The historic German circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie has officially resumed operations following a successful acquisition that shifts the company into a new era of globalized production. Now operating as Mayer & Cie Global, the Albstadt-based firm has transitioned to new ownership led by Xu Hongjie, whose family controls the China-based Huixing Machinery. This strategic reboot marks a pivot from traditional European industrial structures toward a more agile, "customer-first" philosophy. The new management intends to combine established German engineering thoroughness with a streamlined, fast-response operational model designed to shorten development cycles and reduce organizational complexity in a volatile textile market.

Technical continuity anchors albstadt research and development

Despite the change in ownership, the company has confirmed that it’s strategic core - including research, development, and high-end production—will remain firmly rooted in Albstadt, Germany. To ensure institutional knowledge is preserved, the newly formed entity has rehired a specialized team of 50 industry veterans from the previous organization to lead design and product management. This move is designed to reassure the premium segment that the brand's 120-year legacy of precision and durability remains intact. By leveraging the global sourcing networks and economies of scale provided by Huixing, the firm aims to optimize its cost structure while maintaining a strictly independent brand identity centred on high-quality single and double jersey solutions.

Market re-entry targets major 2026 textile exhibitions

The transition comes as the company prepares for an aggressive return to the international trade fair circuit, beginning with ITM 2026 in Istanbul. This presence will serve as a critical proof of concept for the ‘restart’ strategy, showcasing at least two current machine models to global buyers. The company is also prioritizing market intelligence through attendance at Techtextil in Frankfurt, with further major exhibits planned for ITMA Asia in November and a large-scale return to ITMA Hannover in 2027. This phased re-entry underscores a medium-term objective to reclaim a leading position in the global textile machinery market by focusing on the ultimate value of the machine’s output: the quality of the knitted fabric itself.