Digitization at the fore for Karl Mayer at ITMA Asia + CITME

Obertshausen - As a pioneer in warp knitting and other textile machinery building, Karl Mayer says its is following a broad digitization strategy, a key element of which is supporting its customers with new digital solutions under a new umbrella brand.
The initiatives behind this strategy will form a key part of the Obertshausen-based firm's presentation at the upcoming ITMA Asia + CITME trade fair, along with examples of some of the latest warp knitting technology developments.
The firm's digitization strategy is being coordinated by Antonia Gottschalk, the Head of Digitization who notes that the basis for progress in this field this is an efficient network.
From March 2018, Karl Mayer has been part of ADAMOS, an alliance made up of industrial and software companies. At the end of 2017, the company also set up its own start-up company in Frankfurt, known as the Digital Factory to develop new, innovative digital business models, products and services. In future, these will be combined under a new umbrella brand, which is being launched at ITMA Asia + CITME. 
Karl Mayer will also present its own solution for networking its machines. This digital solution has been designed to  provide its customers with transparency in real time regarding the performance of their machines and can be used in the company’s own network with very little modification.
“The mega trends of digitalization and sustainability are changing the world as we know it," says Karl Mayer’s Managing Director, Arno Gärtner. "As an innovative global market leader, we see these changes as an opportunity for our customers. At ITMA Asia + CITME, we will be showing our visitors how Karl Mayer is implementing these strategic themes, digitalization and sustainability by delivering integrated solutions offering a wide range of advantages.”
The latest generation of machines in show will include, for the first time, the widest high-speed tricot machine in the world, the HKS 3-M in a width of 280 ins.
According to Karl Mayer, this new machine delivers maximum flexibility for the usual product repertoire. Unlike previous generations, this latest machine can produce articles of different widths and more fabric webs simultaneously on just one machine. The unique performance of this machine will be demonstrated with the production of a velour fabric in a gauge of E32.
Also on show will be the first TM model with KAMCOS 2. The TM 3 in a width of 186 ins, which is equipped with the next generation of the Karl Mayer Command System, retains the tried-and-tested features of the HKS version. These include an operator interface with functions based on smartphone technology and an integrated laser stop system as well as data access via mobile devices using the Karl Mayer Connect app. In Shanghai, this efficient, flexible machine will be producing a tough fabric in a gauge of E32, demonstrating a number of ecological benefits. For example, the textiles produced on this model can be used as a substitute for fabrics produced by water-jet weaving, a process that requires high effluent loads.
Issues of sustainability will also feature elsewhere on the Karl Mayer booth with features such as the LEO Low Energy Option, which can reduce energy consumption during machine operation by between 9.5 and 13%, depending on the type of machine. Costs and CO2 emissions can also be reduced.
Visitors will also be able to learn more details about the technology transfer project being carried out by the Chinese central government and regional authorities in Wujiang Shengze. One of the aims of this project is to replace the environmentally harmful looms in this industrial area with Karl Mayer’s warp knitting machines offering a comparable product portfolio. The TM 3, with its broad product portfolio, has been identified as a particularly good alternative with the tricot machine in operation at the exhibition.
Alongside this will be the Terry.Eco concept for the environmentally friendly production of terry goods, the core element of which is the TM 4 TS-EL machine. Depending on the type of product being produced, this cotton terry warp knitting machine can produce up to 250% more fabric and consumes approximately 87% less energy per kg of textile than air-jet looms, Karl Mayer says. Sizing can be dispensed with, which reduces energy, water and effluent loads. The TM 4 TS-EL will be on show at Karl Mayer’s in-house show in Changhzou.
Elsewhere, the company will also be holding an in-house show with demonstrations of selected machines for the Chinese market at its facility in Changzhzou.
On show for the first time will be the new COP 5 M-EL, 180 ins, five-bar tricot machine. This machine will be producing a shoe fabric in a gauge of E20, just one of the fabrics in its extensive production repertoire. The electronic guide bar control facility and five guide bars make the machine extremely flexible.
Visitors will also see a new machine representing the RD series. This new model is part of the RD 7 series and puts the emphasis on speed. This high-speed machine will be producing a shoe fabric in a gauge of E 22 at, says Karl Mayer, speeds that have never been achieved before.
Completing the line up will be the TM 4 TS-EL, the versatile terry warp knitting machine for processing cotton. In Changzhou, the TM 4 TS-EL with a 186 ins width will be producing a double-face fabric in a gauge of E28 with fluffy micro-fibres on the outside and absorbent cotton on the inside.