State-of-the-art machines for China

KARL MAYER MALIMO was showing a functional double blind made from a warp-knitted textile with an inserted magazine weft, as well as composite stitch-bonded fabrics. These latest developments were being shown on a modern stand featuring sunken textile areas with decorative islands in-between and were extremely impressive. As soon as the fair opened, KARL MAYER’s stand became the first port of call for everyone interested in warp knitting and warp preparation. Most of the visitors came from China, followed by India, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam (in descending order). But interested visitors from Turkey, Sri Lanka and Germany also attended the fair.

Tricot and raschel machines

During the fair, the TM 4 EL was producing a plain shoe fabric with directly integrated, filet openings, which were repeated in accordance with the pattern. This stylish yet functional design was the target of numerous enquiries, some of which came from manufacturers operating in the automotive sector.

In addition to its flexibility, other impressive features of the TM 4 EL include its high speed (this new machine can reach a speed of up to 1,400 min-1), its excellent product quality and its attractive price. Equipped with EL drive for controlling the pattern bars, this machine offers an attractive price:performance ratio and is an economical solution for producing warp-knitted fabrics with long pattern repeats. It can be used efficiently both as a sample and a production machine. “The new TM 4 EL was well received by our customers, who saw it as an economical, high-tech machine,” said Armin Alber, the sales director at KARL MAYER (China) Ltd. Several machines were sold in the run-up to the fair and a number of projects initiated.

The market welcomed the addition of a four-bar machine for producing plain fabrics to the TM machine series – a similar philosophy to the HKS machines. The tricot machine with four guide bars was designed to produce terry fabrics. The tried-and-tested TM 4-T EL was showing all its features at ShanghaiTex in a high-performance demonstration that was watched by a large number of people.

A completely revamped HKS 2-SE was setting new speed standards in high-speed tricot machines for producing stretch fabrics. This high-speed machine operates at a normal speed of up to 4,400 min-1 and was even reaching a speed of 4,500 min-1 during the fair. Even at this unparalled speed, the stable running conditions of the HKS 2-SE were impressive, so that hoards of people were always crowding around this machine. The machine on show was sold a long time before the ShanghaiTex fair even opened.

KARL MAYER was also showing an innovative double-bar raschel machine in the shape of the RD 7/2-12 EL. This member of the RD series was producing a spacer textile with a zigzag pattern and the visitors were impressed by the high quality of the product. With its extensive design possibilities, the RD 7/2-12 EL can cater for the growing trend for producing spacer textiles with patterned surfaces. Many of the enquires came from manufacturers in the automotive sector.

Lace raschel machines

Lace manufacturers definitely got their money’s worth out of the fair in the shape of the new MJ 42/1 B. The technology of this new machine is based on the same principles at the ML machine series, and the range of products it produces is similar to those produced on the JL machines. The MJ 42/1 B was producing stretch lace bands in a gauge of E 24 in Shanghai. With its speed of up to 900 min-1 and its high operating reliability, this solid machine, which features KARL MAYER’s tried-and-tested quality engineering, was definitely attracting attention. This machine, with its exceptional price:peformance ratio, is an attractive proposition for the low-bar segment. In addition to the MJ 42/1 B being shown, the MJ 59/1 B also belongs to the new MJ series. The machine at the fair was partially equipped with KARL MAYER’s tried-and-test Positive Patternbeam Drive (PPD). This active pattern beam drive guarantees accurate feeding-in of different amounts of yarn, even at high operating speeds, and was thus one of the special features that attracted the attention of the visitors.

Warp preparation technology

The DSE 21/21 EC impressed the visitors at ShanghaiTex as a solid, functional machine with an excellent price:performance ratio. The open design of the roller unit went down particularly well with the visitors. This new design improves access to the machine components and simplifies handling when dealing with yarn breakages and pattern changes.
The size box on display and the Accutense yarn tensioner also attracted a large number of enquiries. Many of the visitors were particularly interested in processing technical yarns.

All in all, the feedback from ShanghaiTex was extremely positive for the Warp Preparation Business Unit. “We had many consultations. In some cases, people just wanted information but some conversations resulted in specific projects,” explained the sales manager, Oliver Posselt. “What is more, all our important clients from China and the neighbouring countries attended, so that we have been able to strengthen our existing contacts there. This was particularly important for our new colleagues.”

Technical textiles

The Technical Textiles Business Unit was showing a selection of innovative textiles that had been produced on KARL MAYER MALIMO’s machines. The products on display included a double blind with alternating segments of open and dense areas – the result of using the weft repeating function on a raschel machine with magazine weft insertion. This sun-screening system attracted the attention of numerous manufacturers of shading solutions for the home and agricultural sector. This business unit was also using a geomodel to demonstrate the principles of a coarse grid/web construction for reinforcing slopes. A top with a burnt-out look produced on a high-speed tricot machine with magazine weft insertion was also catering for the theme of “fashion”. Hagen Lotzmann was extremely pleased with the feedback on all the exhibits. This sales manager went on to say: “Many of our Chinese customers paid us a visit, including many manufacturers of interlinings for the clothing sector. The conversations we had with them showed that they were on the lookout for new machines for their existing plants.” For example, expanding their production range will open up new fashion prospects on the net curtain market.