#ITMA Asia + CITME 2024

2024-11-07

Convincing presentation, intensive discussions, agreed projects

Kong Zhen, General Manager of KARL MAYER (CHINA), summarizes the presentation of the KARL MAYER GROUP at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024.

Kong Zhen, General Manager of KARL MAYER (CHINA © 2024 KARL MAYER

Given the difficult situation in the global textile industry, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 in Shanghai was a trade fair full of expectations for many international companies, including the KARL MAYER GROUP. The leading manufacturer of textile machinery focused its exhibition on the changes and transformations in its customers' business. Under the motto “Master the Change”, it showcased solutions from all its business areas that can be used to exploit the opportunities arising from the challenges of our time. Ulrike Schlenker, my TEXTEIL NEWS editor, spoke to Kong Zhen, General Manager of KARL MAYER (CHINA), to find out how the diverse presentation was received by visitors.

US: Let's take a look at the statistics first. What do you have to say about the number of visitors? Which countries did the guests mainly come from?

KZ: We are generally satisfied with the number of guests. At our stand in the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, we welcomed over 800 visitors with specific inquiries, significantly more than at the trade fairs that took place during the coronavirus pandemic. As expected, most guests came from China. A considerable number also came from India and Turkey.

US: In your opinion, what were the crowd pullers at the KARL MAYER GROUP stand and why? What was convincing about the exhibits?

KZ: We are an innovation leader in the global textile machinery industry. Our visitors therefore always come with great expectations, which we were able to meet at this year's trade fair with a diverse exhibition program featuring the latest developments in textile machinery, textile products and their applications, digital solutions and services. The complete package with a strong market focus was very well received. The guests received a lot of valuable information and impulses for more successful production and the development of new business. One of the top exhibits was certainly the sun protection clothing presented. The comfortable outdoor outfits were made from a tricot fabric from an HKS 2-S in the new fineness E44, which impressed with its performance. Thanks to its high fineness and sophisticated design, the silky fabric offers an unrivalled UV protection factor, an extremely soft feel and a low weight per unit area.

The CMS 503 ki L in E18 was a real highlight for the guests from the flat knitting industry with its unique productivity and unlimited pattern variety for a wide range of full-fashion applications. The reliable flat knitting machine with its fine gauge produced a ladies' scarf with a filigree lace-like design that impressed visitors at the trade fair. Among the digital solutions from KM.ON, the design software CREATE DESIGN and the programming software CREATE PLUS were particularly impressive with their ability to speed up the design and development process for flat knitwear. The manufacturers from the warp preparation sector could not get past our new WARPDIRECT. The latest generation warping machine scores with an extremely high warping speed and quality with the shortest amortization time. In addition, the beams produced are of the highest quality.

Discussions. at KARL MAYER booth at ITMA ASIA 2024 © 2024 KARL MAYER

US: There were certainly many discussions about all these innovations. How would you rate the overall quality of the exchange at your stand?

KZ: We are even more satisfied with the intensity and content of the discussions during ITMA ASIA + CITME than with the quantity. We had in-depth professional discussions with many leading companies from different application areas and markets. The insights we gained from these show us a clear direction for our further research and development work. In addition, we were able to sign several important contracts in the course of the trade fair, which not only concern the traditional machine business, but also some new developments. We are sensing a slow return of confidence in the market, particularly as a result of a package of subsidy programs published at the end of September. We hope that this confidence will last.

US: Are we sticking to the suggestions from the discussions for further developments? What is the general direction of the journey in your business areas?

KZ: The global textile industry is and will remain dynamic and unpredictable with its ups and downs, but we are on the right track. This was shown once again at this year's ITMA ASIA + CITME. We proved that, together with our customers, we can rise to the most diverse challenges and master them with innovative technology, high-performance machines and comprehensive support. We will continue on this course. No matter how the market grows, how tough the competition is, how much the order situation fluctuates, we will continue to focus on just one thing: developing solutions that enable our customers to operate flexibly, sustainably and profitably and master the changes of our time.

US: Thank you for the interesting conversation.

Proven performance, optimised costs – the new RE 6 EL

Nowadays textile companies increasingly need to produce small production runs and respond to market changes with instantaneous pattern changes in order to operate profitably – meaning they require machines that offer maximum flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency. KARL MAYER understands the challenges of the market and is launching its new RE 6 EL. The Raschel machine offers the core strengths of the classic RSE 6 EL and essentially the same performance parameters, but has been further cost-optimised largely due to local production advantages. This makes the newcomer an efficiency champion in production, especially when it comes to frequent pattern changes.

The newcomers HKS 3-M EL ECO and HKS 4-M EL ECO set new standards in the tricot market

Short development cycles, frequent pattern changes, and maximum efficiency – even with small batch sizes: Today's global fashion and apparel market demands more flexibility than ever before. High-performance warp knitting machines with compound needles (HKS) and EL pattern drive are KARL MAYER's answer to this challenge.

KARL MAYER celebrates 35 years of EL pattern drive

KARL MAYER is celebrating an anniversary this year: on 30 November 1990, the first warp knitting machine with electronic guide bar control, the KS 4 EL, was delivered – another milestone for patterning. As early as 1980, the SU gearbox with the MRS42SU had initiated the transition from mechanical chains to digital data.

Innovations for warp preparation at the cutting edge

At ITMA ASIA + CITME in October, KARL MAYER presented solutions for lower production costs and environmental impact and greater efficiency in the warp preparation sector. After the trade fair, the company can draw a positive conclusion, both in terms of the number of visitors and the quality of the discussions.

KARL MAYER Technische Textilien at ITMA ASIA + CITME - a presentation that opens up many opportunities

During ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, KARL MAYER presented “Master the Change” solutions for numerous areas of the textile industry, including the technical textiles segment. At its stand in the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center, the global player showed how the non-crimp fabrics from its highly productive composite machines can be used to exploit promising sales potential with lightweight construction applications.

Successful warp knitting machines and textile show to master the changes of our time

Warp knitting companies in Asia are also facing fundamental changes and challenges considering the tense global economic and geopolitical situation. During ITMA ASIA + CITME in October 2024, KARL MAYER showed how these can be mastered: with innovations that are primarily aimed at greater profitability, flexibility and sustainability.

Successful at ITMA Asia 2024 - Saurer's technology highlights

At ITMA Asia 2024, Saurer's new products were very popular and in the focus of visitor interest. Investment in new equipment seems to be on the rise and Saurer was positively surprised by the number and quality of visitors as well as the deals closed during the exhibition. Overall, visitors showed great interest in all the Saurer innovations designed to contribute to the future of textile technology and yarn production.

PERFORMANCE DAYS: Focus topic shifts to the beginning of the value chain

Following the last Focus Topic in October 2025, which placed Textile-to-Textile Recycling at its core, PERFORMANCE DAYS continues to drive the conversation around circularity – this time with an expanded and more upstream perspective. The upcoming Focus Topic, “Textile to Textile: The Role of Collectors and Sorters,” presented during the spring edition on March 18–19, will spotlight one of the most essential yet often overlooked components of a functioning circular textile system: the efficient collection and sorting of post-consumer textiles.

European business associations celebrate the signature of the EU-Mercosur FTA

The 17th January marks a historic milestone with the signing of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, creating the biggest trading block in the world. European business – represented by more than 28 associations across a wide range of sectors – warmly welcomes this signature. It sends a strong and timely signal that the EU remains open and is committed to rules-based global trade. In a time of global uncertainty, this agreement is a key growth booster.