Karl Mayer is celebrating 20 years of KAMCOS, the pioneering control system that revolutionised warp knitting machine operation worldwide. Originally introduced at ITMA Birmingham in 2003, the system became officially known as KAMCOS - Karl Mayer Command System - in 2005, marking the start of a new era in textile machinery control.

Larissa Ruhmann from the Corporate Communications team at Karl Mayer took the anniversary as an opportunity to talk to the experts about the changes that have taken place in warp knitting, but also to find out more about trends and future innovations. Mario Görner, who played a key role in the work on KAMCOS 1 in the early 2000s, and Dr Philipp Erler, Head of Control Platform at Karl Mayer's Warp Knitting business unit, met with her for an interview.

KAMCOS set industry standards by introducing full touchscreen operation to warp knitting machines—an innovation that was met with internal scepticism at first but ultimately proved transformative. “We were the first to launch a warp knitting machine with pure touch-screen operation,” said Mario Görner, one of the original developers. “The advantages were convincing, particularly the standardised interface for entering and retrieving article data.”

Ten years later, KAMCOS 2 was unveiled at ITMA 2015. This next-generation system introduced remote software updates, and a redesigned user interface focused on usability and modern aesthetics. Developed with input from users and service personnel, the interface earned the 2016 iF Design Award in the Communication - Apps/Software category.

Looking to the future, Karl Mayer continues to evolve KAMCOS 2 under the leadership of Dr Philipp Erler, Head of Control Platform for Warp Knitting. “We aim for two major releases a year, each adding features that improve machine productivity and align with Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 principles,” Erler explained. “The integration of IT and OT is enabling more efficient development and robust cyber security, especially as regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act come into play.”

The core philosophy behind KAMCOS remains unchanged: one system for all machines. “We’ve learned that traceability, user-friendliness, and intuitive operation are key,” said Erler. “Balancing individual customer needs with a clear, configurable interface is essential.”

As Karl Mayer reflects on two decades of KAMCOS, it remains committed to setting standards in machine control while preparing for the challenges and opportunities of the digital future.

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