#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-06-16

Two brands – one objective: Innovations for the creative process

Opening up a whole new world of pattern creation with significantly simplified development and accelerated programming – these are the benefits of CREATE, a new design software for flat knitted fabrics. And this makes CREATE another great contribution to the digitisation of the entire knitwear design and development process.

Synergies between STOLL and KM.ON for the benefit of customers

STOLL and KM.ON – two successful KARL MAYER Group brands – combined their expertise and creativity for the new offering CREATE to maximise the benefits for their customers. STOLL is a pioneer in flat knitting technology and brings unique process knowledge to its business, which results in perfect flat knitting solutions and excellent customer support. KM.ON is an agile specialist in innovative software products, as well as digital solutions and services for the textile industry.

CREATE belongs to the k.innovation category of KM.ON solutions that focus on an accelerated design-to-market workflow.

CREATE’s key features

With a well-thought-out shape and grading tool, CREATE offers the possibility to create shapes and to implement customised adaptations or size adjustments just as easily. An important part of the tool is a shape library with numerous presets.

For the creation of knitted fabrics, an integrated yarn library offers a first selection of standard and fancy yarns, that will be continuously updated. Additionally, there is the possibility to create your own yarns.

The software includes an extensive library with different stitch constructions that can be used for the design. Additionally, the customer can create own digital stitch constructions with simultaneous stitch simulation and to run technical design checks.

The virtual fabric views have a true-to-life imitation of the stitches and their distortions, which makes it possible to conceptualise and plan a collection with fewer or no physical sample pieces. With a colourway generator, different colour combinations can also be tried out.

Last but not least, the design program can be used as a basis for the knitting programme. Once a technician has completed various checks, the knitting process can then be started immediately.

More information about CREATE will be available on the KARL MAYER Group’s exhibition stand at ITMA ASIA + CITME, 12 to 16 June, A 35/Hall 4 at the NECC Shanghai and also on the STOLL website:

https://www.stoll.com/en/software/kinnovation-create/

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.