knitting

Article by Ana sami

Knitting machines have left the concept of hand knitting far behind. The machine knitted fabrics have more even texture and knitting with machines much lesser time than hand knitting. Garter stitch, tuck stitch and many other types of stitches can be proficiently obtained with knitting machines.

The knitting machines manufacturers from the emerging markets like China, Mauritius, Bangladesh and China have ruled the industry in the first decade of the 21st century. The import and export statistics of these countries have significantly added to the overall growth of the global knitting machinery sector. The following discussion highlights the most visible trends of the industry.

The period from 2003 to 2007 witnessed strong investments in the textile machinery production that led to a striking increase in the global shipments of knitting and other textile machines. However, the recession period that began in 2008 brought a steep reduction in the import export of these machines. In fact, the year 2009 too recorded reduction in the global trade of textile machinery including knitting machines.

The electronic flat knitting machinery recoded the reduction in shipments by 12 percent in 2009. However, the circular knitting machines suppliers recorded an increase in the shipments by 20 percent. As many as 25,450 circular knitting machines were shipped that accounted for the fourth highest level since 2000. As per the reports, Asia alone contributed 85 percent of the total shipments of these machines.

China emerged as the biggest trader in the circular knitting machines, contributing 69 percent towards the global shipments. The country was followed by Mauritius, though with a large gap, as it recorded 9 percent of the total shipments. Bangladesh acquired the third position with a share of 3.5 percent while its neighboring country India recorded the share of 2 percent. Brazil and Korea too had a share in the global shipments of these machines in 2009.

Though there was a reduction in the global shipments for the flat knitting machines, the electronic machines in this category outshined the hand-operated ones. This indicates a further increase in the production and import export of the electronic or computerized knitting machinery in the future. Some of the reasons for the popularity of electronic knitting machinery are:* High quality products are obtained using computerized knitting machines that offer stable stitches and good hand feel.* The production efficiency of each item produced using an electronic machine is much higher than the hand operated machinery.* Long term use of these machines is possible as they have less possibilities of getting damaged.* In the countries like China, where labor cost is high, the use of electronic machines reduces this cost.

As the world is coming out of the recession period, one can expect the growth of knitting machines industry to be on the right track. China is going to lead the industry as per the growth trends recorded for the Chinese knitting machines manufacturers. And other countries too will increase their respective share in the knitting industry manufacturing industry.

knitting