1970 to 1989
From the crisis years to the electronic age
Jul. 1970
65th anniversary
In the year of the 65th anniversary, Mayer & Cie. delivers the 25,000th circular knitting machine.
Sep. 1970
Manufacturing in the USA
Series production of circular knitting machines starts at the newly built Orangeburg / South Carolina plant to meet the strong demand in the USA.
Jul. 1971
High spirits at the in-house trade fair
Around 2,000 invited international visitors come to Tailfingen to see eleven current circular knitting machines. In favour of its in-house trade fair, the company, like many German textile machine manufacturers, refrains from participating in the ITMA, which takes place in Paris in the same year. Among other things, electronic control systems used in the OVJA 36 E will be shown at the in-house trade fair.
1971
The end of an era
On December 26th 1971, company owner Emil Mayer, honorary citizen of the city of Tailfingen, dies at the age of 66.
1972
Record order volume
Mayer & Cie. can no longer meet the demand for its machines in a timely manner. Customers are willing to wait two to three years for a machine. Sales this year reached DM 150 million. Every month, around 160 machines leave the Mayer plants.
1973
Rainer Mayer on the helm
In addition to Peter Mayer, 24-year-old Rainer Mayer becomes Managing Director of Mayer & Cie.
Nov. 1973
The Great Oil Crisis
Within a few months, the price of oil rises by 400 percent, taking with it the price of the petroleum-based polyester yarn, the basis for jacquard fabrics. Overnight, the boom for jacquard knitting machines is over. The large order backlog of Mayer & Cie. bursts like a soap bubble and a long time of restructuring follows. Thanks to the wide range of machines and a good export quota, the company is able to weather the crisis-ridden decade much better than many of its competitors.
1977
Manufacture of braiding machines
The American dependence, Mayer Industries in Orangeburg, South Carolina, defies the textile crisis with the construction and development of braiding machines.
1983
Pioneering developments
With the development of relative technology and electronic single needle selection, the long economic standstill comes to an end.
Oct. 1987
Economic recovery
The presentation of the Relanit I and Relanit IV at ITMA Paris. These machines will become absolute bestsellers in the following years.
1988
Relanit series production
Relanit goes into series production. It is THE step into a new single jersey technology.