Albstadt-based circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. (MCT) has won a Special Mention for its brand management in this year’s German Brand Awards, at the prize-giving ceremony in Berlin on 29 June.

The German Brand Institute awards this accolade in recognition of special aspects of brand management. The competition and award scheme were initiated by the German Rat für Formgebung, or Design Council.

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. Mayer & Cie. is represented by sales partners in around 80 countries.

Strong brand

The Mayer & Cie. brand is registered in over 30 countries and well known in many more. “Mayer & Cie. sees itself today as a market leader, technology leader and innovation driver in circular knitting. Getting this self-image across means associating it with the brand by means of products, actions, activities, employees and representatives around the world. The brand must convey an identity to everyone and set itself apart from other brands,” the company explains.

“In Mayer & Cie.’s case this is achieved especially by means of the company’s high degree of innovation and its technology leadership. Together they create the economic success that has made the company an international market leader. Communicating this connection really does require a brand management strategy – one that was given a Special Mention at the German Brand Awards on 29 June 2017.”

The best company

Eight companies, including Kyocera and Motel One, topped the winners’ rostrum in Berlin. Named the Best of the Best, they can now call themselves Sustainable Brand of the Year and Brand Innovation of the Year.

That is why Sebastian Mayer, Mayer & Cie. Management Board member responsible for corporate development, is delighted not only with the award itself. “It makes it clear,” he says, “that we have already reached a high level with our brand strategy – and that we are in the best company of others from whom we can definitely still learn a thing or two.”

Closely evaluated

With the German Brand Awards and categories ranging from Best of Best and Gold to Winner and Special Mention, the initiator, the Design Council, aims to discover and present brands and brand makers. That is why only companies that have been nominated by the German Brand Institute, its brand scouts and expert bodies can compete.

The winners are chosen by an independent jury of brand experts in different disciplines, including professors of design and business representatives with a background in marketing and brand management. They take a close look at brand-typical features and presence and check inter alia how much the brand sets itself apart from the competition and how independent it is.

www.mayerandcie.com