“Every company is the result of the intuition and the efforts of an entrepreneur. “

Protti: 40 years of flat knitting machines, which today are totally electronically programmed. Our success stems from the belief that the growth of a company can only be achieved from within its organization. The brothers Umberto, Antonio and Riccardo (current president) established the company, and the cousins Luca and Massimo have recently become part of the management, as executives they have an incredible entrepreneurial drive, and they all testify to the concept of developing a family company.

Protti today enjoys a strong market position in all countries where knitted products are manufactured. We own two factories, one in Cornaredo (in the province of Milan), and one in Asola (in the province of Mantova); the total area of the factories is 20,000 sq. meters. We have over 300 employees along with a worldwide network of sales agents who have the exclusive rights of sale of our products.

Strategy

Research and development guarantee innovative products and services with high added value. Protti was established in the 50's, when it started manufacturing spare parts for knitting machines, providing motorization of manual machines, and simple automatic knitting machines. We later on focused on developing the latter kind of machines, and today we are in the position to provide the broadest spectrum of these machines on the international market. Our strategic objectives are to keep our company profitable, to be able to fulfil the requests of the market in a flexible and effective way, and to reach total customer satisfaction. Our in-depth know-how, our ability to employ our resources at best and the excellent degree of cooperation we have achieved with all our human resources are key elements in our strategy to maintain the competitive edge we have reached.

Research

Research and development guarantee innovative products and services with high added value. Our deep understanding of the market, of its trends and of its possible developments, and our constant effort in the field of research are the key components in the development of our projects and are essential to our ability to implement innovative strategies. At present we invest 8% of our turnover in product and process research and development. The investment program is aimed at ensuring the growth of new ideas to boost our productivity and our technological innovation, and at maintaining our position of co-leaders in the creation and development of new patterns and stitches.

Quality

The quality of our products is the natural result of the global quality system of our company. Quality is our essential criterion in the development, the industrialization and the manufacturing of our products. We carry out quality control tests at all stages of the production process (particularly as far as strategic elements which are not available on our market are concerned). Our machines are tried out both at the end of the production in our factory and at our customer's premises. The strengthening of all our information systems, promoted by our top managers and implemented by renovating and introducing new standards and information tools, enables our production to be highly flexible, our production system to be totally automated and all components of our company to be highly reliable. Quality also means training our human resources: we promote professional updating also through external consultancies.

Specialization has enabled our company to provide an extensive and varied range of machinery. At Protti we have been designing and manufacturing flat knitting machines for over 40 years. Our machines have always been custom-designed, and we are constantly becoming more aware of our customers' particular requirements. A good example is our new full-sinker devices, which are available on all jacquard models, the electronically controlled double thickness and our new automatic software. Our machines are high technology products, and they can be easily programmed, both peripherally and centrally. Protti has always been known for its user friendly and versatile products too. It is not only the easy handling that appeals to its customers, but also the philosophy behind its programming, which strives to keep the customer as independent as possible, thus saving time and money.

Products

We supply a global product: our service is constantly becoming more integrated. We are increasingly focused on core business, and this has led us to decide to invest in one of the most challenging aspect of our field: providing our customers with a wide range of intelligent software packages (that is software that can be directly adapted by the user), which enables the manufacturing of knitted products. Also, we intend to carry on research in the field of new stitches with the objective of developing new trends. This process is related to different stages, starting from research and intuition, up to experimentation and development. This is an important strategic operation aimed at spreading the idea of quality. Thus, we intend to reinforce the idea of the innovative company that is a company which is in the position of offering its customers an increasingly interactive role, in order to ensure steady relationships with Protti.

Human resources

A winning idea: developing internal organization structures. A long and consistent process is necessary to follow our customers' requirements attentively. All company elements are involved in this process, especially human resources, which influence and guarantee the success of our company. We highly value our employees and their professional growth. Our customers are also assisted by a network of national and international sales agents which offer post-sales services and assistance in all areas where knit-wear is sold. Our attention to the market has enabled us to define relationships of cooperation and licenses with important foreign partners.

Company history

From the beginning to the present day - more than 40 years of progress

The very special field of flat knitting machines is, by its very nature, one of high technology, in which Research and Development are key elements in retaining a competitive edge. High technology and continual innovation are the routes by which a company maintains that competitiveness against its rivals in the global marketplace.

As one of the world's leading manufacturers of flat knitting machines, PROTTI SpA has always been counted amongst those who have given the highest attention to innovative ideas.

From the mechanisation of hand-operated machines right up to machines with full electronic programming through pasteboard card control

After having alleviated the very heavy manual work of the operators of hand machines, by converting them to motor drives and then producing these machines right up to the early fifties, we produced the first automatic flat knitting machine: the P457, in its two versions, B and T4.

