#Knitting & Hosiery

2026-04-30

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

Grand opening attracts strong international interest with 220 guests from across the textile industry

Ribbon cutting ceremony (from left to right): Karl Josef Mayer (representative of the Mayer family and Member of the Supervisory Board), Melanie Bergmann (Senior Manager Textile Innovation), Lutz Wolf (CEO), and Sascha Müller (Global Head of Textile Innovation) officially open the TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER © 2026 KARL MAYER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

“We believe in the value of textiles” – these were the words with which Karl Josef Mayer, a representative of the Mayer family and a member of the Supervisory Board, welcomed the guests to the joint celebrations.

“With the opening of our new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER we want to make a clear statement and send a strong signal to the entire textile industry worldwide that we at KARL MAYER believe in the value of textiles and that we are ready and willing to invest into the future of your business, the future of our industry and especially into all our ‘love for textiles’,” said Karl Josef Mayer.

Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER, echoed this sentiment, elaborating on the significance and objectives of this investment.

“This is a milestone. It is a commitment to our markets as well as to our further strategic development. This TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER is designed as a place where ideas come to life – a place for collaboration, for creativity and for market-relevant solutions. Our goal is simple: To create value together with you through open exchange, fresh thinking, and close cooperation in one shared space,” Lutz Wolf emphasised.

The breadth of these perspectives was on full display in the keynote by Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Lead Textile & Material Development Engineer at New Balance Athletics. The expert showcased impressive shoe innovations made possible by warp knitting technologies.

The TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen is part of something bigger. It is embedded in a global network, with additional centres in China and Japan. Each location has its own focus, is closely connected worldwide, and is simultaneously aligned with regional strengths and needs. They bring together the expertise of approximately 15 highly qualified experts in the fields of materials, processes, machine technology, and textile applications, who are available to partners worldwide.

During guided tours of the spacious, state-of-the-art facilities in Obertshausen, guests at the grand opening saw first-hand what the TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER has to offer. Across 5,000 square meters, the center offers a globally unique environment for rapid, application-oriented textile development – from the initial idea through prototyping to industrialization. State-of-the-art machinery, in-depth technical expertise, and a profound understanding of the market make the TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER a pivotal innovation platform for the industry.

State-of-the-Art machines: Bringing innovation to life

The TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER is the only facility in the industry to bring together the technology of Warp Knit, Warp Prep, and Technical Textiles under one roof as a fully integrated platform.

Using 14 state-of-the-art machines, customers and partners work together with KARL MAYER experts to develop new solutions, test ideas, and create market-ready prototypes. True to the motto “Driving WARP KNIT Inspiration”, here ideas are not just conceived, but actually brought to life.

TIC SHOWROOM: Textiles & applications

In a spacious showroom, visitors can explore – and touch – the full range of textile applications. Its curated display of textile materials and applications provides space for inspiration and fresh thinking – bridging the gap between vision, possibility and feasibility.

There is much to discover:

The latest samples from KARL MAYER’s textile product development range

Concept textiles and applications with real market potential

Trend collections straight from market scouting

The exhibits are clearly structured into tried-and-tested textile categories: Fashion & Apparel, Sports Textiles, Footwear, Home Textiles and Technical Textiles.

The grand opening placed a special spotlight on future-proof solutions for the workwear sector – from protective clothing to stylish items for the office.

INSPIRATION HUB: 90 years of textile expertise

Here, the past becomes a springboard for new ideas: KARL MAYER’s unique design library offers a window onto nearly nine decades of textile innovation.

The INSPIRATION HUB is thus a creative catalyst – a place where accumulated knowledge serves as the foundation for innovation.

KARL MAYER Academy: Expertise for professionals

The KARL MAYER Academy offers a structured range of training and learning opportunities – from machine training and workshops to hands-on learning programmes. The courses stand for sound expertise, the very highest quality and a clear focus on the demands of day-to-day production. Theory is not just taught here – it is put into practice.

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.

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.

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.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.

BICO BCF yarn delivers impressive performance in field testing

In a joint development project with other partners, Barmag and Object Carpet have successfully tested BICO BCF yarn in the carpet manufacturing process. The results show that this innovative yarn technology offers significant performance advantages and opens up new possibilities for recycling-oriented carpet constructions.