The KARL MAYER GROUP, a leading global supplier of textile machinery, and the Lenzing Group, a leading global manufacturer of wood-based specialty fibers, have formed a strategic partnership. The aim of the cooperation is to create a more environmentally friendly textile value chain: the collaboration is intended to increase the proportion of plant-based, biodegradable and fossil-free materials used in the production of textiles on both warp knitting and flat knitting machines.

In warp knitting, the aim is to use up to 100% vegetable and biodegradable fibers and filament yarns - specifically TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers and TENCEL™ Lyocell filament yarn. The sustainable products should also convince with an appealing look. The processing of the sustainable materials can create additional possibilities in terms of performance and appearance of knitted fabrics.

The processing of CO2-neutral TENCEL™ fibers on STOLL machines in the production of fully fashioned flat knitted articles ensures less environmental impact in the flat knitting mill. The special, low-waste knitting process was used to produce an ultra-fine flat knitted fabric on gauge 20 machines suitable for the production of underwear. The fully fashioned process is new in this field. usually, the process steps of cutting and sewing belong to the production of underwear.

With this cooperation, the KARL MAYER GROUP and Lenzing are offering manufacturers new perspectives. By using plant-based and fossil-free fibers during the production process, they can achieve extremely low CO2 emissions, thus meeting the consumer behavior of today's consumers, who are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy. "A leader in the manufacture of textile machinery, the KARL MAYER GROUP always has its finger on the pulse of its markets. In addition to efficiency, sustainability has become a key success factor for our customers. We work with pioneers throughout the textile value chain to offer our customers solutions with a low environmental impact. Yarn is particularly important in this regard. In our cooperation with Lenzing, we want to expand the processing spectrum of our materials to include petroleum-free yarn variants. This is not only a contribution to greater sustainability, but also opens up potential for new product developments," explained Arno Gärtner, CEO of the KARL MAYER GROUP.

The strategic cooperation between the KARL MAYER GROUP and Lenzing represents an important step by the two companies to lead the industry into a more sustainable future. It underscores their commitment to helping partners in the textile chain reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chains with value-added solutions and innovations. "As a key industry player, Lenzing continues to join forces with like-minded partners to provide breakthrough solutions that improve the quality of textile products and support continuous sustainable development and growth of the industry. Through our partnership with the KARL MAYER GROUP, we will inspire the textile value chain to proactively strive to achieve their climate goals by facilitating the use of plant-based and biodegradable materials, thereby also meeting the demands of brands and consumers who are asking for environmentally conscious products," said Florian Heubrandner, Vice President Global Textiles Business at Lenzing.

The KARL MAYER GROUP and Lenzing will showcase a range of concept products, technical samples and fabrics at their booths (Hall 2-E212 and Hall 4-B-119) at the upcoming ITMA 2023 trade show to illustrate the innovation potential for the knitwear sector opened up by the collaboration. From this point on, partners in the textile value chain can contact Lenzing and the KARL MAYER GROUP to discuss how they can achieve greater sustainability in their own operations.