Characterised by a chain-controlled mechanical movement, this machine represented just the first step on an increasingly more sophisticated technological path. Only a short time elapsed before the development of the first automatic machines with pasteboard card control, which featured an ever-increasing number of functions and commands that were operative for the full traverse of the carriage.

Among these were the PT4, (which was also available as the PT-tr, with stitch transfer on both beds and as the PT4dc, a double-system version), the PFS, (which introduced jacks selection and was available in double-system as the PFSdc), the PRT, (available in double-system as the PRTdc and in the coarse gauges 2, 2½ and 3 as the PRT6), the PET4 and PERT series, (on which, for the first time, pasteboard card control gave way to a system of electronic programming) and the famous P80, which, in its PE80 version, featured an electronic programming unit.

Individual needle selection - PAJ and PDE series with electronic programming

Mechanical control of machines by chains or by pasteboard cards, used to good effect on the above models, soon showed its limitations, both as regards design possibilities and in terms of the length of time needed to set up the pattern and the control functions on each machine.

A first step on the path to achieving "needle by needle" selection was the development of the PAJ machine, which introduced individual needle jacquard selection, achieved by the use of steel cards mounted on either one or two rotating prisms, located underneath the needlebeds, which activated each needle via long selecting platines protruding from the beds. Then, in 1970, one of the most important patents in Protti's history was taken out: this dealt with the "needle by needle" electronic control system (Patent No. 900921 of 25/07/70: "Electronic/mechanical apparatus for the selection of the needles in a flat knitting machine, in order to achieve the knitting of jacquard fabrics"), which put the company right at the forefront of technological achievement in the knitting machine sector and led to the development of a new and revolutionary range of machines: the PDE series.

This was the first flat knitting machine with electronic programming for individual needle selection to be presented on the world market. It made its triumphal debut at the 1971 ITMA Exhibition in Paris and attracted the attention of the whole of that market to PROTTI. It is no exaggeration to say that this new machine series may be considered as the forerunner of all electronic flat knitting machines, right up to those of the latest generation: for the first time ever, the selection of individual needles was being achieved by electronic means. Now, jacquard patterns could be produced simply and easily, without the need for expensive and complex steel cards, just by laying out the patterns required on an electronic blackboard; this was a special plate with a matrix of holes corresponding to the 96 needles in width and 128 courses in height that constituted the pattern area. By inserting special pins into these holes, patterns could be laid out that were then knitted on the machine. The PDE had a bed width of 183 cm and was available in gauges 7 and 10. Later versions represented the technical refinement and continual evolution of this machine range: the blackboard was replaced by a "pattern scanning unit" (optional), to record the pattern. This consisted of a drum, carrying a sheet of squared paper on which the pattern was drawn, which rotated to allow the pattern to be read by an optical scanner. Development continued with the models PDE2, PDE3 (intended for the production of carpets and blankets), PDE5, PDE6 (which represented a further evolutionary step in the introduction of a monitor and graphics panel to replace the scanning unit) and the PDE7 (which allowed the production of shaped pieces, by the use of the stitch hold down or stitch presser device, "DSP").

Full jacquard machines - P90 and P94 series and evolving programming systems

The way was now open for the production of machines with individual needle selection. Evolving directly from the PDE5 and PDE7 models, a very successful range of full-jacquard machines was developed, one of which, the P90, was one of the first examples of a type, which, in its concept and technical characteristics, was most similar to the flat knitting machines of today.

In effect, the P90 series represented the first generation of machines that was completely computer controlled and it was therefore truly revolutionary in its structural technology, while still retaining the knitting characteristics that had been derived in part from the machines of the PDE series. The double-system P90 had a needlebed width of 230 cm and was equipped with special needles for stitch transfer and narrowing; with single-butt platines and with auxiliary platines for individual needle selection. The P90S version was fitted with a stitch presser device (DSP), for the production of shaped pieces and the knitting of special stitch effects. In its P90G variant, the machine was provided with a set of special intarsia yarnfeeders. All machines in the P90 range were available in the coarse gauges of 2, 2½, 3, 3½ and 4, and from 5 to 12 gauge. The four-system version was the P94, which had features identical to those of the P90, (except for the number of systems and the provision of two carriages). All the full-jacquard machines were equipped with an electronic programming unit, with a 512 Kb memory and 5¼" floppy disks. Connected directly to the machine, this allowed programming to be carried out even when the machine was running. On request, a separate programming unit was available, the PTV90, to allow patterns and fabrics to be prepared away from the machine: this consisted of a minicomputer, keyboard, graphics tablet, floppy disk drive and printer.

