In July 2026, in Obertshausen, Germany, KARL MAYER added a new model to its RASCHELTRONIC series—the RJ 4/2 EL. According to publicly available industry data, the machine's core selling point is its 'body mapping' capability, which enables more precise jacquard and elastic knitting control, allowing a single fabric to transition from high-stretch support zones to breathable mesh areas within the same knitting cycle. For brands that have long relied on lamination or post-finishing to achieve functional zoning, this technical shift implies a fundamental restructuring of fabric development logic.
Technical Route and Industry Positioning
The RJ 4/2 EL is not a simple upgrade. From its technical specifications, the machine features four guide bars, two of which are dedicated to jacquard control, paired with an electronic traverse system. This means pattern repeat length and elastic transition zones are no longer limited by mechanical cams. Mills can now precisely program different stretch modulus zones on the same piece of fabric—for example, a sports bra underband requires high recovery support, while the upper cup area needs to be lightweight and breathable. Previously, such zoning often required panel cutting and adhesive lamination; now one machine can accomplish it in a single process.
For warp knitting mills, the switching cost is a real barrier. The electronic control system of the RJ 4/2 EL demands higher digital programming skills from operators, whereas traditional warp knitting machine operators are mostly accustomed to mechanical adjustments. This implies that mills adopting this machine must simultaneously upgrade their technical teams or establish closer process support partnerships with the equipment maker. KARL MAYER's press release emphasizes 'opening new creative development possibilities for mills and brands,' signaling that the manufacturer is shifting from selling machines to selling solutions.
Impact on Procurement and Supply Chain
This technical development directly impacts the procurement logic of the lingerie and sportswear supply chain. Traditionally, brand designers propose zonal functional requirements, and fabric mills achieve them through multiple trials and lamination processes. The existence of the RJ 4/2 EL means fabric mills can complete structural zoning in a single knitting step, shortening development cycles, reducing downstream processes, and lowering the risk of stiffness caused by multiple lamination layers.
For buyers, equipment capability will become a new supplier evaluation dimension. In the past, judging a warp knitting mill mainly depended on the number of machines, fabric width, and yield rates of conventional elastic fabrics. In the future, buyers will need to assess whether a mill possesses electronic jacquard and zonal elasticity programming capabilities. This could lead to a wave of small and medium-sized mills losing high-end orders due to technological lag, while creating a premium space for those that have already invested in digital warp knitting.
On the other hand, design departments at sportswear and lingerie brands must also adjust their collaboration workflows. When fabric itself can be 'programmed' for functional zoning, communication between designers and process engineers must move upstream to the pattern design stage. This means brands may need to establish dedicated 'fabric programming' roles or set up joint development mechanisms with warp knitting mills, rather than waiting for fabric samples and then making secondary modifications.