#ITMA Asia + CITME 2020

2021-03-18

High-tech solutions for the textile industry in Asia

KARL MAYER will once again be presenting itself as a pioneer of digitalisation at ITMA ASIA + CITME, located in Hall 4, Stand A 32. The innovative market leader offers innovative digital solutions for all its machine segments, enabling customers to benefit from unprecedented flexibility, efficiency and, above all, independence.

These digital trendsetting offers will be the focus for each of the three powerful brands in the expanding Group: KARL MAYER, KM.ON and – most recently – STOLL. For the first time in Asia, KARL MAYER will be exhibiting machines with the highest market relevance for both warp knitting and flat knitting. "The upcoming ITMA ASIA+CITME is a very special trade show for us in two respects. After a long pause in face to face communicaton, we are looking forward to exchanging ideas with our customers in person again in China, our most important market. In addition, this is our first trade fair appearance together with STOLL. Visitors from both the warp knitting and flat knitting sectors, as well as from the warp preparation and technical textiles sectors, will be able to find out all about the opportunities for new business, stronger market positions and optimized production processes," said Arno Gärtner, CEO of the KARL MAYER Group.

On show at the exhibition stand will be an HKS, two machines from the ADF family and a new flat knitting machine for the volume market. All models offer unique possibilities thanks to digital features that keep the customer one step ahead when it comes to modern production processes. For visitors from the field of weaving, KARL MAYER will be exhibiting the ISODIRECT beam warping machine with an excellent price-performance ratio.

KARL MAYER founded KM.ON to develop pioneering digital products. The company’s own software start-up made its first major market appearance at ITMA ASIA + CTME in 2018, and this time round, it will showcase new and enhanced digital solutions that are highly effective in helping customers do business.

The possibilities afforded by digitalisation are also a pillar of Care Solutions, KARL MAYER’s new concept for an even more comprehensive, focused and solution-oriented after-sales service. The SPARE PARTS WEBSHOP is part of this. The procurement tool is already well established on the market and can now also be used to procure electronic lapping data. The SwapKnit 36 and SwapKnit 36 Flat have been developed for this purpose and will be presented at ITMA ASIA + CITME.

In addition, an exclusive textile and application demonstration on the KARL MAYER stand will open up new market opportunities for visitors. Highlights include high-performance geotextiles and construction textiles for manufacturers of technical textiles, on-trend warp knitted fabrics for brands and fabric producers from the sportswear, underwear and fashion sectors, and denim fabrics through which KARL MAYER demonstrates its strength in indigo dyeing.

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.

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.

YKK develops concept EXCELLA® zipper tape using nonwoven fabric partially derived from used clothing

YKK Corporation has developed a concept version of its premium EXCELLA® zipper series made from nonwoven fabric sheets created by fiberizing used clothing and other textile materials. Based on a proposal by fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, this item was created as a result of collaboration between Nakazato, Seiko Epson Corporation and YKK. The concept zipper was incorporated as a material component for pieces in the newest YUIMA NAKAZATO Couture Collection, “INFERNO,” which was unveiled in Paris, France on July 8, 2026.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.

Dedicated car seat model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine unveiled

Leading Japanese textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, showed a special version of its P-CAM® R multi-ply computerized cutting machine dedicated to the production of car seats for the first time, at a private exhibition held over two days on Thursday, July 2nd and Friday, July 3rd at the Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center in Aichi Prefecture.

ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.