KARL MAYER Exceeds Expectations At ITM 2026
KARL MAYER has reported a highly successful participation at ITM 2026, held in Istanbul from June 9–13, despite entering the event amid concerns over rising domestic costs and intense competition from low-priced Asian markets.
The textile machinery leader said the exhibition delivered stronger-than-expected results, reaffirming the value of innovation, customer proximity and localized support in a challenging market environment.
Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER.
“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,“ emphasized Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER.
The company’s presence at ITM combined technological innovation with strong regional engagement. KARL MAYER received significant support from its representative ERKO, while its Turkish subsidiary played a central role throughout the exhibition.
According to the company, discussions at the exhibition were highly constructive, resulting in in-depth meetings with existing customers, strong interest in investment projects and potential collaborations, as well as the establishment of new business contacts.
While most visitors came from Türkiye, the company also noted strong attendance from Egypt and a surprisingly high level of participation from Syria.
KARL MAYER’s warp knitting exhibition focused on innovative machinery solutions and advanced textile developments designed to address current market demands.
Axel Wintermeyer, President of KARL MAYER’s Warp Knitting Business Unit
“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,” said Axel Wintermeyer, President of KARL MAYER’s Warp Knitting Business Unit, after the opening day of ITM.
Türkiye continues to strengthen its position as a major nearshoring and vertically integrated manufacturing hub, offering flexibility and shorter lead times. However, increasing inflation and labour costs have made competition in low-cost apparel segments increasingly difficult.
To address these challenges, KARL MAYER showcased the HKS 4-M EL ECO, a machine developed to maximize productivity and enable rapid responses to changing market requirements, particularly within the fashion and apparel sector.
The machine’s versatility also makes it suitable for furniture upholstery and semi-technical textile applications.
A dedicated textile innovation showcase highlighted opportunities for developing new products and expanding into new business segments. Featured developments included velour, corduroy and plain upholstery fabrics, terry warp knits, open-mesh curtain solutions, lightweight performance fabrics for sports and athleisure, and apparel products made from staple fibres.
The showcased applications generated considerable interest among visitors, with KARL MAYER’s textile specialists providing on-site technical support and expertise. Insights gathered during these discussions will be further explored at the company’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER.
Technical textiles emerged as another key discussion area during the exhibition, particularly applications related to geotech, buildtech and billboard sectors.
Although challenging economic conditions have slowed investment activity, KARL MAYER’s Technical Textiles Business Unit successfully generated interest in its machinery portfolio, strengthened existing partnerships and established new customer contacts.
KARL MAYER’s Warp Preparation Business Unit also reported positive outcomes from the exhibition.
Visitors showed strong interest in automation technologies aimed at reducing labour dependency and improving operational efficiency, particularly given rising labour costs in Türkiye.
Among the highlights were the company’s MULTI-MATIC warp sampling machines and the PRODYE indigo dyeing system. The team conducted numerous project-oriented discussions that are expected to continue over the coming quarters while also supporting visitors seeking technical information and guidance.
The company’s Care Solutions division also attracted significant attention during ITM 2026.
With expertise in maintenance support, spare parts availability and digital service offerings, the division helps customers maximize machine performance while minimizing downtime.
Visitors showed particular interest in KARL MAYER’s customer portal, which provides 24/7 access to digital tools and services, including the company’s WEBSHOP, enabling customers to efficiently manage service and spare parts requirements.
Overall, KARL MAYER concluded that ITM 2026 successfully reinforced its market position, strengthened customer relationships and highlighted continued demand for innovative, productivity-driven textile manufacturing solutions.
