Reutlingen, Toronto - Flat knitting machine builder Stoll and Myant Inc., the Canadian textile computing company, have announced a strategic and exclusive collaboration to develop the smart textile sector in Canada and the US.
According to Stoll, the collaboration will see at least 500 of the latest flat knitting machines from Stoll 'rolled out' to help commercialise the smart textile industry.
"(The collaboration) will have a direct impact on the smart textile manufacturing industry worldwide as it raises the bar and sets a new gold standard for functional computing textiles," the companies said in a statement. "Myant and Stoll share the vision of disrupting the textile industry with new advancements in Industry 4.0, material science and technical applications for high quality products made in North America. Stoll’s machines combined with Myant’s end-to-end innovations, from molecule to garment, from textile to wardrobe will truly revolutionize the world of textiles and create a new economy."
Stoll and Myant will use this exclusive collaboration to field enquiries covering the research, development and engineering of this new domain of functional computing textiles.
Announcing the deal Andreas Schellhammer, Chief Executive Officer of Stoll, said: “Stoll and Myant are aligned in the vision to create a new gold standard for functional computing textiles. Stoll has a longstanding commitment to be a leader at the forefront of growth and innovation in the textile industry.
“Our collaboration with Myant represents a completely new approach to smart textiles. The demand for smart fabrics has never been higher as companies race to create garments, wearables, industrial, defense, healthcare and household items to connect humans to the Internet of Things. Myant is leading the creation of a new economy in functional computing textiles with Stoll machines. They have the vision and the right interdisciplinary team to make this a global revolution.”
Tony Chahine, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Myant, added: “Myant and Stoll are taking a big step to democratize manufacturing and resuscitate a ‘making’ culture in Canada and the US. Our goal is to reduce the barriers to entry in textile innovation and production and promote collaboration between scientists, doctors, engineers, designers, students, and anyone with a creative idea."
He continued: "I believe that true innovation is only possible when the inventor can actually make the invention. The Stoll machines will have a massive impact on commercialization in the smart textile industry, which is in need of disruption, and will help to speed up the prototyping to production cycle.”
The collaboration coincides with Myant’s plans for expansion into the Canadian and American university-affiliated textile technology centres, featuring Stoll machines. The endeavor will require new disciplines, curricula, and expertise to be developed in the engineering, material sciences, design and manufacturing fields, which is the reason universities and colleges are an essential component of the ecosystem.
Founded by Tony Chahine in 2010, Myant employs an interdisciplinary team which is creating the world's first computing platform that ambiently interfaces with humans through textiles. Myant's 80,000 sq. ft. facility in Toronto Canada is an end-to-end textile supply chain with a state-of-the-art knitting division, a printed electronic lab and a traditional cut-and-sew operation.
Myant's mission is to create a digital human presence through a textile ambient interface to connect every human being to self, others, and AI. Myant has developed significant proprietary technologies as well as its own signature consumer brand of smart apparel called SKIIN.