The PV series - full jacquard machines

With the PV series of full-jacquard, completely electronically controlled machines with variable stroke, we have arrived at the latest step in the evolutionary process at Protti that has spanned more than 40 years. The advent of the variable stroke of the carriage, which automatically amends the width of its traverse, not only according to the width of the knitted piece, but also to take account of the number of systems in operation and of the number of needles that are knitting or transferring on each individual course, represents yet another revolution in knitting technology. This is a very important feature that is simple in its concept, but which was not previously possible to attain, when mechanical commands to the cams and other functions had to be transmitted to the carriage via bolts mounted at the very ends of the needlebeds. With the changeover to electronic control, it was no longer necessary for the carriage to travel right out to the ends to receive its commands, thus making it possible to cut out the inoperative sections of its traverse. Along with the PV Series, a programming system has also been developed: the PTV234 is a centralised autonomous unit for the programming of all the machines in this series, backed up by some innovative software, the "PROTEOS Knitting System", for the advanced programming of patterns and fabrics. Soon, the other prestigious models of the PV Series were put into production: the PV93S (110 cm bed, equipped with stitch pressers), the PV93 (240 cm bed) and the other wide- and narrow-bed machines that remained in production: PV92SX, PV93SX (both with 110 cm beds), PV94E, PV94X, PV96X (240 cm beds), up to the recent PV93FX (110 cm, supplementary needle bed and set-up combs), PV91X, and PV91X-3 (240 cm), the latter being equipped with three carriages.

The PT Series - trimming and semi-jacquard machines

In parallel with the development of the full-jacquard machines, the evolution of machines for straight fabrics, for trimmings and for semi-jacquards has never stopped. This series of machines derives directly from the technical trials that started with the development of the models P457 and PT4. When considering flat knitting machines of the latest generation, one normally thinks just of the full-jacquard models with individual needle selection and very often forgets that there is a great demand for simpler machines, using a selection system based on auxiliary platines with various heights of butt. It might be tempting to ignore this range of machines, on which selection is made by groups of needles, but they are, in fact, most sophisticated models, equipped with full computer control and variable stroke.

The PT11, with 203 cm beds, was a single-system machine with high- and low-butt needles, built in gauges from 5 to 18, without stitch transfer. The PT21 offered the possibility of double transfer from either high- or low-butt needles, or both, and the PT22 was also built as a double-system. From these two models, we moved quite quickly to the current ones: the PT222 (and, before that, the PT221) and the semi-jacquards PT241 and PT242. These are very reliable, efficient and high-producing machines, based on a technology that is supported by 40 years of experience and continual development, to offer the best results at all times.

Support units for fully-fashioned frames – P500 series

At the same time as the full-jacquard machines, a third type of machine was developed that has been particularly popular and successful in the market: the rib-loading machine to supply Cotton frames, which started with the P100.

This is a series of electronically programmed machines for the production of ribs and cuffs and their automatic loading onto the magazine bars of the Cotton frame. The loading of these ribs and cuffs directly onto the magazine bars, in predetermined numbers and in the exact position required, offers, on the one hand, precise and accurate running-on and significant savings in the costs of labour, of yarn and of intermediate magazine bars and, on the other, very high production rates, due to the variable carriage stroke, which adapts itself to the width of the piece to be produced. Later versions included the P200, (which had the advantage of being able to automatically exchange the full magazine bar for an empty one, without interrupting production and which was also produced in the P200 2- version for the simultaneous production of two cuffs and, as the P200 2D, with doublings), the P300 and the P400, (in its two versions: P401 being the standard model and P401D the one with doublings),

all leading up to the current model, the P500, in its 4 versions: P500, the standard version, with high and low butt needle selection, used principally for the production of ribs, cuffs and trims, which are automatically loaded onto the magazine bars of Cotton frames or linking machines; P500S, the version that enables selections to be made on four auxiliary platines, located on the needlebed, thereby giving the capability of producing a large number of pattern effects, (cables, lace, small jacquards), to enhance and embellish the finished garment; P500D, the standard version with a doubling device that enables stitches to be doubled at intervals, thus making ribs more elastic and, at the same time, eliminating any creasing; P500SD, which is provided with both the auxiliary platines and the doubling device.

Over the years, technological development has proceeded inexorably, bringing Protti to its present position as a world leader in the production of the P500 rib loading machines and of the PT series trimming machines, as well as putting it amongst the first rank of producers of full jacquard machines with individual needle selection. The high rate of technological innovation is backed up by an extremely efficient commercial organisation and an ever more sophisticated and innovative after-sales service, that constantly provoke the interest of the marketplace, (both customers and competitors). Among the latest models to be shown at the most important international exhibitions for the trade are: the PV96X, a six-system machine; the PV93FX, with three needlebeds, (the only machine in the world to feature this characteristic) and the most recent of all: the PV91X (single-system machine with auxiliary takedown) and the PV91X-3 (three carriages, each with a single system).