German Mayer & Cie. with important planned investments
For 2015 and 2016 Mayer & Cie. (MCT), the circular knitting machine manufacturer, is planning substantial investments in technology, facilities and personnel. Investments totalling about EUR four million are scheduled aiming to expand the capacities in the production line in all locations, to modernise the company’s own machinery and comply with new software requirements.
Foundation of the company’s future success and expansion is laid in Germany – that is agreed upon at Mayer & Cie. For the headquarters of the family-run business in Albstadt investments of about three million Euros are budgeted. On top of that employee numbers will further be increased just as in the years before. Above all, in assembly and production there will be new personnel to attend to the company’s full order books.
A restructuring and modernisation of the building equipment at the headquarters is another part of the investment plan. MCT is a member of the Blue Competence Initiative and sets a high value on sustainability and energy efficiency. For MCT energy efficiency draws a continuous line, starting at buildings, production line and assembly and leading up to the final product, the knitting machine. Consequently, another area that is to become more efficient at the Albstadt site is machinery used for manufacturing knitting machines. After all, almost all MCT knitting machines are ‘Made in Germany’.
Apart from strengthening is headquarters MCT is scaling up production sites close to key markets which are to be found mainly in Asia. Turkey forms an exception being MCT’s single most important market. In 2014 MCT exported 210 knitting machines to Turkey, equalling a total value of around EUR 16 million.
In Asia the sales volume has continuously been increasing for years, above all in India and China. Generally speaking, the Asian market is very price sensitive and it is essential to be able to serve short term orders. Therefore, Mayer produces its MSC 3.2 II, a single jersey machine especially developed for the Chinese market, at its production site in China. Since January 2015, a double jersey machine is also available, the MDC 2.2. In order to be able to supply the continuously rising demand for the aforementioned machines, the Chinese Mayer site in the province of Shanghai moved to larger premises in April this year.
At the site in Vsetin in the Czech Republic, which MCT acquired in 2011, larger premises are also needed. At this location they manufacture the successful machines of the S- and D-series including some key components. In order to be prepared for the expected further increase in demand, Mayer & Cie. is planning the new construction of a 5000 square meter size plant in Vsetin. Start of construction is to be during the first half of the year 2015 and completion is scheduled for end of 2016. Presently, 60 people work for Mayer & Cie. in the Czech Republic, with tendency to rise.