Chicopee - Lamb Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company, the Massachusetts, US-based manufacturer of warp and weft knitting machines is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

The company was formed in 1867 and started the production of flat v-bed latch needle knitting machines in Chicopee. The first machines of its type, Lamb machines were manufactured under a U.S. Patent issued to Pastor Isaac W. Lamb with sales markets emerging across the US and Europe.

In 1893, the company merged with A.G. Spaulding and changed its name to Lamb Manufacturing Company. In addition to manufacturing flat and circular knitting machines, the company also produced bicycle frames, rifles and shotguns.

The company ceased operations for two months in 1931 and then was reorganized as Lamb Knitting Machine Corporation, a private corporation led by four employees of the original Lamb company. Starting in 1931, Lamb focused its operation on manufacturing narrow fabric V-Bed knitting machines. These machines were used to produce trimmings for sweaters and other apparel items as well as the fingers on knitted gloves.

The company was purchased in 1956 by John W. Giokas, who guided it until 2002, incorporating semi-automatic machining into the manufacturing process and expanding the product line into small diameter circular weft and warp knitting machines. The circular machines were used to knit drawstrings, shoelaces and ropes.

The current owners, Andrew & William Giokas (second generation) joined Lamb in the 1970’s. In addition to modernizing the manufacturing process, they also developed the new Lamb knitting machines, which were designed to meet the specific needs of their customers. Other family members, Gini (Giokas) LaPalme and Amy (Giokas) Lonzcak also joined the company and are now instrumental to organization.

Amy Lonzcak is the third generation to work at Lamb and, while involved in manufacturing, she now focuses in design and prototype knitting. Two other members of the Lamb team have been with the company for over 20 years.

"A reputation for manufacturing dependable machines, providing timely and effective service to the customer, staying in tune with the needs of the customer, have been the keys to Lamb’s success for 150 years," says William Giokas. "Lamb is only one of two companies that still manufacture knitting machines in the US and is one of the few in the world that is focused on knitting machines to produce materials ranging in size from .050 ins diameter to 4 ins wide. The experience gained through the years in designing and manufacturing these types of machines and the dedication to producing a quality product has resulted in the world-wide reputation Lamb machines have for dependability."

Up to 1970, Lamb machines were primarily used to knit materials for the apparel and home furnishing industries using cotton, polyester and other man-made traditional yarns. Following this, applications for small diameter circular knits were created that used wire, fibreglass and other new type of fibres. Lamb then modified its machines so that these new fibres could be knit productively. Products knit on Lamb machines can be found in automobiles, furnaces, household appliances and in other industrial products.

Over the past 10 years, operating out of a 12,000 square foot facility in Chicopee, the company has developed a series of new applications for small diameter circular knits. As well as medical devices such as catheters, these small diameter machines are also used to knit items that are implanted into the body, such as stents and arterial grafts. These knits range in size from 1 mm to 18 mm and use cylinders with needle densities ranging from 30 to 65 needles per inch.

"Lamb has also coupled its experience in manufacturing small diameter knitting machines and researching new manufacturing techniques to develop the machines required to knit these materials," Giokas added.

The current Lamb portfolio includes the Lamb Model WK6 knitting machine a single feed machine that was originally designed to knit wire and other durable filaments, such as fiberglass and Kevlar. This machine can knit either round or tubular flat jersey materials between 1/16″ to 2-3/4″ (1.5 mm to 70 mm). The Model WK6 Machine frame, motor and Take-Down System are more robust than the Model ST3AH/ZA. This allows the WK6 to handle industrial textiles and to accept cylinders up to 3.25-inches OD. The WK6 is primarily used in industrial applications, such as filtration, hose reinforcement and gasketing.

In warp knitting, Lamb's offering includes the 2NBA/Z-250, the second type of the original Lamb 2NBA Knit Braiders. It is specifically designed to accept heavy denier yarns and to knit braid ropes and gasketing materials from 1/2″ to 1.5″ in diameter. The use of stationary packages not only eliminates the need for costly yarn respooling (bobbin winding), but also results in longer runs between yarn package changes. The 2NBA/Z-250 is available in a wide range of needle gauges for knit braiding materials such as lead ropes, gasket ropes, lantern wicks, and “braided” rugs.

For special circular warp knit applications, Lamb also offers the ECM Knit Braider which is designed for medium and fine gauge applications such as conduit sleeving and hose reinforcement.

For the flat knitting sector, Lamb offers the VR61021 which replaces the famous Lamb “V-Bed Border” machines that have been sold since 1930, many of which are still in use today. It is designed to knit flat rib, tubular jersey or a combination of both (new) in materials up to 8 inches in width, simply and dependably. Lamb says it has combined the time proven concept of V-Bed knitting with the latest in linear servo motor technology to offer the most innovative and efficient machine of its type.

In the 1870’s Lamb also manufactured the Tuttle Sock Knitter. This was a hand-cranked machine and was used in many homes to knit socks and caps. Several other similar machines manufactured by other companies followed, but none with all the features of the Tuttle, the company says. A limited number of the original Tuttle machines are still in use today by home knitters and hobbyists.

Following requests from members of the Circular Sock Knitting Machine Society and in recognition of its 150 years, Lamb has also started manufacturing a limited number of the re-designed version of the Tuttle Sock Knitter - the Lamb LT150.

UK market

The UK representative for Lamb Knitting Machines is Knitech UK Limited, headed up by Chris Johnson, Managing Director. With over 40 years of experience in the knitting sector Chris has experience as a knitting engineer, mechanic and latterly in sales and notes how Lamb, have been instrumental in developing machines to customer requests and requirements.