KARL MAYER‘s
ITM Feedback:
Better Than Expected
Positive Takeaways from the ITM, June 9–13, 2026, in Istanbul
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KARL MAYER is pleased with its participation as an exhibitor at ITM 2026. Faced with the challenges of rising domestic costs and fierce competition from low-priced Asian markets, the industry leader had traveled to Istanbul with mixed feelings – yet still draws a really positive conclusion.
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“The ITM has clearly shown that we don’t win on price, but rather through better solutions and strong on-site support – and that‘s exactly what we deliver. Proximity to the market is key to this. Most recently, in the run-up to the ITM, we visited many of our customers in Türkiye with a team of managers and experts, analyzed specific challenges, and developed targeted offers based on those findings. Being close to the market is our advantage. It ensures that our technologies pay off in the market.“
In addition to an exhibition full of innovations, visitors enjoyed hospitality with a strong regional touch at the global player‘s booth: During the trade show, KARL MAYER was effectively supported by its representative, ERKO, and its Turkish subsidiary took center stage.
A highly goal-oriented meetings
The discussions during the trade show were constructive and promising. There were in-depth meetings with customers, significant interest in investment plans and potential collaborations, and new contacts were made. Visitors came mainly from Türkiye, and a large number traveled from Egypt. Participation from Syria was surprisingly high.
The discussions during the trade show were constructive and promising.
An exhibition perfectly tailored to the market
The exhibition on warp knitting focused on innovative machinery solutions and textile developments – and it hit the mark.
"Our expectations were modest, but they were exceeded. Demand and market interest remain positive, and the discussions we‘ve had give us cause for optimism."
Türkiye is a leading hub for nearshoring and vertically integrated manufacturing. It offers flexibility and short lead times, but it also faces challenges such as domestic inflation and rising labor costs. Competing on rock-bottom prices for basic garments is becoming increasingly difficult.
The HKS 4-M EL ECO on display was developed for challenging market situations like these: to enable production with maximum productivity and a rapid response to constantly changing demands, particularly in the fashion and apparel industry.
Thanks to its wide range of textile products, the machine also excels in the areas of furniture upholstery and semi-technical applications.
A textile innovation show also demonstrated how new products and business areas can be developed and promoted, featuring highlights such as velour, corduroy, and plain fabrics for furniture upholstery, as well as terry Warp Knits, open-mesh curtain solutions from warp knitting machines, lightweight performance fabrics for sports and athleisure, as well as fashion and apparel items made from staple fibers.
There was considerable inquiry regarding the application topics, which KARL MAYER‘s strong team of textile experts responded to on-site.
There was considerable inquiry regarding the application topics, which KARL MAYER‘s strong team of textile experts responded to on-site. The professional exchange yielded approaches and ideas that will be further pursued at the manufacturer‘s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER following the trade show.
Growth Potential in Technical Textiles
In addition to traditional applications, Technical Textiles are becoming increasingly important. Discussions at the trade show focused particularly on solutions in the geotech, buildtech, and billboard sectors. However, the challenging economic conditions have dampened investment sentiment even in these areas.
Nevertheless, KARL MAYER‘s Technical Textiles Business Unit was able to generate interest in its machinery solutions, strengthen its partnerships, and establish new contacts.
KARL MAYER‘s Technical Textiles Business Unit was able to generate interest in its machinery solutions, strengthen its partnerships, and establish new contacts.
Warp Preparation: Further Strengthening of a Powerful Position
The Warp Preparation Business Unit also reported positive results. Despite the recent difficulties, visitors showed keen interest in KARL MAYER‘s innovative machinery – particularly in solutions for automating warp preparation, given the high labor costs in Türkiye. Accordingly, there was a lively professional exchange regarding the high-performance MULTI-MATIC warp sampling machines and the PRODYE® indigo dyeing system. The trade show team held numerous project discussions with clear objectives that will be pursued in the coming quarters but also assisted guests who were initially only seeking general information.
Care Solutions Stands Out with Expertise, Spare Parts, and Digital Services
The KARL MAYER Care Solutions division also made a strong impression at ITM. With its in-depth expertise, reliable supply of spare parts, and online services, it helps customers maximize the potential of their machines and reduce downtime. The customer portal also provides 24/7 access to various solutions, such as the WEBSHOP. This offering was particularly well received by ITM visitors.
