With its comprehensive product portfolio of about 50 machines, Mayer & Cie., a leading Germany based knitting machine manufacturer, says it can offer the full range of machines required to manufacture modern textiles.

According to the manufacturer, more than 30% of Mayer & Cie.’s circular knitting machines have been around for six years at most, including the Relanit 3.2 HS. At the same time, 60% of the machines the company has ever sold are still in the market, which means 42,000 knitting machines with the green Mayer logo.

Quality promise

“Our circular knitting machines […] offer you a means of production that fulfils the highest demands. They are not just knitting machines but new machines painstakingly designed from scratch in years of hard work using the latest technology and manufactured by the most highly skilled personnel.”

The quality promise which dates back to 1938 and is taken from one of Mayer & Cie.’s first circular knitting machine brochures, is still relevant today, says Mayer & Cie. Managing Director Marcus Mayer. “Today as back then, our aim is to offer our customers optimal machines,” he commented. “To quote my late uncle, Rainer Mayer, we sell customer success and not just knitting machines.”

Product portfolio

For its customers’ success Mayer & Cie. currently has on offer a product portfolio of about 50 machines. With this comprehensive range the company covers the entire range of machines required for manufacturing modern textiles. These include fabrics for household textiles, sportswear, nightwear and swimwear, seat covers, underwear and technical textiles.

Just over one in three of the machines in the Mayer & Cie. portfolio have only been on offer since 2010 at the earliest. For single machines the proportion is even higher: over 40% have been around for six years or less.

In addition, there have been continuous improvements to existing machines, the manufacturer reports. According to the company, further development has also constantly benefited central components such as the drive unit, cam parts or the oiler. The improvements are said to include energy benefits. For example, the latest Relanit machine is said to use about 30% less energy than a conventional knitting machine.

Bestsellers

The OVJA 36, launched at the 1967 ITMA in Basle, was the first double piqué Jacquard machine capable of manufacturing Jacquard-patterned yard goods up to a fineness of E 24. The loop structure that it delivered was significantly more closely knitted than had previously been possible, the company explains. Threads that were not looped on the front were no longer to be seen in the pattern. This machine quickly became popular and about 7,000 were sold.

Since they were launched in 1987, the popularity of Relanit machines has also continued. Around 10,000 have been sold. In a single machine with relative technology the distance the thread travels is halved because needle and sinker move toward each other. As a result, there are fewer turning points for the yarn, which in turn leads to fewer sources of error. The current model, the Relanit 3.2 HS, is one of the best sellers in the Mayer & Cie. range.

Mayer machines knit for longer

More than a half of all Mayer & Cie. circular knitting machines ever sold are still in the market. With more than 70,000 machines sold to date, that means about 42,000 Mayer machines around the world are still knitting.

“Another interesting fact is that machines which went unnoticed for a few years suddenly become popular once more when somebody discovers a new use for them,” said Marcus Mayer. “The MCPE 2.4 is a current example of a ‘rediscovery’ of this kind.”

An electronic machine, it produces Jacquard plush fabrics in up to 12 colours. It knits any design it is given as a free design or draft. Today the machine is used in the household textiles segment. After long years of a lull in demand it was on show once more at the 2015 ITMA.

www.mayerandcie.com