#Knitting & Hosiery

2024-11-07

One step ahead in sun protection

At this year's ITMA ASIA + CITME, KARL MAYER presented a textile innovation in the field of sun protection clothing and hit the bull's eye. On show was a stylish jacket made from a tricot fabric in the new gauge E 44, which impressed the trade fair visitors with its exceptional performance. The silky fabric is light, soft and breathable, feels cool against the skin and offers unrivalled sun protection.

The UV protection factor of the dense warp-knitted fabric is more than twice as high as that of circular knitted textiles with the same weight per unit area. The article is also right on trend. According to a study conducted by Research and Markets in October 2024, the sun protection clothing market will grow by 7.9% annually until 2030, reaching almost 14 billion US dollars. /1/

The fabric with the great business potential was produced on an HKS 2-S in E 44, extremely efficiently. The reliable high-performance warp knitting machine achieves an output of 200 kg of fabric per day.

Tang Qi, Textile Application and Development Engineer in the KARL MAYER tricot department, was just as impressed by the innovative product as the ITMA visitors and was inspired to create a casual outdoor jacket for the trade fair presentation.

“Thanks to its UV protection factor, the E44 fabric is ideal for clothing worn during outdoor activities. It is super soft and feels pleasantly cool against the skin, making it comfortable to wear even in hot weather. When I received this fabric, I was particularly surprised by the wonderfully silky-soft feel,” says the apparel designer.

Tang Qi likes to be sporty herself. In summer, she often goes hiking with friends and appreciates an outfit with sun protection and comfort, especially in mountainous terrain.

That's why the young creative has deliberately opted for the silhouette of a loose training jacket. The wide cut offers the body enough space so that the fabric doesn't stick to the skin and cause friction and doesn't feel tight. So it's easy to enjoy the great outdoors!

Outdoor clothing with sun protection made from a new tricot fabric in E44 has been the big hit on the KARL MAYER stand at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 © 2024 KARL MAYER

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/sun-protective-clothing?srsltid=AfmBOorlD8gzyKnOG37E1tAiUHzB92wOD9rYH-SFQtbVc5hcr9AFBJUd

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

Nowadays textile companies increasingly need to produce small production runs and respond to market changes with instantaneous pattern changes in order to operate profitably – meaning they require machines that offer maximum flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency. KARL MAYER understands the challenges of the market and is launching its new RE 6 EL. The Raschel machine offers the core strengths of the classic RSE 6 EL and essentially the same performance parameters, but has been further cost-optimised largely due to local production advantages. This makes the newcomer an efficiency champion in production, especially when it comes to frequent pattern changes.

The newcomers HKS 3-M EL ECO and HKS 4-M EL ECO set new standards in the tricot market

Short development cycles, frequent pattern changes, and maximum efficiency – even with small batch sizes: Today's global fashion and apparel market demands more flexibility than ever before. High-performance warp knitting machines with compound needles (HKS) and EL pattern drive are KARL MAYER's answer to this challenge.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at GMMSA Expo India

Leading Japanese computerized flat knitting technologist SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Indian sales representative Universal MEP Projects & Engineering Services, Ltd., will participate in the upcoming Garments Machinery Manufacturers & Suppliers Association (GMMSA) Expo India 2026 exhibition to be held in Ludhiana, India next month. Through its lineup at GMMSA, SHIMA SEIKI aims to further strengthen its presence within the Indian market with an exhibit that caters to diverse needs, consisting of seam-free WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology as well as a brand-new shaping machine with high productivity and excellent cost performance.

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.

SHIMA SEIKI returns to ShanghaiTex

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the ShanghaiTex 2025 exhibition (Booth No.: Hall N3, Booth A20) held in Shanghai, China this month. This marks the return of SHIMA SEIKI to ShanghaiTex after a 14-year hiatus, its last exhibit at the show having been in 2011.

Groz-Beckert showcases textile innovation at ShanghaiTex 2025

From December 16 to 19, 2025, the global textile industry will gather at ShanghaiTex at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), where Groz-Beckert will present its latest highlights and innovations across its five product areas – Knitting, Weaving, Nonwovens, Sewing, and Spinning – at Hall N3, Booth A05.

Cinte Techtextil China 2026: redefining business encounters for trending sub-sectors and cutting-edge technologies

The essence of a good trade fair is to create chance encounters to deliver tangible business value to its participants. Driven to stay ahead, Cinte Techtextil China is constantly seeking fresh strategies to keep the industry attuned to emerging trends, pinpointing high-potential segments for technical textiles and nonwovens. With a new zone and upgraded fringe events introduced, the last edition saw an impressive 17% increase in visiting numbers[1], and this year’s fair is set to leverage that success from 1 to 3 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Epson launches SureColor G9000: high-production Direct-To-Film printer delivering greater productivity and reliability

Epson today announces the launch of the SureColor G9000, a new high-production Direct-To-Film (DTFilm) printer designed to meet growing global demand for flexible and efficient textile transfer printing. Expanding Epson’s DTFilm line-up alongside the SC-G6000, the SC-G9000 introduces enhanced speed, reliability and ease of maintenance for commercial garment decorators and textile producers.