Obertshausen - Karl Mayer has opened a modern training centre at its Obertshausen headquarters.
Alongside its hi-tech machinery, Karl Mayer has been offering its global warp knitting customers extensive know-how and expertise to enable them to optimally use the technical possibilities offered by their machines for more than 50 years.
Currently, the company offers these services in Germany, China and India with the success of the courses demonstrated by the fact that every year, more than 200 students are trained at the headquarters in Obertshausen alone.
The Karl Mayer Academy moved into its modern training centre at its headquarters in April 2019, and the training courses started up in the following May - with a tried-and-tested concept but at a completely new level. “We are now offering our customers courses to qualify them for manufacturing in a digital world, thus giving them the key to success in the future as well,” said Arno Gärtner, the CEO of Karl Mayer, adding that, with its bright, open architecture, its is a place that will provide inspiration, “Our guests will feel comfortable here and will be able to get to know each other and exchange ideas.
Technology
Across 755 square metres, the new Karl Mayer Academy offers three separate classrooms, equipped with top-of-the-range training equipment such as the latest HKS series. “We have invested extensively in the machinery," explained Christine Wolters, the Head of the Karl Mayer Academy. "The more the users understand the possibilities offered by our sophisticated technology, the more benefit they will gain from it."
The training machines all offer the latest high-tech features, especially with regard to the drive, control and patterning technology. They can also be used to demonstrate the possibilities offered by the digital production of warp-knitted textiles.
The academy also offers an insight into the digital features of KM.ON, and these systems extend the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of the customers’ own production processes. The training machines in the Academy are networked via k.ey – an industry PC combined with the relevant software - and provide access to KM.ON’s secure cloud systems.
Top-of-the range technology for learning and testing covers the entire production process, including warp preparation. A brand-new DS OPTO is used to demonstrate the possibilities of synergistically combining sectional warping used in warp preparation for weaving and direct warping used in warp preparation for warp knitting. This universal, hybrid principle provides maximum flexibility and economic viability when processing beams for warp knitting.
The Academy also profits from being close to the Karl Mayer Development Centre. If there is a demand for market-related courses on special machines equipped with the latest technology, the models in the innovation centre can be used for short-term training, both in terms of the theoretical and practical production of warp-knitted textiles. The foundations for additional E-training are also in place.
The academy is also located close to the Textile Makerspace, the company’s own innovation platform, which is based on exchanging information and exploiting synergistic effects. Available to creative pioneers in the textile and new technologies sectors, and providing space for testing, developing and lateral thinking, its aims are to develop new applications even outside the traditional textile machinery sector, to act as the starting point for new ideas, and to produce the first visualizations of products.
“Genuine, new textile applications are generated in an efficient, uniform process in our Textile Makerspace – from the initial thought process to the prototype. This enables product developers to arrive at innovative end-uses much more quickly,” said Michael Kieren, the main initiator of the Textile Makerspace.
The proximity to the Karl Mayer Academy ensures that ideas are developed to suit the possibilities offered by industrial production. Fabrics with individual and extremely end-use-specific requirements in terms of yarns, patterns and characteristics can be tested on the production machines used for training, using all the company’s expertise
Michael Kieren and the Makerspace community have already put some new developments in motion. Smart textiles, wearables and 3D printed garments have been the focus of various trade fairs and events for some time now.