Japan’s Shima Seiki Mfg, Ltd and Italy’s Lonati S p A have joined forces to accelerate digitalization and sustainability in the sock manufacturing sector. The strategic collaboration focuses on combining Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz design software and Lonati’s Orion programming software to modernize how sock designs are developed and brought to market.

Traditionally, sock production has relied heavily on physical samples for design approval and prototyping a process that consumes time, materials, and labor. The partnership aims to disrupt this model by enabling “3D Virtual Sampling,” allowing companies to visualize, verify, and adjust sock designs digitally before production begins. This eliminates the need for physical prototypes, thereby reducing costs, cutting lead times, and lowering environmental impact.

Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz, already widely used in the industry, allows designers to create and review sock designs in real time. The upcoming APEXFiz Design-Sox will offer even more specialized capabilities tailored for sock design. Meanwhile, Lonati’s Orion software, part of its Unlimitex suite, enables users to evaluate technical design data in 3D, helping identify and correct issues before production.

Both APEXFiz Design-Sox and Orion are slated for launch in June 2025. The integration of these tools will streamline the entire workflow from digital design to manufacturing enhancing efficiency, product quality, and speed to market.

By merging design creativity with technical precision, Shima Seiki and Lonati’s alliance sets a new standard for innovation in the sock industry, offering a competitive edge through sustainable and intelligent production practices.