Wolf emphasized the strategic importance of the China operation within the group, stating that the organization in the region stands out with its customer-oriented approach, flexibility, and high performance. It was noted that China is now among the key markets for KARL MAYER. The company’s structuring in China was shaped by strategic steps taken in the mid-1990s. In line with its globalization vision, KARL MAYER aimed to establish production facilities in its core markets and, in this context, began operating directly in China. The expectations regarding China’s future potential at that time have now turned into a concrete success story.
The company’s first steps in China date back even earlier, to the early 1980s. Collaborations with the Wujin Textile Machinery Factory in Changzhou created an important foundation both for joint production and for the development of knitting technologies.
From joint venture to full ownership
Established in 1995 with Wujin and NIPPON MAYER, KARL MAYER WUJIN Textile Machinery Co., Ltd. stood out as one of the first foreign-invested enterprises in the region. Starting operations with 400 employees on a 70,000 square meter area, the company was fully incorporated into KARL MAYER within four years. KARL MAYER (China) Ltd., founded in 2005, further strengthened the company’s presence in China. Moving to a new production facility of 175,000 square meters in 2008, the company expanded its production portfolio in the following years to include warp preparation machines.
A structure strengthened by investments and capacity expansion
Focusing on capacity increases and high-end product manufacturing in the 2010s, KARL MAYER (China) continued to develop its production infrastructure through technological investments. By 2025, the company had implemented innovations such as fishbone production systems and SAP-integrated intelligent logistics solutions, investing over 150 million yuan in this area. The new showroom opened in 2024 stood out as an important showcase reflecting the company’s innovation and design strength. Selected products, trend themes, and new solutions from different business units are exhibited in this space. Today, employing around 750 people at its Changzhou facilities, KARL MAYER (China) continues to strengthen its position within the global production network with the experience gained over 30 years. The company continues to expand its production and service capacity for both regional and global markets through its structure in China.
