#Knitting & Hosiery

2013-01-10

SHIMA SEIKI constructs new WHOLEGARMENT factory

Private show commemorating the opening of FA3 factory.

In March of 2012 SHIMA SEIKI opened a state-of-the-art factory on company grounds at its headquarters in Wakayama, Japan. The new factory, named "FA3," is dedicated to the assembly of WHOLEGARMENT knitting machines.

FA3 is named for being the third factory to bear the designation "Factory Amenity," referring to the various features that help improve the environment for its workers, as well as for our future generations. Such features include:

Natural daylight in combination with inverter-controlled variable lighting and motion sensors achieves even lighting conditions throughout the factory, while conserving electrical consumption by 50 per cent.
1,000 solar panels produce a total output of 220kW. This addition brings SHIMA SEIKI's total solar electric generation capacity to 1,550kW—one of the highest outputs for a Japanese private enterprise.
Inverter-controlled air conditioning conserves energy by 35 per cent.
Truss-architecture allows thinner pillars to be spaced farther apart, resulting in a more spacious work environment using less construction materials.
Improved foundation techniques replace conventional post-and-beam structure for increased earthquake resistance.
Increased floor height, floodgate doors and retaining walls minimize tsunami damage.

A 650 square meter outdoor architectural textile canopy provides improved shipping conditions in foul weather.
All trees uprooted during construction of the new factory were transplanted to other locations on company grounds. SHIMA SEIKI therefore maintains its green area ratio of 30 per cent of total company grounds, for which the company was awarded the Outstanding Green Development Factory Award from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2007.

The factory has a total floorspace of over 2,400 square meters. It has a working capacity for 2,000 WHOLEGARMENT knitting machines annually, in anticipation of increased demand for the still-new technology that is continuously improving and steadily gaining a loyal following among SHIMA SEIKI customers. To commemorate the opening of the FA3 factory, SHIMA SEIKI held a private show featuring its latest line of WHOLEGARMENT knitting machines, using a portion of the factory floor as exhibit space.

SHIMA SEIKI to showcase flat knitting and digital design solutions at Egypt Stitch & Tex

Leading Japanese computerized flat knitting technologist SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its sales representative in Egypt, TTS (EL MASRIA FOR TRADE & TECHNICAL SERVICES), will participate in the upcoming 24th International Exhibition for Textile & Carpet Machineries, Printing Technologies and Accessories (Egypt Stitch & Tex) to be held in Cairo, Egypt this month.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).

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.

Dedicated car seat model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine unveiled

Leading Japanese textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, showed a special version of its P-CAM® R multi-ply computerized cutting machine dedicated to the production of car seats for the first time, at a private exhibition held over two days on Thursday, July 2nd and Friday, July 3rd at the Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center in Aichi Prefecture.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

RDJ 6/2 in E 32: Finesse in Motion

The appearance of sports and casual shoes is as diverse as their applications, ranging from sporty to stylish and from functional to fashionably practical. In particular, spacer fabrics produced on highly flexible KARL MAYER double needle bar raschel machines with Jacquard technology are in high demand for manufacturing these trendy shoes. These efficient production machines enable attractive designs with integrated multifunctional zones on one or both fabric surfaces, such as breathable mesh structures. Flexible in size and positioning, these features enhance both aesthetics and wearing comfort.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

Protective and outdoor clothing derives its durable water-, dirt- and oil- repellent properties from the application of fluorinated polymers or per- and polyfluorinated low-molecular- weight chemicals (PFCs). The beneficial properties thus achieved on textiles are offset by environmental and human health risks. For manufacturers of sports, medical, protective and automotive textiles, researchers at the Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. and the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research have developed liquid-applied dispersions and solutions to functionalise textiles without the use of fluorine.

VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board

At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years.

Rieter appoints Daniel Lippuner as new CEO as Thomas Oetterli steps down

Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective October 31, 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance program, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli.