#Knitting & Hosiery

2019-10-30

KARL MAYER and ILLIES expressed their thanks to customers in Vietnam with an exclusive event

KARL MAYER and ILLIES thank their customers for the good partnership with a festive dinner table. (c) 2019 KARL MAYER

The exchange of ideas and information during a relaxed gathering is a genuine appreciation, particularly in times of short text messages. For this reason, and in order to honor the loyalty of their clients, KARL MAYER and ILLIES invited globally leading textile industrialists and international investors of the Vietnamese textile industry to take part in a joint exclusive event which took place in Ho Chi Minh City on 11. October 2019.

Paying tribute to good partnerships

The invitation to this get-together met with a great response. Around 90 participants from 13 countries attended the festive meeting. Most of the guests came from Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan and China. And some of them even undertook the long journey from Europe. The internationality of the guests can be explained by the specific nature of the Vietnamese market. Especially in the last ten years, a lot of global players, mainly from Asia, invested in Vietnam, in order to benefit from the favourable manpower situation.

The Vietnamese textile industry 2018/19

With exports of 36.2 billion US dollars, 2018 was the most successful year for the Vietnamese textile and clothing industries. Considering the trade war between China and the USA, the year 2019 brought both chances and challenges for Vietnam. In the first six months, the export of the sector to the USA increased by 29%. The sales revenues in the US American market amounted to approx. 7 billion US dollars. This represents 46% of the total revenues. The country has high exports but low imports. To reduce the surplus, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Vietnamese products at the G 20 Summit in June 2019. Additional levies would have a great impact on the Vietnamese economy, because the USA is the most important market for this Asian country.

The local textile and clothing market is dominated by imports from China. International textile groups still set up subsidiaries and affiliated companies. Today, the value of foreign direct investments in the country’s textile industry exceeds 18 billion US dollars. This situation is also reflected by the warp-knitting sector.

Reliable partners

KARL MAYER and ILLIES have closely accompanied the development of the country to the world’s third largest exporter of textiles and apparel. KARL MAYER assists its clients with innovative textile machines, with technology know-how, competence in textile development and support in tapping market potential. This global player has already carried out more than 1,100 machine installations at more than 100 customers in the Vietnamese economic area.

"Together with our partner ILLIES Engineering Vietnam, we have a strong team that offers customers optimal support in the areas of machine sales, after-sales and service", explains Rainer Müller Sales Director Asia at KARL MAYER.

"Our goal is to make our customers successful. We are working hard to develop new, innovative products with a high level of customer benefit. Only recently at ITMA in Barcelona we presented innovative machines, textile developments and digital solutions, which should help our customers to create new products and open up new markets", stressed Arno Gärnter, KARL MAYER’s CEO, in his speech at the customer event.

Together with their customers, KARL MAYER and ILLIES raised their glasses to the successes obtained, and enjoyed an entertaining evening with long-time business partners and friends.

KARL MAYER opens a new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE – a new era of textile innovation begins

KARL MAYER is opening its new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE (TIC), sending a strong signal that it is driving textile innovation forward and opening up new perspectives for the textile industry. The TIC brings together the latest developments in Warp Knitting, Technical Textiles and Warp Preparation – KARL MAYER’s core areas of expertise.

Proven performance, optimised costs – the new RE 6 EL

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Huixing acquires insolvent Mayer & Cie.

Insolvency proceedings for the circular knitting and braiding machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. were opened on December 1, 2025. Immediately following the opening of proceedings, the complete cessation of business operations was initiated. Most employees were subsequently given notice effective the end of February 2026. The production of the remaining orders in the circular knitting segment is expected to be completed by the end of the month. As early as December 2025, Mayer & Cie.’s braiding machine division was sold to an Italian investor.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at GMMSA Expo India

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Terrot introduces T-Frame platform to redefine stability and flexibility in large-diameter circular knitting

Terrot Textilmaschinen GmbH has unveiled the new T-Frame, a universal machine frame platform for large-diameter circular knitting machines. Designed to meet growing demands for flexibility, stability, and operational safety, the T-Frame provides a next-generation foundation for both current and future industrial knitting machines, combining German engineering expertise with a modular, future-ready design approach.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.