Monarch Launches Two New Knitting Machines

Monarch, one of the most important brands of the circular knitting industry as it is all over the world, is known in the Turkish market for its long-lasting machines with high production capacity. It is the only brand that produces its needle and platinum itself among all machine manufacturers in the sector. Having significantly increased its sales in our country in recent years, Monarch promises its users minimum additional cost for many years with its mechanical and electronic jacquard machines, as well as continuous high-efficiency production.

We interviewed with Matthew Brunton, Commercial Executive of Monarch, for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. We talked with Brunton about the trends and newly developed products in the knitting industry, 2022 expectations and the ITM 2022.

First of all, how was 2021 for Monarch? Can you evaluate the year 2021 in figures?

As Monarch, we have combined our 61 years of experience with the sectoral experience of 35 years of Teksel Tekstil A.Ş., which is our representative. Thus, we made all our preparations by analyzing the pandemic process and market needs. In this way, after 2020, which was closed with record sales performance, we have completed 2021 with even higher performance.

What advantages do the systems that Monarch offers over that of its competitors’ Technologies?

Monarch is the only circular knitting machine manufacturer in the world that also produces the needle, sinker and all other moving parts of its own machines. With this feature, it reaches a different position from all its competitors. Monarch company offers a wide range of products to its customers with both mechanical and electronic jacquard knitting machines. In addition, it differs significantly from its competitors with its long working life cycle, production quality and high performance. We would also like to point out that; Monarch circular knitting machines, which entered Turkey for the first time in 1987, still operate with high performance in the largest manufacturers of this country.

“We are developing our software with our customers day by day”

In an increasingly digitised world, how are your machines keeping pace?

Industry 4.0 applications are becoming increasingly common in all areas of the textile industry. The Monarch company also contributes to this ever-evolving process with the “MMS – Monarch Monitoring System”. With this system, online tracking of production data, creation of big data and productivity values are transferred to a digital platform. We are developing our software with our customers day by day.

What are the key trends you see emerging at the moment in the knitting machinery sector? What new innovations can one expect in knitting machines?

As you know, fabric production is divided into two as weaving and knitting. In recent years, perhaps with the effect of the pandemic, more comfortable clothes have started to be preferred. The flexible structure brought by the knitting technique provides extra comfort to the user compared to weaving. Monarch has also brought a different perspective to the sector with its newly developed knitting machine with a woven look. With its machine named “Woven look”, it offers us woven fabrics with the comfort of knitting. We foresee that the fashion trend will shift in this direction in the coming years.

In addition to this, Monarch has also developed a machine called “Quarter Gauge”, which allows knitting at different thicknesses on both sides of the fabric. For example; The fabric can be knitted as 28gg on one side and 7gg on the other. Thus, without the need for lamination, two different appearances on the fabric are obtained with a single production. Therefore, when you produce a jacket or cardigan fabric, the thin fabric formed on the back also acts as a lining.

“Big Brands Preferred Turkey for Supply During the Pandemic Period”

The knitting industry performed very successfully in Turkey, especially during the pandemic period. How do you evaluate the performance of Turkish knitters in this process? What do you think are the reasons for success?

As you know, before the pandemic, big brands were supplying most of their supplies from the Far East. However, they also saw the serious disadvantages of purchasing only from a certain region during the pandemic period and preferred Turkey to distribute the risk of their orders. Turkey’s logistical proximity to Europe provided significant advantages to our manufacturers in Turkey during the container crisis in the world. Due to the commercial tensions between America and China, Turkey has succeeded in increasing its textile exports to America at a significant rate. Thus, the increase in investment in 2020 continued to increase in 2021 as well.

Can you tell us about your expectations, goals, new products and investment plans for 2022?

Our expectation is to exceed our 2021 performance in 2022. In order to realize these expectations and present its new technologies, Monarch continues its R&D studies without slowing down by competing with itself. E.g; Mattress ticking machine with striping capability, which is not available in any of our competitors in the market, and 28gg jacquard quilting with woven look and mechanical interlock machine with woven look to be used in the production of ready-to-wear fabrics to its customers.

“We are Excited to Meet with Our Customers at ITM 2022”

Could you share with us your views on the ITM Exhibition, which will bring the textile machinery industry together after such a long break?

ITM exhibitions are a very important organization that reflects the pulse of the Turkish and world textile industry. For this reason, as Monarch and Teksel Tekstil A.Ş., we are excited to be able to exhibit our machines in this valuable organization after 4 years. Thanks to this organization, we can talk to the entire textile industry, the future of the industry and new technologies. The postponement of fair events for a long time due to the pandemic has of course slowed down the communication between machine manufacturers and textile manufacturers in the sector where many fair organizations such as textiles are held. However, as of this year, we are excited to be able to exchange information more closely with our customers within the scope of the measures taken. The ITM organization has always been an event that is followed by the world in this regard and that up-to-date technologies are shared at a high level. We are making very serious preparations to spend this event in the most efficient and positive way. We hope that ITM 2022 will open its doors to its visitors much more effectively after this wait.

Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI