Karl Mayer is celebrating 20 years of Kamcos, its pioneering control system that revolutionised warp knitting machine operation. First introduced at ITMA Birmingham in 2003 and officially named in 2005, the Karl Mayer Command System (Kamcos) brought a touch-screen interface to knitting machines an industry first.
Mario Gorner, a key contributor to the original Kamcos, recalls the risks and rewards of early innovation. "We launched the first warp knitting machine with pure touch-screen operation, which was a bold move," he said. "It streamlined data entry, centralised control functions, and improved ease of use."
Kamcos 2 debuted at ITMA 2015, further simplifying machine handling and remote serviceability. The upgraded platform introduced a web-based user interface, praised for its aesthetics and awarded the 2016 iF Design Award in the Communication Apps/Software category.
Philipp Erler, Head of Control Platform at Karl Mayer’s Warp Knitting unit, said the evolution of Kamcos is now being guided by Industry 4.0 and 5.0 principles. “We’re merging IT and operational technology to boost efficiency and meet new cyber security regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act,” he explained.
With two major software releases annually, Karl Mayer remains committed to usability, security, and cross-platform compatibility. “One Kamcos for all machines remains our core philosophy,” said Erler.
As Kamcos enters its third decade, the company is focused on maintaining clarity, flexibility, and user-friendliness while enabling customisation for future-ready warp knitting solutions.
