Karl Mayer Opens Global Hub For Textile Innovation

Karl Mayer has announced the opening of its new Textile Innovation Center (TIC), reinforcing its commitment to advancing textile innovation and creating new growth opportunities for the global textile industry. The state-of-the-art facility brings together the latest developments in warp knitting, technical textiles and warp preparation, the company’s core areas of expertise.

The TIC represents a key milestone in Karl Mayer’s strategic focus on textiles as the industry’s central growth engine. “With our Textile Innovation Center, we are investing in innovation, quality and partnership-based development so that our customers not only remain competitive, but also gain access to innovative textiles that open up new business areas,” said Lutz Wolf, CEO of Karl Mayer.

Located at Karl Mayer’s headquarters in Obertshausen, Germany, the TIC is designed as a collaborative hub for the international textile community. More than just an infrastructure investment, the centre aims to foster creativity, knowledge exchange and market-relevant solutions, supporting customers in translating textile ideas into commercial success.

Spanning nearly 5,000 square metres, the TIC is among the largest textile innovation facilities worldwide. According to Karl Josef Mayer, representative of the Mayer family and patron of the TIC, the centre seeks to trigger a renaissance of the textile industry by preserving textile know-how while developing innovative, future-oriented solutions.

The facility features an expansive showroom and open sample archive offering insights into current developments and future textile trends. Customers will have direct access to Karl Mayer’s textile specialists, covering expertise across materials, processes, machines and applications.

The TIC will also support the full innovation journey from concept development to near-market prototypes, serving fibre producers, manufacturers and brands alike. As an open networking platform, it aims to connect stakeholders across the textile value chain, from fibre to finished product.

In addition, the Karl Mayer Academy will operate from the TIC, offering specialised training programmes for technicians, brand professionals and students. To mark the launch, Karl Mayer will host an opening week from April 21 to 24, alongside Techtextil Frankfurt, featuring innovation tours, expert talks and networking events.