#Knitting & Hosiery

2024-10-10

Meeting of adidas, Tianhai Lace and KARL MAYER (CHINA) with multilateral benefits

The KARL MAYER GROUP supports its customers by providing solutions with added value in its business areas. In order to develop the innovations, it relies on close exchange along the supply chain. In mid-September, KARL MAYER (CHINA) welcomed its top customer for Lace and Raschel machines, Tianhai Lace, and the world-famous adidas brand in Changzhou.

The team of Adidas; Tianhai Lace and KARL MAYER at the meeting © 2024 KARL MAYER

New future chances through networking and partnerships

The meeting was aimed at dialogue across sectors of the supply chain. The purpose was to get to know each other even better and to discuss further opportunities for cooperation.

„A deep understanding of the requirements of our customers and end users helps us to focus our development work even more on the burning issues and work out solutions for them,” says Kong Zhen, General Manager of KARL MAYER (CHINA). Tianhai Lace welcomed the opportunity to involve its important supplier from the mechanical engineering sector to meet the major sports brand. adidas took the opportunity to get to know the manufacturer of the warp knitting machines which produce the component they are working on. Bob Wong, Sales Director of Tianhai Lace, had initiated the meeting.

Impressive modernity and attitude towards the customer

The KARL MAYER GROUP and Tianhai Lace have been working together since the 1990s. The influential lace manufacturer has invested in more than 200 KARL MAYER machines, mainly in Lace and Raschel machines, but also in some Tricot machines. It is one of the most successful and largest customers of KARL MAYER (CHINA), and also a VIP customer of the group.

The visit by Tianhai Lace and adidas was accordingly well prepared. In addition to Kong Zhen, the Product Owners of warp knitting machine groups, the responsible of the TexLab Liu Guantong as well as Rainer Müller, Vice President sales of Warp knitting Business Unit and his regional counterpart Xu ZiWei were on hand to look after the guests. A sales team headed by Bob Wong travelled from Tianhai Lace. The visitors from adidas including Materials Operations team led by Jacky Fu, Director Materials Operations North Asia, and a core team from the Creation Centre Shanghai (CCS).

The get-together began with a tour of the premesis, a company presentation and a preview of the new showroom as a highlight. The creative and competence centre will be officially opened on 13 October during an in-house show alongside ITMA ASIA + CITME. The guests were impressed by the modernity of the location, the variety of KARL MAYER warp knitting machine range, their wide spectrum of applications and, above all, the innovative strength of the KARL MAYER GROUP. “We feel very impressive on your mindset how you explore opportunities about the future technology,” explains Jacky Fu in conversation with Kong Zhen.

The group from adidas was also particularly interested in the opportunities offered by the compa-ny's own training centre. “Both CCS and Materials Operations team were impressed by the Karl Mayer Academy coz we think that it is a valuable chance to deep dive the textile world. Mini ma-chines and digital simulations are a good method to get on-site experience,” says Jacky Fu.

Conversation with benefits for all

The excursion into the world of the KARL MAYER GROUP was followed by a joint discussion on trends and development priorities in the warp knitting industry. The possibilities for strengthening the position of knitwear in the sportswear sector were also discussed. The hosts were particularly interested in the end users' comments on the requirements placed on the textiles. Tianhai Lace learnt more about its partner from the mechanical engineering sector. “We learnt a lot about KARL MAYER and warp knitting,” concluded Bob Wong. And adidas team also appreciated the exchange.

“I believe everyone got a certain takeaway, including the experience of the diverse and close relationship that KARL MAYER maintains with its customers. Your Academy in particular is impressive. KARL MAYER not only sells high-end machines, but also provides excellent services and support in developing new and more business,” Jacky Fu expressed his appreciation to Kong Zhen. In order to deepen the cooperation, adidas has proposed a follow-up visit to the adidas headquarters considering both companies were originated in Germany. “Talking to the advanced creation team may help you to understand the brand’s focus and request,” says Jacky Fu.

To hear the real pain points at development stage, he also recommends building and maintaining relationships with adidas' material development team through regular workshops.

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.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

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“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

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ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

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The textile industry in transition

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