investing in progress and collaborative development and opening its TEXTILE INNOVATION CEN-TER (TIC) – a place to be for the entire textile world.

KARL MAYER (China) celebrates its 30th anniversary

On February 6, KARL MAYER (China) celebrated the new year and its 30th anniversary. Employees and the management team at the Changzhou location, as well as representatives from management in Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong, were invited to the festivities. A special highlight was the visit by Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER.

Closing completed – Mayer & Cie. Global starts business operations

The future of the Mayer & Cie. brand has been secured: Following the successful completion of the purchase agreement for assets in the circular knitting machinery segment of the German traditional company Mayer & Cie., which was signed in February this year, the brand will continue to exist. The transfer of these assets to the new owner, Xu Hongjie, was formally completed yesterday afternoon. This clears the way for the resumption of business operations at the Albstadt site.

Shima Seiki showcases WHOLEGARMENT® and 3D knitting solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026

Leading textile technology solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will be participating in the Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany next month. On display will be WHOLEGARMENT® and other advanced three-dimensional knitting applications across a wide range of industries besides fashion apparel that are not typically associated with knitting, such as technical textiles using industrial materials and advanced three-dimensional knitting.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.