Flat Knitting Landscape Reshuffled: Ningbo Cixing Acquires STOLL Assets, German Knitting Technology Accelerates Eastward Shift

KARL MAYER Group has formally disclosed the signing of an agreement to sell selected assets of its STOLL flat knitting business to Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. This move further tilts the global flat knitting machine competition toward China.

Background

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced a strategic decision to focus on its core businesses: warp knitting, warp preparation, and technical textiles. As part of this realignment, the STOLL flat knitting machine division was discontinued, and the production site in Reutlingen was shut down. Now, Cixing's involvement means that STOLL's technology and some production capacity will not completely exit the market but will be transferred into China's industrial clusters.

According to publicly available industry data, Cixing is a leading domestic flat knitting machine manufacturer, with a well-established supply chain in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and surrounding areas. The acquisition is not a full takeover but a purchase of "selected assets." This suggests Cixing will gain core technology patents, part of the production lines, and brand licensing rights, but likely not the complete German factory or all personnel.

Industry Impact

The significance of this deal lies first in the leap in technological generations. STOLL has decades of accumulated expertise in computerized flat knitting, particularly in pattern design systems, intarsia techniques, and fully fashioned knitting. By acquiring assets, Cixing can bypass long R&D cycles and directly obtain market-proven mature technologies.

For buyers, this signals a structural shift in the supply landscape of flat knitting machines. Historically, the high-end market has been dominated by German STOLL and Japanese Shima Seiki, with Chinese manufacturers mainly competing in the value segment. If Cixing can successfully digest STOLL's technology and achieve localization, it will directly challenge the pricing system of the high-end market.

However, technology transfer is never just about moving blueprints and equipment. The tacit knowledge of German engineers, the precision standards of the supply chain, and the brand's long-accumulated process database—these soft assets remain a huge question mark regarding whether they can be fully replicated in Ningbo factories. Many foreign equipment brands have faced quality control issues when landing in China.

Practical Advice

For Buyers - Monitor Cixing's subsequent capacity ramp-up progress and quality certifications. It is recommended to request third-party quality comparison reports on the first batch of localized STOLL models before making purchasing decisions based solely on brand reputation. - For existing customers relying on STOLL's pattern design system, confirm with Cixing in advance whether the technology transfer includes software upgrades and after-sales service scope to avoid system gaps.

For Foreign Trade Enterprises - This transaction may prompt European clients to reassess "Made in China" high-end equipment. Foreign trade companies can leverage this opportunity to emphasize the technological heritage and localized cost advantages when quoting European buyers. - Keep a close watch on whether Cixing retains STOLL's R&D or after-sales service points in Germany. If only manufacturing is kept while European service windows are closed, it could impact response times for export business to Europe.