Travelling on new markets with KARL MAYER

Many existing clients came to discuss projects, customer trials and machine purchases, and some sales contracts were even signed. The company also made some important new contacts. “Techtextil is a fantastic fair in terms of sales,” affirmed Bastian Fritsch, KARL MAYER’s Senior Sales Manager. “Many new clients came to visit our stand, including manufacturers from other technology sectors and the clothing industry, who are looking for new end-uses in the field of semi-technical textiles, for example. Many of them already have some new ideas in mind, and are looking for partners to implement them. With our machines and know-how, we were able to help all of them.”

One indication of the trend towards diversification is the fact that many of his clients operating in the conventional warp knitting sector were also exhibiting themselves. Bastian Fritsch’s many visitors came from India and Turkey, the regions for which he is responsible. However, the majority of the visitors to KARL MAYER’ stand were Europeans.

The large number of visitors and their high level of interest confirmed the expectations of the fair of Jochen Schmidt, the Managing Director of KARL MAYER Technische Textilien GmbH. “The demand for technical textiles is continuing to grow.” In addition to the good economic situation, KARL MAYER’s stand, with its modern design and well-targeted show, accounted for the success of this machine manufacturer at the fair.

Connecting the business

Any company focusing on future issues definitely found what they were looking for on KARL MAYER’s stand at Techtextil which, for example, was featuring an impressive presentation of a future building material, textile-reinforced concrete. This composite enables lightweight, narrow concrete components to be produced using tough, carbon-fibre grids. The weft-inserted, warp-knitted textiles for the reinforcement are produced on KARL MAYER’s machines.

As an alternative to conventional steel reinforcements, which are liable to corrode, the warp-knitted structures are increasingly attracting the attention of the construction industry - and consequently the textile industry. “The demonstration of our expertise in the field of carbon concrete proved to be a real magnet for the public,” said Hagen Lotzmann.  Many manufacturers expressed a specific interest to operate in this sector. In addition to the products catering for the construction industry of the future, Jochen Schmidt said that he had had many discussions on conventional, warp-knitted technical textiles, especially geotextiles, coating/backing substrates, interlinings, and reinforcing textiles for plastic composites. Other important topics were warp-knitted spacer textiles, nets, automotive textiles, and functional textiles for the sports and athleisure sectors. “Functional textiles are still attractive,” said Markus Otte from KARL MAYER’s Textile Product Development Department.

Attracted by the various stylish individual pieces on show from current collections, many brand manufacturers came to visit the stand with some interesting questions. “Our stand is a huge meeting point and a source of inspiration for people with specialist knowledge. I had many in-depth technical discussions covering a whole raft of new ideas,” said this textile developer.

KARL MAYER’s machines and equipment for the technical textiles sector not only include warp knitting machines, but also warp preparation systems, particularly the OPT-O-MATIC manual sectional warping machine for use in the production of woven technical textiles, geogrids and coating/backing substrates, among others, the MULTITENS, a yarn tensioner that delivers flexibility and a reproducible quality and various creels. A special creel was sold to a French manufacturer at the show. Dieter Gager, the Sales Manager of the Warp Preparation Business Unit, who was delighted with the outcome of the fair, said that he had also held some specific negotiations regarding a project in India.

He also made a number of initial business contacts, had some informal chats, and exchanged some interesting ideas. Many of his clients need customised machine concepts to put their ideas into practice. And, in this case, KARL MAYER is on hand as a reliable partner. Once again, this Sales Manager saw the fair as a highly efficient networking platform. “Our suppliers and clients, as well as our clients’ customers were there, and took the time to come and talk to us,” he said.