Steiger, a leader in advanced flat knitting technologies, has confirmed the success of its composite preform production technology, following the integration of its knitted parts produced on the VEGA 3.130 T into the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, which now commercially available. The achievement marks a significant milestone in Steiger’s diversification strategy, setting the stage for expansion into higher-volume industries.

Looking to build on this success, Steiger is now targeting sectors such as automotive, robotics, and drone manufacturing. A key step forward was a recent visit to the Institute of Textile Machinery and High-Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TU Dresden, where Steiger representatives, alongside James Li, Vice-President Innovation of Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd., met with Professor Chokri Cherif and researcher Matthias O. The TU Dresden team presented their research using Steiger machines, highlighting the future potential of the innovative knitting technology.

In China, the push among electric vehicle manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight has accelerated interest in lightweight composite solutions. Cixing Group, Steiger’s parent company, sees significant potential for these knitted composite preforms to meet industry demands for lighter, more sustainable components.

“Our long-standing partnership with TU Dresden enables us to push the boundaries of this technology and open new opportunities across industries,” a Steiger spokesperson commented. The collaboration aims to bridge research and industrial applications, ensuring that advanced knitting techniques play a central role in the next generation of lightweight engineering solutions.

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