Karl Mayer has launched an ultra fine 50 gauge (E50) version of it its well established tricot warp knitting machine here at ITMA. The HKS 2-3E is said to produce "the finest warp knitted fabric on the planet."

The 50 gaugePolyamide/Lycra fabric being produced on the HKS 2-3E at the show had beautiful drape and handle properties which were evocative of Belgian company Liebaert's Nanostitch fabrics which appear in recent Lise Charmel collections.

The sheer flowing drape and smooth handle of the 50 gauge warp knitted lingerie fabric seemed to have a look and touch that some even some finer gauge weft knits do not have.

Running at incredibly high speeds of up to 3200rpm the machine can knit 35 courses/cm at take up, yielding a healthy 6.3kg/hour of fabric.

The HKS 3-2E is offered in 130 inch working width in gauges E28, E32, E36, E40, E44 and now E50. Gauges E28, E32 and E36 are offered in 180 inches working width and E28 and E32 are also offered in 210 inches working width. Other gauges are available by request.

The HKS 2.3E has individual needle bar and tongue bar synchronously milled, compound sinker, and two ground guide bars. All bars are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic. Both yarn let-off and fabric take-up are electronically controlled.

The machine is also fitted with Karl Mayer's KAMCOS system with Touchscreen/ Operator Interface-IPC, Motion Control/ Single Speed for the control of basic functions. KAMCOS also allows Ethernet interface for interconnection of machines via network and connection to relevant MDE systems, patterning systems and Teleservice. Laserstop integrated yarn inspection is optional.

KARL MAYER, a company that was founded in 1937, has been a supplier of specialist textile machines for almost 75 years, and is now a global leader in warp knitting, raschel and warp preparation machines. The headquarters of this family run company are in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt. The group employs a global workforce of more than 2,000, and had a turnover of roughly €400 million in 2010.

The company says it has a bright future ahead of it, thanks to the leading position it occupies in its markets and its solid financial position, which is based on its high equity ratio.

Karl Mayer currently operates within the following business units:

Warp Knitting Machines, including lace, tricot and raschel machines for producing premium, non-stretch and stretch lace, functional underwear and clothing, seamless garments, plush fabrics, net curtains and semi-technical products. Machines for producing special textiles, e.g. for medical applications, and warping machines for producing warps for warp knitting are also included in this group.

Warp Preparation, covering warp preparation machines for warp knitting and weaving, such as sizing and assembling machines for processing spun and synthetic yarns, indigo dyeing machines and creels

Technical Textiles - a relatively new product group that concentrates on machines for producing strong, dense textile substrates and open grid-like constructions made from e.g. glass or carbon fibres for reinforcing composites

Components Production - a high-tech production centre that supplies high-quality components for Karl Mayer's machines, as well as to outside customers. This business unit focuses particularly on lightweight components produced from CFRP materials.

Karl Mayer has been constantly expanding its global presence since the 1950s, and the company now operates via subsidiaries in the USA, the UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, China and Switzerland.