#218 Inside KARL MAYER TIC: Full Textile Innovation Centre Tour Warp Knitting to Warp Prep

What does a full-scale textile innovation environment look like—from yarn preparation to finished applications?In this episode of #Composites360onTour, Ilkay Özkisaoglu (Thought Leader in Advanced Materials & Co Founder of Composites Lounge) conducts a complete engineering walkthrough of the KARL MAYER Textile Innovation Centre (TIC) in Obertshausen, Germany, recorded during the Grand Opening on April 21, 2026.This is not a showroom visit.This is real industrial textile production with full process transparency. 🧵 Warp Knitting: Speed, Precision, VersatilityThe tour begins with KARL MAYER’s HKS tricot machines:• HKS 3-M EL PLUS (E14) → coarse gauge for thick yarns and open structures (footwear, medical, technical textiles)• HKS 2-SE (E40, 4100 rpm) → fine gauge elastic fabrics (sportswear, swimwear)• HKS 3-M EL (186", E28) → versatile applications including automotive roof linings• HKS 4-M EL → extended pattern capabilities for furniture and technical fabricsKey insight:👉 Operators validate quality at low speed (“turtle”) before switching to production mode (“rabbit”). 🧶 Raschel Technology: Pattern & FunctionThe second part covers Raschel machines:• MJ 92/1 F (Jacquard) → lace structures with post-processing (clipping yarns)• RS 2 NET → net production for agriculture and sports o integrated film-to-yarn conversion (FTL aggregate)o machine produces its own yarn from raw film• TM 4-TS EL (210") → terry towel production with brushing for loop formationKey innovation:👉 Direct transformation from raw material to final product within one system. 🏭 Inspiration Hub & ApplicationsThe TIC integrates engineering with application:• Textile archive with up to 100 years of developments• Pattern cards including machine parameters• Applications across: o workwearo medicalo defenseo fashionEngineers can: 👉 reverse-engineer fabrics👉 reduce development risk using proven setups ⚙️ Warp Preparation: Where Quality BeginsWith Tobias Kraus, the focus shifts to warp preparation:• Creel systems with up to 2000 packages• PROWARP HT sectional warping o width: 3600 mmo speed: up to 1000 m/minCritical controls:• FILGUARD monitoring → stops machine immediately on yarn break• Uniform yarn tension across all ends• Controlled beam build-upAdvanced system:• MULTIMATIC 128 o 128 yarn guides for color and pattern flexibilityCore takeaway:👉 Every fabric quality is defined in warp preparation. 📍 Why This Episode MattersThe TIC provides a complete textile value chain in one place:• yarn preparation• fabric formation• application validationFor textile engineers and operators, this means: 👉 real machine insight👉 process understanding👉 quality control visibility 🎙️ Featuring• Ilkay Özkisaoglu (Composites Lounge)• Melanie Bergmann (KARL MAYER)• Tobias Kraus (Warp Preparation Expert) 🔜 Up NextA second episode will focus on technical textiles and composite applications.🌐🔗Visit Our Website:▶Website 1: https://www.dersocialceo.com▶Website 2: https://www.compositeslounge.com▶Website 3: https://www.imbeo.de▶Website 4: https://www.contentcreatorclub.de🌐🔗Follow Us: LinkedIn▶ / imbeo  ▶ / content-creator-club  ▶ / compositeslounge  ▶ / der-social-ceo  #️⃣🔥Hashtag:#Composites360OnTour #JECWorld #IlkayÖzkisaoglu #JECWorld #CompositeIndustry