#Knitting & Hosiery

2022-07-14

Successful STOLL Days in the new TexLab at KARL MAYER North America

The STOLL team is delighted with their successful STOLL Days © 2022 KARL MAYER

STOLL, a Business Unit of the KARL MAYER Group since 2020, is delighted with the success of its first STOLL Days. The event was held at KARL MAYER North America's new TexLab in Greensboro, NC from June 7 to 10, 2022, and had over 100 visitors.

Most of the guests came from the USA and Canada. Many of them stayed for two days, to participate in an extensive event program. Highlights included various machines in action - including models shown for the first time. And seminars and workshops to introduce new textile product designs, new design software, and innovations from various external partners that were included in the program. Also, STOLL showed its latest fashion trend collection "Wonderful" and innovative flat knitted products for other industries.

The STOLL machines on display impressed with their performance. Technology is constantly evolving, explained the representative of a well-known brand who has been working with STOLL machines for 35 years. "What these can do is endless. It's like painting - you can just create new things with a new yarn, a new color or a new concept," he said. "It's inspiring to be here and see all the things that can be knitted with these incredible STOLL machines," affirms Textile Design Manager Regan Marriner of Hemp Black. This Greensboro-based textile manufacturer is committed to social responsibility and environmental protection and operates more than a dozen STOLL machines.

Seeing what STOLL has to offer and getting to know the new TexLab was just one of the guests' intentions in coming to Greensboro. Many visitors also attended the seminars, for example Carrie Yates, Director of Product Development at Cotton Incorporated, who learnt with several colleagues more about STOLL's latest design software. "The seminars had good feedback, and attendees enjoyed meeting our partner exhibitors and seeing how the combination of machine, yarn, and know-how results in new textile products," says Matthews Llewellyn, Sales Director Stoll at KARL MAYER North America.

Networking was also important. There was a variety of partners for this. Representatives from universities and companies of various sizes and industries were present and available for discussions – from large sportswear and shoe brands to consumer electronics and automotive manufacturers, to start-ups and small boutique companies. STOLL exchanged ideas with new companies who wanted to see the machines before making a final decision. Existing customers inquired about new developments.

With the STOLL Days, STOLL as a business unit of the KARL MAYER Group has shown its importance and focus on strong growth of the flat knitting industry in North America. With this event, STOLL has shown its willingness to cooperate with other players such as yarn manufacturers, research institutes and digitalization consultants to create an open platform for the world of flat knitting. In addition, STOLL has once again presented itself as a strong partner. "The event was a signal to our customers that STOLL is here to support them, whether in sales, service or training in the new TexLab," said Matthews Llewellyn.

Most of the visitors expressed the hope that the STOLL Days will be repeated at least once a year.

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.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

SHIMA SEIKI to show complete knitting and cutting workflow at ITM 2026

Leading computerized flat knitting technology provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Turkish representative TETAS IC VE DIS TICARET A.S., will participate in the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye this month with a full product lineup. In addition to flat knitting machines and design software, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of SHIMA SEIKI textile machinery with its automatic cutting machine exhibit, all geared toward the fashion apparel market as well as non-apparel related businesses.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.