#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.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

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.

ITM 2026: Mayer & Cie. Global presents itself successfully at international industry trade fair

Mayer & Cie. Global has used ITM 2026 in Istanbul for its first major international appearance since the restart. Together with the Turkish representative Mayer Mümessillik, the company presented its premium circular knitting machines "Made in Germany", explained its future positioning within the group of companies and held talks with customers and representatives from numerous markets. The response to the restart was positive. The clear orientation of the company, the reliable worldwide network of representatives and the resumption of service and spare parts supply were welcomed by customers.

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

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

The third edition of JEC Forum organized in Southeast Asia brought together 350+ participants from 22 countries for three active days of high-level Business Meetings, conferences, and networking, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global composites market. Held for the first time in Taipei from 23 to 24 June 2026, following the successful first editions in Bangkok, JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 confirmed its position as the region’s leading business platform dedicated to the composites industry.

Textile machinery: Italian technology charts the course for revival

Operating in a scenario characterized by geopolitical instability, slowing industrial investments, and new protectionist pressures. This is the main challenge for the Italian textile machinery industry that emerged during the General Assembly of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), held today in Milan at the Shareholders’ Hall of Palazzo Edison.