KARL MAYER looks back on a successful INDIA ITME 2016, held 03.-08.12.2016 in Mumbai This Sales Director of KARL MAYER’s Warp Knitting Business Unit was not only pleased with the number of visitors, but also with the positions they held within their companies. The visitors included a number of decision-makers. There was also a great deal of interest in warp knitting among large companies operating outside the sector. Specific projects were also discussed with some representatives of leading conglomerates. KARL MAYER’s exhibition team had just under 650 technical conversations, mainly with visitors from India. They paved the way for future business deals and outlined the details of a number of contracts at the fair. Tricot machines are opening up new avenues of production The tricot machines on show were sold at the fair itself. For producing warp knits, KARL MAYER was showcasing the fourth generation of the high-speed HKS 3-M, with its modern design, and the HKS 4-M EL machine, which is as versatile as it is productive. The four-bar, high-speed tricot machine was demonstrating the advantages of its EL control facility. This all-round machine was producing a light and airy apparel fabric with the look of an embroidered mesh ground and, in order to do this, was alternating between three different patterns. This new textile development from KARL MAYER impressed everyone. “Our customers were extremely interested in this new concept of combining an open structure resembling an embroidery-like ground with a superimposed pattern on a tricot machine,” explained KARL MAYER’s Senior Sales Manager, Bastian Fritsch, following the INDIA ITME fair. In addition to the production possibilities offered by the machines on show at the fair, equipping them with the LEO® system as standard was the subject of many conversations. LEO® is a well-thought-out technology for saving energy and costs. The topic of sustainable industrial production is becoming increasingly important in India. There were also many enquiries regarding the production of stretch raised fabrics, warp-knitted terry goods and velour. Bastian Fritsch was also able to set some relevant projects covering active wear and upholstery fabrics in motion. This sales expert also had some lively conversations with the visitors on the production of lace. “Many of our customers are looking for new products, technical upgrades or complementary systems for their existing machines,” said Bastian Fritz. For those visitors who were focusing on progress and innovation, a wide range of multibar lace featuring new bourdon cord designs and a variety of looks produced by block multi guides were available. Lace fabrics, either as stand-alone fabrics or else made-up into stylish outfits, invited people to come and touch them, develop new ideas and ask questions. The presentation of the new LACE.EXPRESS machine series proved to be a real magnet for the public. The first machine in this series, the OJ 59/1 B, with its exceptional cost:benefit ratio, has revolutionised the production of apparel lace, and has created quite a stir on the market since it was launched at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016.