Mayer & Cie. draws a positive balance for 2018, faces new challenges in 2019

With sales of around EUR 110 million Mayer & Cie. can draw a positive line under the year 2018. In spite of considerable fluctuations in the textile machinery market the family-owned Albstadt firm held its own and even achieved a slight increase on sales in the previous year. “2018 was a very challenging year,” said Benjamin Mayer, Managing Director of Mayer & Cie., commenting on the past 12 months. “We had a great first half until trade policy developments led to a marked decline.” Mayer & Cie. was affected most by turbulence in Turkey, traditionally one of the company’s most important sales markets. In addition, the trade conflict between the United States and China unsettled the entire global economy. “2018 again once more made it clear that the textile market and with it the demand for circular knitting machines is repeatedly subject to strong fluctuation,” he concluded.

Against this backdrop the integration of a successful line of business, the manufacture of braiding machines, should prove to be a good investment in the future. Unlike the currently declining market for circular knitting machines the outlook for sales of braiding machines is excellent. “From today’s perspective the production of braiding machines is fully booked until the end of 2020,” Benjamin Mayer said. After comprehensive preparations in 2018 series production began punctually in January 2019 at Mayer & Cie.’s Albstadt headquarters. In establishing a second mainstay that is independent of the first, Mayer & Cie. is making itself significantly less reliant on the state of the textile economy.

In the circular knitting machine sector the downturn in demand can be offset by in-house measures. Mayer & Cie. is also looking at countries like Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, where developments are positive. The company particularly anticipates a positive impetus from the leading industry trade fair, ITMA, to be held this June in Barcelona. That is why Benjamin Mayer’s outlook for the new year remains confident. “We are looking forward to 2019 in spite of all of the challenges,” he said, “because our company is well positioned as regards our portfolio of machines, our corporate structure and our market position”.