With its in-depth expertise, reliable supply of spare parts, and online services, KARL MAYER's Care Solutions division helps customers maximize the potential of their machines and reduce downtime.
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KARL MAYER‘s
ITM Feedback:
Better Than Expected
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Techtextil 2026:
KARL MAYER Impresses
as an innovative sector partner - “We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER
-
KARL MAYER
strengthens partnerships in the composites industry at JEC World 2026 - Driving WARP KNIT Inspiration
- KARL MAYER (China) celebrates its 30th anniversary
- KARL MAYER at JEC: New CFRP pultrusion profiles bring mobility into motion
- KARL MAYER during Techtextil: Textile game changers in Hall 12.0/B79 and the opening of a TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen
- KARL MAYER opens a new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER – a new era of textile innovation begins
- Live more beautifully and comfortably with Warp Knits
- Movement without gears. Patterning without limits.
- India becomes growth engine for the warp knitting industry
- Innovation & customer proximity
-
One machine,
double output -
High style meets
high speed at
ITMA ASIA 2025 -
All-round support,
easy access -
Innovating Textiles.
Growing Business. - Move your business forward – with two new tricot machines
-
Giuseppe Tironi
joins the WARP PREP team
of KARL MAYER -
WE WARP FOR YOUR SUCCESS
IN WEAVING -
A new kind of lace
for that extra
special occasion - Lutz Wolf becomes CEO of the KARL MAYER Group
-
Reorientation and
a strong trade fair presence -
WE WARP.
WE KNIT.
WE CARE. -
New partnerships and increased cooperation
with Egypt -
Our clear
focus is
on our
customers! -
Christian Botschek
joins the Management Board of KARL MAYER -
Hagen Lotzmann
is the new Managing Director of KARL MAYER Technical Textiles - New positioning, new perspectives
-
Under new
leadership to
ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 -
Strengthen-
ing relationships,
new market insights - Building on practical knowledge
- High-performance machines for the Technical Textial Sector in North America
-
Good discussions,
many familiar faces -
KARL MAYER wins
trademark dispute -
Economical, flexible
and affordable -
the MAX GLASS Eco - Learning for working life
-
High-performance
warp knitting machines
for Heimtextil guests -
Innovations for warp preparation at the
cutting edge - New double raschel machine impresses with its price-performance ratio
-
Successful warp knitting machines and textile
show to master the changes of our time - ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 - springboard for new customer projects
-
Welcome to
Singapore -
Successful start
to the trade fair -
Machine premiere and new business potential
for Technical Textiles - What’s new in warp knitting?
- Business meeting with Chinese delegation at the KARL MAYER GROUP
-
Fruitful discussions and
an attention-grabbing
innovation
-showcase -
Defence is worthwhile, especially in the case
of product piracy! - BLUEDYE - for a world in which sustainability is just as stylish as a pair of jeans
-
New subsidiary,
new managing director - More efficiency and sustainability for warp preparation
- Rethinking civil engineering business with warp-knitted fabrics with weft insertion and non-crimp fabrics
- Lots of visitors, good discussions, a look at the trends
- New business momentum for the Turkish warp knitting industry
- KARL MAYER GROUP receives Techtextil Founding Exhibitors Award
- Waiting for an upwind
- Digitalization brings movement to the sports, fitness and wellbeing sector
-
Master the change
with solutions from the KARL MAYER GROUP - Well thought out: generating our own energy with solar panels
- More ecology and economy thanks to natural fibre composites and knit to shape products
- KARL MAYER TURKEY appoints General Manager
- Innovations with push effects
- First-hand knowledge provided on site
- Stronger together
- Innovations – more than just inventions
- Being there for the customer on site
- A company shows its colours
- Platform for knowledge exchange in India
- Welcome to KARL MAYER's world of sustainability
- A visit to the industry leader
- Soon with its own subsidiary in Turkey
- Uniquely flexible and profitable: Weft insertion reinvented
- An ITMA that exceeded all expectations
- Product piracy does not pay
- Flexible warp knitting machine with weft insertion and more
- Raschel machine brings smart textile projects forward
- Staying one step ahead together
- Direct approach in Indonesia
- Management change
- Mariano Amezcua, the new President of KARL MAYER North America
- KARL MAYER extends its warp preparation portfolio
- Jubilee review