KARL MAYER Technische Textilien has developed a new warp knitting machine with weft-insertion and thus further differentiated its range offer in this field. The new model, WEFTTRONIC II G, is specifically designed to produce light to medium-heavy grid structures.

The stable grid textiles are used as plaster grids and geogrids, as well as carriers for grinding discs – and are produced efficiently on the WEFTTRONIC II G. Geogrid fabrication is now 60 % more productive compared to the previous version.

In addition, less expensive yarns can be processed into high-quality textiles: the textile glass fibre material can cost up to 30 % less than leno fabric production. The first WEFTTRONIC II G was ordered by the Polish manufacturer HALICO in early 2019, followed by orders from China in December.

"During our most recent trip to China just before Christmas, we were able to win over two new customers for our company," said Jan Stahr, Sales Manager of KARL MAYER Technische Textilien.

Both companies, Shandong Qiyad and Zibo Glasstex (Shandong Fiberglass), are major players in the industry. After purchasing one machine each, they hinted that they may invest in further WEFTTRONIC II G models.

Shandong Qiyad is a company privately owned by the Ma family. Mr Ma Xingwang Senior holds shares in two other companies, led by his son and nephew respectively. The companies use around 750 rapier looms in total for their production and thus offer efficiency potential.

Depending on product quality, between 13 and 22 rapier looms can be replaced by just one WEFTTRONIC II G. KARL MAYER Technische Textilien offers intensive service support to ensure a seamless changeover to new technology and to a state-of- the-art machine. 

The state-run Zibo Glasstex is better known as Shandong Fiberglass. The company has made a name for itself internationally as a manufacturer of glass fibres, rovings and textiles. It is among the top 5 manufacturers of glass fibres in China. The company’s customers in this sector include manufacturers in Eastern Europe who are already operating machines by KARL MAYER Technische Textilien.

Following the successful introduction of the technology with the first WEFTTRONIC II G, Zibo Glasstex plans to invest in further machines. According to the company, it intends to work a market with an annual volume of 2 billion m² of textile glass fibre material and to achieve a significant market share. Zibo Glasstex therefore intends to invest in further machines in the mid-term.

In order to gain a better understanding of the possibilities relating to glass grid structure production, the new WEFTTRONIC II G machine will be available for customer trials at KARL MAYER (CHINA) in Changzhou from June 2020. A wide range of equipment options and patterning possibilities will be available to suit a diverse manufacturing process. The different offers can be tested as part of these processing trials.

While working on the machine, customers can get a feel for how the design of the fabric influences its properties and product output, and how this correlation can be used to achieve greater efficiency.