German circular knitting machine builder Mayer & Cie. has strengthened its Albstadt production location and increased its world market share through the strategic acquisition of Amtek Machinery.

"With the acquisition of the Czech manufacturer of circular knitting machines, Amtek Machinery s.r.o. on 25 July 2011, Mayer & Cie. GmbH & Co. KG succeeded in making another strategically important step in securing the production location Albstadt and its staff," Managing Partner, Rainer Mayer said today.

Amtek Machinery s.r.o., a Czech company with a long-standing tradition of manufacturing circular knitting machines for more than 50 years, currently has 27 employees and will now trade under the name of Amtek Knitting Technology s.r.o. Amtek has been successful particularly in the key markets of Turkey and India as well as in the former CIS states in the upper medium price segment.

Mayer & Cie. expects new synergies on both the market and the cost side through this acquisition. On the one hand, Mayer & Cie says, Amtek's product line will open up a further market segment and on the other hand procurement and manufacturing synergies will lead to a further strengthening of the company's competitive position.

In future, Mayer & Cie plans to produce all of the large turned parts of the Amtek machine line on its recently installed Carnaghi machining centre for large parts in Albstadt.

"In addition, the combination of the locations of Albstadt and Vsetín opens up the opportunity to take on a stronger position in the world market than so far, particularly in very price-sensitive segments like for example body size-machines. The machine lines of both companies will be continued," said Managing Partner Rainer Mayer.