#Composites

2026-03-31

KARL MAYER strengthens partnerships in the composites industry at JEC World 2026

Successful trade show appearance and in-depth discussions

KARL MAYER booth at JEC 2026 © 2026 KARL MAYER

KARL MAYER further strengthened its role as a reliable and competent partner to the composites industry at JEC World 2026. The global market leader in textile machinery manufacturing used the trade show to meet key customers, establish numerous new contacts, and engage in in-depth technical discussions.

Market challenges and new opportunities thanks to innovative applications

A key topic of discussion was the recent business situation. Given the tense global climate, many customers – particularly in Western markets – are feeling uncertain and holding back on investments. At the same time, countries such as the U.S. and Turkey were represented with large joint booths in Paris. The Chinese composite value chain has also discovered JEC World in Paris and made a strong showing – from fiber manufacturers to end users. All market participants are facing significant competitive pressure.

„More than ever, our customers are looking for new application areas to secure their position. In discussions with them, we were able to highlight numerous new perspectives. There were some very engaging conversations, particularly regarding the pultrusion profiles at our booth,” explained Hagen Lotzmann, President of the KARL MAYER Business Unit Technical Textiles.

Pultrusion technology as a driver of innovation

These long profiles with complex chamber structures are created through the completely novel use of non-crimp fabrics from KARL MAYER KARL MAYER multiaxial warp knitting machines in the pultrusion process.

The discussion raised many questions, but also highlighted exciting applications, such as corrosion-free frames for solar panels or support structures in the construction industry.

KARL MAYER offers further opportunities to learn more about these innovative pultrusion profiles at Techtextil – Booth 12.0/B79 at Messe Frankfurt – and during the concurrent Opening Week of its new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in nearby Obertshausen. Register here.

Growing interest in carbon applications

In addition, the KARL MAYER team noted growing interest in carbon applications at JEC World. Discussions with visitors, the trade show‘s innovation award, and the exhibits of many exhibitors all highlighted forward-looking developments in this area. The mobility and transportation sectors, in particular, are promising. Carbon composites are being used more and more extensively in the automotive industry –for example, as battery housings or in underfloor construction – and are finding a completely new field of application in drone construction. The COP MAX 5 from KARL MAYER is a proven and established machine for manufacturing reinforcements for composite components.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

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MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

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JEC World 2026 confirms its standing as the unmissable event for composites and their applications

JEC World 2026 confirms its position as the leading global event for the composite materials industry and its applications across multiple sectors, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem in Paris for three days of business, innovation, and collaboration. True to its Pushing the Limits motto, the 2026 edition delivered outstanding results despite travel disruptions worldwide. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 50 countries, including over 150 first-timers, presented a global panorama of products, equipment, and services across the entire composites value chain.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

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