#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-04-22

New platform for the ISOWARP in India

New KARL MAYER demo centre for sectional warping machine produced in Ahmedabad, India.

In spring 2015, KARL MAYER’s warp preparation customers in India had two highlights to look forward to: the global player celebrated the start of production at its new plant in Ahmedabad by launching its new ISOWARP sectional warping machine at the same time. A few years later, the state-of-the-art factory run by KARL MAYER Textile Machinery India Private Ltd. took over the construction of the ISOWARP for the domestic market. Being “Make in India” facilitates the shortest possible delivery times, the highest availability of spare parts and the best service quality, and is combined with all the design, quality assurance and product management expertise that the entire KARL MAYER Group has to offer. Key component parts also come from the European network to ensure the highest product quality.

The first two models were delivered to Rajapalayam Mills Ltd. in 2019 and are performing well there. “These machines are working at highest production and produce high quality warp beams, enabling the successful performance of our weaving machines. The KARL MAYER ISOWARP made in India is real value for money and is on par with the machines made in Germany,” says Mr Mohana Rengan, the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

This year, the innovative machine is once again playing an important role. In spring 2021, a demo centre featuring the ISOWARP as its centrepiece is set to open at KARL MAYER’s Indian site in Ahmedabad. Here, customers will be wowed by the performance of the warp preparation system and can carry out specific processing tests.

High flexibility plus product quality

The ISOWARP sectional warping machine complements the premium PROWARP® version as a model suitable for the commodity market. Since its launch, it has been continuously adapted together with the associated GH creel in terms of structure and complexity to meet local conditions and diverse customer requirements. Nowadays, a complete family of machines is on offer. The main additions are versions offering new working widths and performance characteristics relating to beaming tensioning and warping speed, for example, which open up completely new applications. Initially designed for shirt production, the ISOWARP can now also be used for household textiles and terry cloths, and for processing filament yarns, among others.

The ISOWARP impresses with its efficiency and quality across all applications. Warp preparation productivity can be significantly increased compared to equipment using conventional counterparts. The quality of the warp beams meets the same high standards as all KARL MAYER machines. It enables an efficiency increase in the weaving mill of 2 to 6%, and is particularly based on high-precision band structure control, which is managed by state-of-the-art software.

What’s more, the ISOWARP requires almost no maintenance and only a few spare parts.

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

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

“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

SHIMA SEIKI to show complete knitting and cutting workflow at ITM 2026

Leading computerized flat knitting technology provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Turkish representative TETAS IC VE DIS TICARET A.S., will participate in the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye this month with a full product lineup. In addition to flat knitting machines and design software, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of SHIMA SEIKI textile machinery with its automatic cutting machine exhibit, all geared toward the fashion apparel market as well as non-apparel related businesses.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.