World leading textile machinery group Karl Mayer has denied claims that its Karl Mayer Stoll site in Reutlingen, Germany, is set for closure, after the group’s decision to exit the flat knitting sector.

According to a report in the local Reutlinger General-Anzeiger (GEA) newspaper, staff were informed of significant cutbacks during a company meeting by Frank Wittel, chairman of the group’s works council.

Speaking to the GEA, however, Wittel refuted claims suggested by readers of the newspaper that the site faced closure.

“If there were an alternative, Karl Mayer would not stand in the way and potential investors will be supported,” he said.

While headquartered in Obertshausen, the flat knitting machine division in Germany primarily operates from the Reutlingen site, which handles production, sales and service and currently employs 286 people. The workforce is now hopeful that possible new investors will secure the site’s future.

Karl Mayer acquired the long-established Stoll company, founded in 1873, in 2020. At the time of the acquisition, the Reutlingen-based firm employed 450 people. Karl Mayer itself is a family-owned business founded in 1937 in Obertshausen and currently has more than 2,800 employees worldwide.

Significant losses

In a separate report in the Offenbach-Post, Uwe Lüders, who has served as chairman of Karl Mayer’s advisory board since 2017 and took over as interim manager at the beginning of the year, said the group has been struggling with declining sales in its textile and warp knitting machinery business and incurred relatively high losses over the past two years. 

He also acknowledged that drastic cuts would be necessary in Reutlingen. “This year will still be challenging, but by 2026, Karl Mayer should return to profitability,” Lüders said.

To cope with the sales slump, the company has implemented short-time work, affecting various departments to different extents. Currently, around 15% of the company’s total work volume is impacted.

At present, there are no scheduled discussions between management and the works council regarding potential negotiations of the Reutlingen site, the GEA said.

www.stoll.com

www.karlmayer.com