International textile machine manufacturer KARL MAYER announced the opening of its new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE (TIC). The TIC brings together the latest developments in Warp Knitting, Technical Textiles and Warp Preparation – KARL MAYER’s core areas of expertise. The company invites all textile professionals to the opening week to be held between 21-24 April 2026 in Obertshausen, in parallel to Techtextil in Frankfurt.
Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER said that with the TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE, they are strongly focusing on textiles as the heart of our industry and the growth engine for their customers, commenting: “The TIC marks a key milestone in KARL MAYER’s strategic orientation. We are investing in innovation, quality and partnership-based development so that our customers not only remain competitive, but also have access to innovative textiles that open up new business areas for them.”
At KARL MAYER’s headquarters in Obertshausen, a “place to be” for the international textile industry is being created: a place that inspires, connects and supports customers in translating their textile innovation into market success. At the centre of textile excellence with almost 5,000 m2, the entire textile world is able to come together to exchange knowledge, develop ideas, create innovative fabrics on the right machines and make important contacts.
“The size and equipment of the new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE are unrivalled in the world”
Karl Josef Mayer, representative of the Mayer family and patron of the TIC said that the size and equipment of the new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTRE are unrivalled in the world and continued: “Here, we are aiming at the Medici effect basically a renaissance of the textile industry – it’s about preserving and building up textile know-how and textile technology, as well as developing innovative textile solutions.”
The TIC will offer:
Inspiration at a glance
Visitors will gain an overview of proven and promising textile developments as well as future trends. A spacious showroom and an open, curated sample archive function as an ‘inspiration hub’, encouraging new ways of thinking about materials, structures and applications.
Close collaboration with textile experts
At the TIC, customers will work directly with KARL MAYER’s textile experts, gaining access to comprehensive expertise ranging from materials and processes to machinery and end-use applications.
From idea to marketable solution
The TIC will accompany not just customers, but fibre manufacturers and especially brands throughout the entire development process, from the initial idea to the implementation of a near-market prototype on the latest machines. And this goes for all their goals, whether new textile developments, new product launches or sustainable solutions.
A platform for exchange and networking
As an open meeting place, the TIC will bring together the right players from across the entire textile value chain. “Connected Textile Innovation” – from fibre to consumer.
Training courses for professionals
The well-established KARL MAYER Academy will become part of the TIC in future, offering specialised training courses for customer technicians, brand employees and its own service technicians as well as students in textile-related fields.