1940 to 1969
War, reconstruction and “Economic Miracle” years
May 1945
End of the Great War
After the end of the war, the entire material warehouse and the best machine tools are requisitioned by the Allies.
1946
Restart
Despite agonizing uncertainty about the future of the German industry, Mayer & Cie.’s restart is taking place with fifty employees. The need for circular knitting machines exceeds 50 times the production capacity. The order books are full for many years. State-of-the-art machine tools and equipment are purchased.
1954
From craft to industrial enterprise
Mayer & Cie. now employs 300 people and manufactures 300 circular knitting machines per year.
Plant 2 at the current company site is being built and inaugurated in 1955 for the company’s 50th anniversary. Export turnover rises to DM 1 million.
1958
Mayer do Brasil founded
Mayer do Brasil is founded as a service base and production facility for interlock machines for the South and North American market. For Mayer & Cie., the export of its machines becomes an increasingly indispensable pillar.
Dec. 1958
A big loss
On December 8th 1958, company founder Johannes Mayer, winner of the Great Federal Cross of Merit, dies at the age of 82. Until the end, he was the “first worker in his company”. After his death, the production of the round chairs is ceased.
1961
The third generation
Peter Mayer joins the Management Board after completing his studies.
1966
Purchase of MS Spaichingen
The newly acquired and immediately expanded Spaichingen machine factory starts with 50 employees as an extended workbench of the headquarters in Tailfingen. It manufactures circular knitting machines.
1967
The legendary OVJA 36
Presentation of the legendary OVJA 36 at ITMA Basel. This machine will be sold more than 7,000 times in the following years and will gain fame among knitters worldwide.
1968
10,000th circular knitting machine
The jubilee machine leaves the Tailfingen plant – an OVJA 36 – and is installed at Riedinger Textil AG in Augsburg.
1969
1,500 employees
Every year, a total of 1,280 knitting machines leave the Tailfingen, Spaichingen and Mayer do Brasil plants. The Mayer Group is now the world’s most important circular knitting machine manufacturer.