Santoni will Premiere its very latest Santoni seamless machine at Santoni Days from 5-7 June 2008 at its Brescia headquarters. On show will also be an updated range of Santoni, Sangiacomo (Socks & Seamless), Matec, Vignoni, Mec-Mor and Tecnopea machines.

About Santoni

Santoni was founded in 1919 as the first Italian socks machine manufacturer and in 1988 it entered the prestigious Lonati group, worldwide leader in the production of sock and pantyhose machines. Since then, the company has lent its name to the “Seamless” phenomenon, becoming a worldwide leader in the production of electronic machines for garments without seams.

Today Santoni claims to meet 97% of the worldwide demand for seamless machines, whose use, make possible the development of a growing success diversified in various sectors of the garments market (underwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear e medical wear).Thanks to the potentiality and versatility of their machines, the company has moved from the production of machines for underwear, to the last conquest; the production of machines for knitwear

The Seamless story

Seamless was born as a phenomenon of collective custom, a sort of new way of approaching the apparel culture. Seamless production is at the same time strongly connected with the story and the evolution of Santoni as a Company.

The challenge in the Seamless machinery field took place in the 1980s, as a result of the crisis and the following strong drop of production in the hosiery industrial segment. At that point the Lonati Group introduced the LM1 machine, a prototype knitting machine, which was built using a technology similar to the hosiery one.

The introduction of the Seamless product has revolutionized the global production process. This was really an innovative discovery that allowed the knitting of ready-made apparel , something very different from what had been done up to that moment.

Since 1997 , diversification came into the whole Group when the Santoni core business focused on the development and the production of electronic circular knitting machines for Seamlesswear. Today,this Brescia Group, is present in 72 countries at an international level and is able to satisfy 97% of the world demand of Seamlesswear machines. At the same time it continuously develops a growing success in all areas of the apparel industry ( underwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear and medicalwear).

Recently the company has also been awarded with the Quality Certification Uni En Iso 9001 SGS. Despite the worldwide demand Santoni fulfills, its customers number no more than 400, focussed on innovation and quality research of the product developed on Seamlesswear machines.

The introduction of the SEAMLESS product has revolutionized the global production process

This change took place by using 2 (two) different series of machines, the so-called:

-single jersey SM8 machines, and double jersey SM9 machines families.

These machines give direct way to the realization of finished products ready to be put into the commercial distribution channels, and reduce to a minimum standard the usual steps of the production process. This means high saving of industrial and working costs. The technological development consists in the fusion of two fields : the hosiery one, joined together with knitting technology. As far as the educational and training aspects are concerned, the SANTONI GROUP has been organizing for a few years courses on the advanced technology of its machines for SEAMLESSWEAR.

These Courses focus on Software Design, on the machines features which are fully illustrated, together with the most important producers of fibres and yarns support.

A staff of technicians and designers leads the trainees through the whole production process of seamlesswear collections by demonstrating the various passages of the productive cycle (development, knitting, washing, dyeing, sewing and boarding). Santoni School has become a laboratory to find out, make innovation and create prototypes that once tested by customers and stylists, will be produced and distributed in the market , thanks , as well, to our partners support. Having bet on the continuous research and on revolutionary software systems the Group could reach remarkable results with its machines: Tubular Fabrics without seams, laid-in elastic yarns inserted in the welt bands and equipped with areas having gradual compression. These processes take place with remarkable savings (they cost 40% less than those knitted with the traditional systems). The challenge for SANTONI is assuring the market a technology able to fulfil Fashion demands. Therefore the garments knitted on SANTONI machines merge Fashion with functional performances as they allow the making of different stitches like rib, net, jacquard, piquet, stripes, laces, as well as pre-shapen structures, hidden supports, pockets, collars and hoods. All that implies strong costs saving in man power, performance and electrical energy, fabric stock, fabric wastes; these last ones sometimes are even resettled. SANTONI SEAMLESSWEAR has become a product fulfilling the market needs with the proper timing , because it allows to get to the finished garment in a few minutes starting from the yarn and without passing through cutting and sewing operations.

The SEAMLESS concept spread all over the world with a surprising quickness. Within only three years the seamless underwear products reached in 2001 9% of the global production in this industrial segment, compared with the quote of 2% reached in 1998 , with an exponential growth of 18% in 2003. In 2007 the forecast indicate an increase of 35% in the same underwear industrial segment.

Santoni submit the entire production process to continues and constant controls, who guaranteeing the perfect respondency to the functionality, reliability and safety requirements, requested to our machines. In Santoni, the Quality Department makes a constant monitoring of the machines and all their components. This controls are made from the warehouse acceptance of the mechanics groups externally made, till the machinery delivery to the final customer.

During the pre-assembling phase, the operator affixes special test stickers to the single mechanics components. These stickers highlight the positive results of the tests. Once the acceptance control is passed, the machine is moved to the pre-assembling department. The machine is equipped with a card in which the configuration is indicated. This card will stay together with the machine during all the production phases. The operator signs the card, before moving the machine to the pre-testing department.

During the pre-testing phase a real run test is made together with the check of the electronic parts and the calibration and adjustment of the mechanics parts. The operator completes a control sheet for each machine, on a bases of a specific reference manual, in which all the verifications are indicated.

In the Testing room, with the last regulations, the machine starts a production test: This further step let verify all the work possibilities and the real functioning of the machine. The technician draws up a sheet in which all the checks made are indicated. The person in charge of the testing room signs the card.

In the shipping department, the packing procedure is again checked, controlled and guaranteed by the signature of the person in charge on the machine card. This card will be filed in the quality records.

At last, the declaration of conformity is issued and signed by the Production Director and the machine can be delivered to the final customer.

Research and development

SANTONI is an innovate and vanguard company where the research has always represented a bearing pillar and a primary strategic commitment.

The R&D center, created inside the company, put into action the spirit of innovation of the company and laid down the bases for a successful future and worldwide sector leadership.

Highly specialized engineers and technicians project machines able to produce technology- innovative garments who anticipates new trends, new needs, apart from being an incentive to the sells.

The technical Office for the informatics programming and the “Experience Room” for the mechanic designs, work in perfect synergy for experimenting, projecting and realizing new components and new machines. Constant controls and monitoring on machines, are guaranteeing the observance of the quality, reliability and safety parameters.

The R&D department is working in close contact with the Fashion and technology Department from whom they receives creative inputs necessary for the upgrade and for the evolution of the technology item. The close co-operation with the most important group customers and partners allows a sharp and upgraded monitoring of the trend and market evolution.

SANTONI is certified ISO9001.

Source: www.santoni.com