#Knitting & Hosiery

2025-03-11

KARL MAYER wins trademark dispute

KARL MAYER’s textile machines are renowned for their outstanding quality, efficiency and dependability, ensuring the high level of performance customers expect. As a global market leader, the company has registered trademarks for many of its innovative products, including PROWARP for its sectional warping machine in 2015, KARL MAYER PROSIZE for its sizing machine in 2012 and PRODYE for its indigo dyeing unit in 2018.

Strong defence secures the trademark rights for PROWARP, KARL MAYER PROSIZE and PRODYE © 2025 KARL MAYER

The strong reputation of KARL MAYER’s successful warp preparation brand family has led to copycat activity, prompting the company to take legal action in Turkey. After a lengthy court case, KARL MAYER ultimately prevailed when it was ruled that the competitors, Proteknik Tekstil San. ve D?s Tic. A.S. and Prosmh Makina Pazarlama Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, had exploited these trademarks for unfair gain. A cease-and-desist letter had failed to put an end to the ongoing infringement, but with effect from 12 December 2024, a regional court ruling upheld KARL MAYER’s case. This prohibits the commercial use of the contested terms in relation to the manufacture, sale, packaging, storage and distribution of competing machines. The restriction applies across the full scope of the trademark rights, covering Turkey as well as all online activities.

KARL MAYER’s perseverance has ultimately paid dividends.

“We invested a great deal of money and pursued legal action for nearly seven years to protect not only our proprietary technology, but also our customer and reputation,” explains Martin Fuhr, Head of Product Portfolio Management, Business Unit Warp Preparation at KARL MAYER.

Innovations worth protecting

Cutting-edge solutions designed for maximum customer benefit are central to the world market leader’s success. In the last year alone, two major innovations were introduced for the PROSIZE, including the CASCADE system, which lowers the sizing machine’s steam consumption by up to 7%. The Smart Size Box uses sensors and digital solutions to monitor the condition of wear components, making a valuable contribution to predictive maintenance. In addition, the size box ensures optimal sizing application, needs less size add-on - a saving of up to 10% can be achieved here - and the yarn is wound extremely gently onto the warp beams.

PROWARP with PROACTIVE Warping demonstrates how modern sensor technology and digital solutions transform quality into a real competitive edge. This cloud-based system ensures exceptionally high reproducibility of warping results, top-tier warp quality and unique benefits in the weaving process.

The innovative core of PRODYE is a specialised dyeing vat. Its optimised design allows for deeper indigo tones using fewer boxes and a reduced dye bath volume compared to conventional systems. An advanced circulation system and enclosed vat construction also reduce hydro and caustic soda consumption by up to 20%.

These are just some of the ways KARL MAYER is shaping the future of textile technology.

More patterns, less effort: the MULTI-MATIC® at Rohleder

Rohleder is one of Europe’s most modern weaving mills. For over 80 years, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing premium fabrics for brands, retailers and private customers – 100% Made in Germany. This success is made possible by a consistent focus on design, quality, and functionality, as well as by continuous investment in state-of-the-art production facilities. Rohleder also relies on innovative technologies in warp preparation and has been collaborating with KARL MAYER for many years. As recently as 2023, a MULTI-MATIC® was delivered to the company’s headquarters in Konradsreuth.

The new RJ 4/2 EL revolutionizes body mapping and expands creative possibilities – from smart lingerie to sporty athleisure designs

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.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Expansive innovations converge in Shanghai as Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 opens doors next week

With just days to go, industry enthusiasm is building for the opening of Yarn Expo Autumn, Asia’s premier yarn and fibre trade fair, running from 25 – 27 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Across 27,000 sqm in Hall 8.2, buyers will find nearly 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, spread across seven specialised zones that range from cutting-edge man-made and regenerated fibres to time-honoured cashmere and silk. Beyond the extensive sourcing options, a fringe programme of trend showcases, presentations and product launches rounds out the three¬day event with design, innovation and market intelligence.

DOMOTEX Southeast Asia 2026 - Building the Gateway to ASEAN's fast-growing flooring market

From 11–13 November 2026, the inaugural DOMOTEX Southeast Asia will take place at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre) in Bangkok, Thailand. Jointly organized by GLOBUS Events Limited and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd., with Worldex G.E.C. Co., Ltd. as the local partner, the exhibition marks the expansion of the internationally recognized DOMOTEX brand into Southeast Asia. As the newest addition to the global DOMOTEX portfolio, the exhibition has been developed specifically to serve the rapidly evolving ASEAN market, creating a dedicated business event for the flooring and interior finishing industry.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.