#Knitting & Hosiery

2025-01-16

Top circular knitting company invests in tricot machines

Ekoten Textile, a company that stands as Europe’s most prestigious knitting manufacturer and Turkey's leading exporter of circular knit, expands technology spectrum with KARL MAYER.

Group picture: The Team from Ekoten with KARL MAYER Senior Sales Manager Bastian Fritsch (on the right) and trainer Gökhan Akyildiz (on the left) at the KARL MAYER Academy in Obertshausen © 2025 KARL MAYER

The leading industry player headquartered in Izmir, Turkey, operates with a fleet of 245 high-performance circular knitting machines. The daily production capacity is up to 40 tonnes of fabric,

The top-quality multifunctional fabrics impress with their exceptional comfort and sophisticated fabric construction and are supplied to the high-end fashion, sportswear, workwear, and outdoor apparel markets worldwide. Among the customers are leading international brands such as Decathlon, Lululemon, Banana Republic, Under Armour, Hugo Boss and Victoria's Secret.

Ekoten Textile's success is based on a forward-thinking vision, a dedicated, technical and design team and the use of cutting-edge technology. Just recently, Ekoten textile integrated KARL MAYER technology into its production capacities and launched a warp knitting division. The first tricot machines arrived in December 2024, with production scheduled to begin in January 2025 at a newly designed, state-of-the-art facility spanning 10,000 m².

Ekoten Textile continues to grow and diversify its technology spectrum with KARL MAYER

By entering the warp knitting sector with KARL MAYER machines Ekoten Textile continues to prioritize state-of-the-art production equipment to drive innovation and meet international demand, now with high-quality warp knits.

The company wants to offer all solutions from a single source to existing customers who use circular knitwear as well as warp-knitted fabrics. Furthermore, the company seeks to attract new clients, particularly in the activewear sector, which now accounts for 70% of total sales, surpassing the fashion industry.

Ekoten Textile can respond optimally to the growing demand for functional, technical and advanced activewear textiles with the HKS machines from KARL MAYER. The company is consolidating its position as industry leader and significantly expanding its innovation potential.

„ We create around 300 new fabric designs monthly for the fashion industry in particular. While circular knitting has been our strength, with nearly 400 projects realized through our R&D center, warp knitting opens up exciting opportunities for us,“ highlights Bilge Cinar, development executive at Ekoten, the company’s innovative spirit.

The step into warp knitting was the result of years of intensive discussions over detailed requirements and technological innovations.

“We discussed many product-specific aspects and impressed with our expertise,” says Bastian Fritsch, Senior Sales Manager of the warp knitting business unit at KARL MAYER.

Ekoten warp knitting manager, Lütfi Kantarcioglu, responsible for establishing the new facility, highlighted the alignment between the two companies: "With its global infrastructure, KARL MAYER offers Ekoten Textile more than just high-performance machines. The company provides a comprehensive support system, including a local spare parts supply and service team, access to skilled product developers and sales managers, and essential know-how for integrating warp knitting into Ekoten’s production processes. "

To ensure a smooth transition, a four-person Ekoten team underwent intensive training in October and November 2024 on the KARL MAYER Academies in Bursa, Turkey, and at the KARL MAYER headquarters in Obertshausen, Germany.

Ekoten’s warp knitted fabrics will debut at the Première Vision in Paris in September 2025, followed by appearances during the PERFORMANCE DAYS in Munich and at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its journey of sustainability and innovation. If all goes as planned, Ekoten Textile intends to expand its warp knitting capacity, mirroring its successful strategy in the circular knitting sector. The company's aim is to establish itself as the market leader in warp knitting as well.

More Jacquard. More functionality. More fashion.

With the addition of another member to its successful RASCHELTRONIC® family, KARL MAYER is opening up new possibilities for creative product development for warp knitting mills and brands. The RJ 4/2 EL offers with two stitch-forming Jacquard bars entirely new design options for functional sportswear and bi-elastic lingerie. Available in gauges E 28 and E 32, this new model helps manufacturers set their collections apart from the competition. The fine E-32 gauges, in particular, impress with their clean surface, a pleasantly soft feel, and an exceptionally elegant look.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

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.

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.

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.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

C&S strengthens its governance to support its evolution

C&S announces the appointment of Marco Lucietti to its Board of Directors. With extensive international experience across the textile and denim industries, Lucietti will work alongside CEO Federico Corneli, contributing to the company’s managerial development, organizational structure and long-term strategic direction.