#Knitting & Hosiery

2024-09-19

New experience world of the KARL MAYER GROUP in China, with focus on STOLL

Just in time for the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME, the KARL MAYER GROUP is inaugurating a new showroom at its Chinese location in Changzhou. The official opening will take place on 13 October and is a highlight of an in-house show at KARL MAYER (CHINA) accompanying the trade fair, which will run until 18 October.

KARL MAYER (CHINA) opens a new showroom especially for flat knitting customers from STOLL © 2024 KARL MAYER

An exclusive selection of textile highlights, trend themes and innovative solutions from all of the KARL MAYER GROUP's business units awaits visitors to the 480 m² showroom.

STOLL plays a particularly important role here.The flat knitting business unit has established its TexLab in the new showroom.

The central TexLab is a perfect place to share ideas and knowledge and to effectively support the industry. "We deliberately chose the showroom as the location for a single, large TexLab based at KARL MAYER (CHINA) instead of several smaller showrooms. This allows us to work closely with STOLL's research and production departments. Our customers benefit from a total experience from machine design to a final product," says Rene Ludvigsen, Chief of STOLL Sales & Product Asia. This gives customers one particular advantage: speed. In the Chinese market in particular, new materials, designs and sales concepts require maximum pace when it comes to adapting to new requirements and developing samples.

Demonstration room, technology centre and product laboratory for the flat knitting industry

The STOLL TexLab in the showroom is not just a presentation space, but also an experience centre. Customers can make contacts and develop concepts here, try out new yarns and develop innovative patterns together with STOLL application engineers. Close co-operation with yarn suppliers in China is also planned. The aim is to test new materials together and develop ideas for more market growth. "We already have several customers who send us yarn to produce patterns," says Rene Ludvigsen. Other target groups include designers to use our facilities to make live samples of of their designs, textile schools and universities in China and Asia, as well as visitors from all over the world.

The showroom offers an extensive repertoire of inspiring patterns, the expertise of skilled application and technology specialists and the entire range of STOLL machines for the various customer requirements. Just recently, a CMS 530 in the new gauge E20 was installed for the production of fine, high-quality flat knit articles.

In addition to the technical equipment, the experience value is just right. "The idea was clear from the start: we wanted to create an attractive, unique fashion concept shop," says Rene Ludvigsen. As soon as they walk in, customers feel welcome and invited to look at new designs, try out materials and be inspired. At the same time, machine and software solutions are demonstrated live and in a small café, the focus is on a relaxed chat with the experts.

Guests are very welcome

Numerous local customers are expected to attend the official inauguration on their way to ITMA ASIA + CITME in Shanghai. The trade fair is only 60 minutes away by train. Guests from all other technology areas of the KARL MAYER GROUP are also welcome to visit the showroom and find inspiration and ideas for their business.

The KARL MAYER GROUP is looking forward to numerous registrations at:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=wN-xQvoWVUme0yq53uw9Hp6EVE41oPtGtA5BADYEQ1BUMkdPQUZCSU5QT0RNNzQ2UEdPRFpLV1AyRS4u&route=shorturl

More information can be found on the STOLL website: https://www.stoll.com/en/

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.

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

SHIMA SEIKI to show complete knitting and cutting workflow at ITM 2026

Leading computerized flat knitting technology provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Turkish representative TETAS IC VE DIS TICARET A.S., will participate in the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye this month with a full product lineup. In addition to flat knitting machines and design software, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of SHIMA SEIKI textile machinery with its automatic cutting machine exhibit, all geared toward the fashion apparel market as well as non-apparel related businesses.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.