#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-09-15

A gentle kiss on the skin

The restrictions on our freedom of movement due to the coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching consequences – including physical ones. Trousers no longer do up, skirts no longer fit perfectly and T-shirts stretch over stomachs. Those still keen to cut a good figure of course have the option of hitting the gym, but shaping underwear can also help.

New RASCHELTRONIC® fabrics with discrete shaping power to sculpt figures

Chic warp knitted textiles can be produced for this purpose on the RASCHELTRONIC® in particular. KARL MAYER’s product developers used the latest model of high-performance jacquard raschel machine – the RSJ 4/1EL, 195?, to create a new collection of on-trend items offering exceptional performance.

But the fashionable fabrics can also be produced on all other models of the RASCHELTRONIC® series. They feature a high-impact all-over pattern with subtle sculptural motifs, are soft to the touch, comfortable to wear and offer a gentle shaping function thanks to their particular stress-strain behaviour. Reason for the ideal lingerie properties are well-thought-out lapping and material combinations. For production, a textured polyamide high filament yarn and elastane were processed – the latter in a relatively high proportion and by means of a 2 needle overlap instead of the usual one by one lap.

This lends the fabric more strength and enhances the plastic effects of the pattern. What’s more, the elastane fixing in the textile structure is supported, thus improving the possibility to cut freely, and the fabric can easily be used without seams. Despite the two-needle-overlap, the fabrics are relatively lightweight: the surface weight is approx. 180 g/m².

The new RASCHELTRONIC® fabrics were presented to the public for the first time at ITMA ASIA + CITME in June 2021. At the launch, they attracted great interest and were the subject of numerous enquiries, some of which were highly targeted.

Driving WARP KNIT Inspiration

KARL MAYER sees performance fabrics and next-level textile solutions in particular as potential growth drivers for its customers, as a motor for business development and as real game changers for the entire textile industry. Innovation does not happen by chance. It is the result of close exchange with customers & brands, textile expertise and competence in textile machine engineering. This is why KARL MAYER is investing in progress and collaborative development and opening its TEXTILE INNOVATION CEN-TER (TIC) – a place to be for the entire textile world.

KARL MAYER (China) celebrates its 30th anniversary

On February 6, KARL MAYER (China) celebrated the new year and its 30th anniversary. Employees and the management team at the Changzhou location, as well as representatives from management in Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong, were invited to the festivities. A special highlight was the visit by Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER.

KARL MAYER at JEC: Multiaxial reinforced CFRP pultrusion profiles are picking up speed in the mobility sector

KARL MAYER Technical Textiles will be showcasing exciting new application potentials for multiaxial non-crimp fabrics in combination with the pultrusion process at the upcoming JEC in Hall 5, Booth C 46. The advancement of the tried-and-tested pultrusion process enables the cost-efficient production of complex CFRP multi-chamber profiles, which are used in the CETROVO high-speed metro. The world's first carbon-intensive lightweight rail vehicle of this type is designed for speeds of up to 140 km/h.

Shima Seiki showcases WHOLEGARMENT® and 3D knitting solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026

Leading textile technology solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will be participating in the Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany next month. On display will be WHOLEGARMENT® and other advanced three-dimensional knitting applications across a wide range of industries besides fashion apparel that are not typically associated with knitting, such as technical textiles using industrial materials and advanced three-dimensional knitting.

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.

VANDEWIELE Group at Techtextil 2026 – Textile innovations together

The VANDEWIELEGroup will showcase its latest technologies for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt from April 21–24 (Hall 12.0, Stand C21). As a global leader in textile machinery, the group brings together specialised brands to support the evolving demands of high-performance textile applications. Visitors will discover solutions in laboratory testing, yarn joining, yarn feeding and thread tension monitoring, designed to create measurable value across the textile value chain.

LineONE – Smart performance, smart investment at Techtextil 2026

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt (April 21–24, Hall 12, Booth C79), AUTEFA Solutions will present its LineONE concepts for cost-efficient nonwoven production. As a full-line supplier for nonwoven production lines, AUTEFA Solutions covers the entire process chain – from fibre opening through to web bonding. With its LineONE line concepts, the company combines proven technologies into well-balanced, cost-efficient turnkey solutions. These concepts are designed for capacity expansions, modernisation projects and new production lines, offering robust design and high flexibility for applications such as filtration, geotextiles and automotive.