#Knitting & Hosiery

2016-04-28

Warp-knitted mosquito nets help in the fight against malaria and the spread of the Zika virus

Some tiny insects are currently causing a great deal of concern, especially among pregnant women. The yellow-fever and tiger mosquitoes can pass on the zika virus and are suspected of causing microcephaly, a developmental disorder that affects unborn babies.

The results of the zika virus infection are miscarriages and babies born with small heads, who are likely to be severely mentally handicapped. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 33 countries had already been affected by the spread of this dangerous virus by February of this year, with Brazil and Colombia being the worst affected countries. Health experts have been studying female anopheles mosquitoes for some time. These transfer the malaria pathogens and are just as dangerous to humans. A child dies every 30 seconds from the tropical disease known as swamp fever or malaria. But malaria is also responsible for a high number of deaths among adults. This disease is prevalent in 106 countries globally and is a threat to more than half of the world’s population.

The WHO recommends that all the public health authorities worldwide use insect-proof nets having long-lasting insecticidal effects (LLINs) to reduce the incidence of malaria quickly and effectively. These fine-meshed textiles are the best method of prevention and are easy to use, effective and cheap. KARL MAYER’s warp-knitting machines can be used to efficiently produce these nets, which provide a high level of protection.

Mechanical and chemical protection The nets must have a specific construction to provide safe and reliable protection against mosquito bites. The required textile parameters include a defined number of mesh holes and this should be 156 holes/inch2 or 25 holes/cm2 when using polyester (PES) filament yarns. This value is recommended by the WHO and firstly, guarantees mechanical resistance to insect bites and secondly, ensures that there is adequate air circulation suitable for a tropical climate. Modern mosquito nets meet this requirement by having stitch densities of 8 to 10 holes/cm when using polyester multifilament yarns, depending on the construction. The textile nets must also have a specific strength, so that the mosquitoes cannot make holes in them. /1/

In addition to the mechanical protection provided by the textile construction, mosquito nets also provide chemical protection by treating them with a contact insecticide. The most frequently used pyrethroids are applied to the nets by a standard impregnation process or by long lasting impregnation (LLI). Products that have been treated by the standard impregnation process lose their effectiveness after six months and after every wash, and the insecticide has to be re-applied regularly. LLI mosquito nets, on the other hand, can be used for more than three years and washed up to twenty times.

High-precision production Warp-knitted mosquito nets are mainly produced on two-bar tricot machines, such as the TM 2 and HKS 2-M. KARL MAYER’s machines offer the best in terms of quality and productivity. The machines operate in gauges E 28 or E 32 when working polyester filament yarns. If polyethylene (HDPE) monofilament yarns are used, they are worked usually in gauge E 14, but slight variations above or below this are also feasible. The two types of yarns have different constructions and properties and also differ as to how they are used in conjunction with the insecticide. Whilst the warp-knitted polyester textile is impregnated with the chemical at the finishing stage, the agent is already present in the HDPE at the granulate stage.

Despite their high operating speeds, KARL MAYER’s tricot machines do not compromise on quality. The machines offer maximum precision and thus meet stringent requirements in terms of dimensional stability and uniformity of the mesh openings, tear resistance and weight per unit area. This attention to detail is definitely worth it, since any variations in the specified parameters can cost lives.

In addition to tricot machines, raschel machines having three guide bars can also be used to produce certain products.

/1/ Specifications for Netting Materials, Roll Back Malaria Cabinet Project, WHO, 2001

Fig. 1: Construction of a warp-knitted mosquito net

Fig. 2: Warp knitting elements of the TM 2

New business momentum for the Turkish warp knitting industry

Warp knitting companies can look forward to new opportunities for their business development when they visit the KARL MAYER stand at ITM. At the important trade fair in Istanbul, the industry leader will be presenting selected solutions to support customers in a market that is as important as it is difficult. The focus will be on flexibility and speed.

More Jacquard. More functionality. More fashion.

With the addition of another member to its successful RASCHELTRONIC® family, KARL MAYER is opening up new possibilities for creative product development for warp knitting mills and brands. The RJ 4/2 EL offers with two stitch-forming Jacquard bars entirely new design options for functional sportswear and bi-elastic lingerie. Available in gauges E 28 and E 32, this new model helps manufacturers set their collections apart from the competition. The fine E-32 gauges, in particular, impress with their clean surface, a pleasantly soft feel, and an exceptionally elegant look.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

C&S strengthens its governance to support its evolution

C&S announces the appointment of Marco Lucietti to its Board of Directors. With extensive international experience across the textile and denim industries, Lucietti will work alongside CEO Federico Corneli, contributing to the company’s managerial development, organizational structure and long-term strategic direction.