Stoll to End Flat Knitting Machine Production

Karl Mayer, one of the world’s leading textile machinery manufacturers, has decided to discontinue the production of flat knitting machines under the Stoll brand. The company’s Reutlingen plant will close down on 31 October 2025, while production in China will end in December 2025.

As part of its growth strategy, Karl Mayer Group acquired Stoll in 2020. However, the strategic realignment announced at the beginning of 2025 signaled the company’s intention to close Stoll. In line with this decision, Karl Mayer would be shifting its focus back to its core areas of warp knitting, warp preparation and technical textiles.

Oliver Mathews, President of the Stoll Business Unit, commented on the decision: “Stoll stands for a long tradition. That is precisely why we deeply regret that we were unable to lead the business into the future successfully. It was not possible to find an investor to continue production at the main site in Reutlingen with its 280 employees.”

Karl Mayer remains committed to its long-standing customers and will continue to service the installed machine base even under the given circumstances. A service concept for spare parts and support is currently being implemented at various locations.

Spare parts will be stored in two warehouses in future. Karl Mayer’s central warehouse in Obertshausen will take over the stocks from Reutlingen in November and handle all logistics services up to dispatch. In addition, Karl Mayer China will be the sole central warehouse location serving the global demand for parts for BMS machines.

Final updates are available for the pattern software. Software licence keys remain available for purchase, and existing installations can still be used.