Leading circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. (MCT) will be showcasing its latest technologies at this year’s ITMA textile machinery show, which takes place in Milan, Italy from 12-19 November. Visitors can see the German company’s cutting-edge interlock, striper, single jersey, mattress fabrics machines and other new developments at Stand A 111 in Hall 5. 

An important feature which all of these machines have in common is their significantly reduced consumption of fresh needle oil, the result of a recycling process developed by Mayer & Cie. In addition, the company will be officially launching a spin-knit machine - a machine that spins and knits at the same time, at ITMA 2015.

Five machines in all, including the spin-knit machine, will be on show at Mayer & Cie.’s two-story, 480 square metre Milan trade fair stand in November. The exhibits are intended to demonstrate directly to trade visitors the strengths of the long-established German firm – the strengths that have made Mayer & Cie the market and technology leader in circular knitting machinery for many years.

According to MCT, all of the machines on show combine a further increase in productivity, improved process reliability and, of course, consistently high and reliable quality knits.

Single jersey plating

One of the exhibits will be a single jersey machine for elastomer plating that uses the tried and trusted relative technology developed by Mayer & Cie., which generally means gentle stitch formation. This gentle needle and sinker guidance also reduces energy consumption.

At the same time, MCT says, this single jersey machine delivers peak productivity along with a significant improvement in process reliability. The latter also applies to the striper machine that will be on show for visitors to the MCT stand.

The machine is also a member of the Relanit family and has an improved yarn guide for perfect yarn feed. Stripe patterns can be programmed swiftly and simply on a touch display. On this and other exhibits MCT will be presenting its patented Quick Change easy (QCe) for very fast and simplified gauge change.

High performance interlock

A high performance interlock (HPI) machine will also be on show. According to MCT, the D4-2.2 II’s forte is its peak productivity. With 4.4 systems per inch it produces up to 400 kg of fabric per day. MCT says the machine is now familiar with handling staple yarns such as cotton and it has also continued to improve the D4-2.2 II in respect of both surface and distance.

Mattress fabrics

In keeping with the popularity of its machines for manufacturing mattress covers, Mayer & Cie. will also feature a further development in the double jersey double face department at ITMA. The model on show performs with maximum flexibility for all patterns and weights with 1.6 systems per inch, the company reports.

Thanks to higher rotational speed, customers can expect higher productivity here too, MCT says – along with best fabric quality and the lowest error rate.

Another machine that will be on show, outside of the trade fair grounds knits a product that is also very popular again at the moment – the jacquard plus machine. Interested trade visitors are welcome to take a look at it at Savio Macchine, Via Milano, I 20020 Lainate (Milan).

Sustainability

Except for the spin-knit machine, all of the Mayer machines mentioned above share another common feature - they are all equipped with the SENSOBlueRS needle oil recycling system developed by MCT.

“That means they require significantly less fresh needle oil to run perfectly than knitting machines running on conventional systems that consume about 2.5 to three litres of oil a day on the basis of a 20-hour working day,” MCT said in a statement.

“The patent pending recycling process developed by Mayer & Cie. is based on cleaning and reusing the needle oil that has already been used by the knitting machine in question. Used oil is cleansed of dirt particles in a filter unit that is housed in the machine and then returned to the machine’s oil circuit. Much less fresh oil is required as a result. With the recycling system oil consumption can be reduced by up to 30 per cent, depending on the machine,” MCT adds.

To make sure that the needle oil always gets to where it is needed, Mayer uses the SensoBlue process, thereby ensuring that the right places are oiled and no oil is wasted. That makes handling the machine easier for the knitter too.

Spinning and knitting on one machine

spinitsystems is Mayer & Cie.’s spin-knit technology. The company presented a prototype of a spin-knit machine at ITMA 2011 in Barcelona (see ITMA 2011: Spin-knit machines to offer greener future) and for ITMA 2015; it will show a marketable and fully functional model, which it will bring to market.

A spin-knit machine combines the spinning and the circular knitting processes where single jersey is manufactured not from yarn but from spinning mill rovings.

MCT explains: “That makes the production process much shorter because ring spinning, cleaning and rewinding are no longer required lowering production costs. For the customer this leads to significantly lower investment in machinery.”

“Furthermore, using spin-knit machines, which are similar in size to conventional knitting machines, saves space and energy while also producing less carbon dioxide and less waste. spinitsystems is able to process a big variety of short-cut and staple fibres,” the company adds.”

“Raw materials in their pure form can also be used, such as 100% combed cotton or other natural and synthetic fibres. Standard blends can also be used on the spinitsystems. The finished knitwear is soft, smooth and very pleasant to wear, making the fabric ideal for anything that’s worn close to the body, such as T- shirts, underwear and nightwear,” MCT concludes.

Looking forward to ITMA

“ITMA is a calendar highlight for all companies in the textile industry,” says Benjamin Mayer, Managing Director of Mayer & Cie. “We look forward to presenting our machines and new developments to customers, prospective customers and visitors there. We are also, of course, interested in all the other innovations, ideas and new features that will be on show in Milan this autumn.”

Mayer & Cie. is a leading international manufacturer of circular knitting machines. The company manufactures the entire range of machines required for making modern textiles - fabrics for home textiles, sportswear, nightwear and swimwear, seat covers, underwear and technical uses are made on MCT knitting machines.

Founded in 1905, Mayer & Cie. generated sales of EUR 80 million in 2014 with about 300 employees, according to preliminary figures. In addition to its headquarters in Albstadt, Germany, and subsidiaries in Brazil, China and the Czech Republic, Mayer & Cie. is represented by sales partners in many countries.

Further reading

ITMA 2011: Spin-knit machines to offer greener future

www.mayerandcie.com