#Knitting & Hosiery

2020-02-28

KARL MAYER buys STOLL – a new strong brand in the KARL MAYER Group

From left to right: Jochen Franke (CFO, STOLL), Andreas Schellhammer (CEO, STOLL), Arno Gärtner (CEO, KARL MAYER), Dr. Helmut Preßl (CFO, KARL MAYER) (c) 2020 KARL MAYER

As part of its growth strategy, the KARL MAYER Group has concluded an agreement to acquire the STOLL Group. The contract was signed on 26 February 2020, and the STOLL Group is to be part of the KARL MAYER Group from 1 July 2020.

By acquiring STOLL, KARL MAYER is opening up additional technological growth potential and an innovative solutions portfolio in the flat knitting sector. STOLL is an international industry leader with approx. 1000 employees and offers innovative tools and services for the knitting of tomorrow.

KARL MAYER is an innovative market leader for solutions in Warp Knitting, Warp Preparation for Weaving and Technical Textiles, with over 2300 employees worldwide.

“The acquisition is an important step in our growth strategy and we are proud to welcome STOLL into our Group. STOLL is an internationally recognised brand in the textile industry and has comprehensive technological expertise and an experienced team in the knitting sector,” explains Arno Gärtner, CEO of the KARL MAYER Group.

With the acquisition, STOLL will become part of the global KARL MAYER Group, an independent family business. As a result, STOLL will benefit from the broad global positioning of KARL MAYER’s sales, service and production sites, and from the opportunities for joint development, such as in the field of digital solutions.

“This alliance brings together two very strong brands in textile machinery building whose solutions portfolios and regional presence complement each other brilliantly. This will enable us to expand and accelerate our innovation strategy in the areas of digitalization and technology, and strengthen our global presence. Our customers will be able to benefit directly from this and increase their competitiveness in the dynamically changing textile industry,” says Andreas Schellhammer, CEO of STOLL.

Both family-owned companies can look back on a long and successful company history, and at the same time prove themselves time and again as trendsetters. In their respective market segments, they represent innovation, quality, long-term orientation, reliability and comprehensive expertise.

The complementary product portfolios and an even greater regional presence in all relevant markets will create new, high-level expertise in the international textile market. KARL MAYER is thus the only company in the textile industry to offer industry-leading solutions for the two main stitch-forming processes: knitting and warp knitting.

The group of companies will thus be even more broadly positioned in the future with the business areas: Warp Knitting, Technical Textiles, Warp Preparation, Flat Knitting and Digital Solutions. Customers can be accompanied beyond the boundaries of technology.

The contract is an asset deal. The well-established STOLL brand will be continued unchanged within the Group. KARL MAYER is therefore not only expanding its portfolio, but is also strengthening its market position with the new brand.

“Our clients were always our focus when preparing the transaction. By becoming part of the KARL MAYER Group, customers will benefit from additional impetus for innovation, particularly with regard to overarching issues such as digitalization. There will be no change to the usual customer support and service,” the CEOs of both companies are keen to emphasize.

The new RJ 4/2 EL revolutionizes body mapping and expands creative possibilities – from smart lingerie to sporty athleisure designs

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.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

More Jacquard. More functionality. More fashion.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Shanghai showcases intelligent and sustainable manufacturing

From 20 to 24 November 2026, the textile machinery industry will gather in Shanghai for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, Asia’s leading business platform for textile machinery, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The exhibition will occupy seven halls, with a total gross exhibition area of about 180,000 square metres. The exhibition has expanded by 10% over the last edition which reflects the continued industry interest in the region.