“HKS 2 SE and HKS 2 SE PLUS Have Been in Demand in Turkey”
Bastian Fritsch, Senior Sales Manager at Karl Mayer
We interviewed with Bastian Fritsch, Senior Sales Manager at Karl Mayer with a reginal focus on Turkey, for the “German Textile Machinery Industry Special Issue” of our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. He made important evaluations. Reminding that the machines for the production of elastic products, especially for underwear and sportswear, have been in high demand recently, Fritsch said, “Turkey has established itself as the second most important sales region for Karl Mayer.”
How was the year 2022 for your company? Can you evaluate it in terms of your production volume, orders and export markets?
2022 was a challenging year for the Karl Mayer Group, to which Stoll belongs as an independent Business Unit for the flat knitting sector. At the beginning of last year, Corona infection figures were declining, and business suggested a positive development. However, the optimism did not last long. War broke out in Ukraine, and in the main market of China, the government’s zero-covid strategy led to a collapse in demand. Chaos ensued in the networked global economy. Logistics systems no longer functioned, prices for raw materials rose, and supplies for many components came to a standstill. In addition, increasing inflation unsettled consumers. The Karl Mayer Group’s customers reacted with a marked reluctance to buy. The interest rate increases in the USA and Europe from the 4th quarter onward fueled this development.
“Turkey has established itself as the second most important sales region”
What requests do you currently receive from customers regarding your warp knitting machines? Which countries have the greatest demand for your warp knitting machines?
China remains the largest market for our warp knitting machines. Turkey has established itself as the second most important sales region. In the meanwhile; we are deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in that country and in Syria. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and our condolences go to the families of the victims.
Especially in Turkey, our machines for the production of elastic goods for underwear and sportswear, i.e. our HKS 2 SE and HKS 2 SE PLUS, have been in demand for some time. The order situation for our four-bar HKS models with EL or ON gears is also developing very positively. This is due to new fabrics with a striking, multi-faceted crincle look, which are being processed into trendy garments. These trendy fabrics can also be produced on our new HKS 3-M ON. This digital generation tricot machine in particular is increasingly filling our order books.
Bestsellers in the apparel sector, but also in the lingerie sector, are also elastic and non-elastic powernet articlecs from our RSE machines, due to fashion trends. The fine net-like fabrics are often embroidered or decorated with applications such as sequins for trendy outfits. Other important markets besides Turkey are Italy, Southeast Asia and America.
“HKS 2 SE PLUS has been very well received by our customers”
What benefits do users derive from the warp knitting machines that Karl Mayer has launched on the market in recent years? Are you satisfied with the customers’ interest in these products?
In recent years, we have focused on the development and market launch of high-performance warp knitting machines of the digital generation. Our HKS 3-M ON and HKS 4-M ON operate with lapping data that can be loaded directly from KM.ON’s secure cloud by networking the machine. The new HKS models therefore operate without pattern discs, but still achieve the high operating speeds typical of mechanical guide bar drives. No pattern discs also means no mechanical intervention during the article changeover, which therefore takes seconds. The innovative machines therefore make a real contribution to improving production performance. In addition, the cost-intensive procurement and storage of pattern discs is eliminated.
In addition, our customers can benefit from the digital solutions of our software startup KM.ON. With the k.management dashboard, for example, they have a direct line to their production – no matter when and from where. The smart tool uses near-time data from machines that have been networked with the KM.ON cloud to provide an overview of all important machine key figures. The dashboard is thus the basis for efficient management. Decisions can be made quickly and soundly, and processes can be planned prudently. In the event of malfunctions and bottlenecks, rapid intervention is possible and the customer saves valuable time on routine work. Customers recognize all these advantages. The share of ON machines in our order intake has increased significantly since last year.
Various further developments of our machines also focus on very specific market requirements. With the HKS 2 SE PLUS, for example, we have launched a model that produces stretchable fabrics with a high elastane share at high productivity. This innovation has been very well received by customers. In the lace sector, the MJ 92/1 B with Sym-Net articles is attracting attention from lingerie and apparel manufacturers. With a special configuration in the jacquard bar area, the new Multibar jacquard raschel machine produces lace with an extremely precisely drawn appearance. In particular, fine patterns stand out due to clearly contoured openings of the net constructions and, at the same time, the highest symmetry. We showed Sym-Net patterns to our customers at Interfiliere and Premiere Vision in Paris. The feedback was very promising throughout, although the willingness to invest is currently extremely restrained, especially in the lace sector, due to the trend.
What innovations and advances can be expected in the textile machinery sector in the next few years, especially in the warp knitting machinery sector?
Automation and digitization will continue to make inroads into mechanical engineering. Drivers of this development include the increasing shortage of skilled workers and the trend toward individualized products. It is becoming increasingly important to be able to respond quickly to changes in demand with high-quality offerings, even for small consumer groups, while remaining profitable. We will continue to support our customers in the future with design tools for collaborative product development, solutions for making machines more flexible, AI-based quality management, software for managing production, and targeted Care Solutions offerings.
Another innovation driver is the topic of sustainability. Focal points for further developments in warp knitting machines include the expansion of the range of yarns that can be processed to include variants outside the manmade fiber sector, energy management of the machines and solutions for minimizing pre-consumer waste, for example through seamless production.
“Production Relocalized to safeguard business”
What changes will occur in the export markets of global textile machinery manufacturers? Are you conducting a study of these markets?
Recent developments and events have shown how sensitive our supply chains are. To safeguard business, we are seeing a relocalization of production. The participants in the value chain are moving closer together again. We are keeping a close eye on this trend and continue to offer our customers adapted solutions for successful business even under the changed conditions.
What are your goals for the year 2023? Will you have new machines and investment projects for the near future?
An important milestone this year is our exhibitor participation at the ITMA in Milan. The world’s most important textile machinery trade show is taking place under difficult conditions with many uncertainties. We are working on an exhibition program that will provide our customers with answers to their most pressing questions against the backdrop of current events. Our offerings are about profitability despite rising costs, about the issue of sustainability, about responding quickly and flexibly to market demands, about identifying, and developing new business opportunities, and about stable value-adding processes despite a shortage of skilled workers.
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
