Shima Seiki Unveils Latest Knitting and Cutting Tech at Istanbul Fair
At the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Japanese knitting technology leader Shima Seiki, together with its long-time Turkish representative TETAS, presented a comprehensive array of machines and software designed to reshape apparel and non-apparel production. The centrepiece was the company’s signature WHOLEGARMENT seamless complete-garment knitting — a technology that produces an entire knitted piece without sewing or linking, reducing material waste and reliance on skilled labour.
The display included the MACH2XS153 WHOLEGARMENT machine in 15-gauge with four needle beds and the company’s proprietary SlideNeedle, alongside V-bed WHOLEGARMENT models MACH2VS and a more economical option, the N.SVR183. For shaped knitting, Shima Seiki showcased its N.SVR122 flat knitting machine, while two entirely new additions to the N.SSR series — the N.SSR132 in 7-gauge and the N.SSR112 in 14-gauge — made their Turkish debut, promising industrial performance at a more accessible price point.
On the design and production management side, Shima Seiki demonstrated its subscription-based APEXFiz design software, which supports ultra-realistic virtual sampling to slash physical waste, and the SHIMA KnitManager for real-time production monitoring. The exhibit was rounded out by the P-CAM223 multi-ply computerised cutting machine, capable of cutting materials up to 80mm thick, underscoring the company’s ambition to be a one-stop supplier for automated textile operations.
What the ITM 2026 Showcase Reveals About Shima Seiki's Strategy
WHOLEGARMENT’s Enduring Technological Moat
With more than 30 years of experience, Shima Seiki remains the reference point for seamless whole-garment knitting. The MACH2XS family, featuring four needle beds and the SlideNeedle, allows production of fine-gauge knitwear all-needle, a capability few competitors match. In a global market where brands are pressured to cut waste and respond faster to trends, WHOLEGARMENT’s ability to knit a complete garment to shape, using only the exact amount of yarn needed, directly addresses both sustainability goals and the shrinking pool of skilled sewers and linkers. The technology is no longer a niche; it is becoming a strategic differentiator for manufacturers serving premium and fast-fashion segments alike.
Digital Thread: From Design to Shop Floor
Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz software is not merely a design tool. By integrating yarn development, product planning, ultra-realistic simulation, and automatic generation of machine-ready knitting data, it collapses the traditional sample approval cycle from weeks to hours. This digital thread — extended by KnitManager for production oversight — effectively turns the supply chain into a continuous, data-driven loop. At a time when brands are demanding shorter lead times and near-zero inventory risk, the ability to show a photo-realistic virtual sample and then immediately produce the physical garment on a connected machine represents a genuine competitive edge that goes beyond hardware speeds.
The N.SSR Offensive: Democratising High-End Flat Knitting
By introducing the N.SSR132 and N.SSR112 in Turkey, Shima Seiki is signalling it intends to defend its core shaped-knitting market against lower-cost Asian and European rivals. These machines promise the company’s latest knitting innovations — likely including features like improved carriage systems and digital stitch control — but in an economical, reliable package “made in Japan.” For the many mid-sized Turkish apparel contractors that form the backbone of the country’s garment exports, such machines could offer a path to automate complex shaping without the premium of the top-tier N.SVR series, potentially expanding Shima Seiki’s installed base significantly.
Istanbul as a Strategic Showcase
Shima Seiki’s decision to entrust this full-range presentation to TETAS and the ITM fair is not incidental. Istanbul has long been a crossroads for textile buyers from Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. By demonstrating its latest iron alongside TETAS — a partner with deep local market knowledge — the Japanese manufacturer is reinforcing its commitment to a region where a large installed base of existing flat knitting machines is due for a technology refresh, and where rising labour costs are accelerating automation demand.
What the Showcase Means for Textile Manufacturers and Investors
- For apparel manufacturing groups — Evaluate whether WHOLEGARMENT knitting (especially the MACH2XS or the cost-conscious N.SVR183) can replace manual sewing and linking for specific product categories, quantifying potential savings in skilled labour and material waste. The technology’s minimum-material-per-piece promise can improve margin in high-yarn-cost items.
- For mid-sized Turkish and regional contractors — The new N.SSR112 and N.SSR132 offer Shimani’s latest shaped-knitting know-how at a price that may fit into an upgrade cycle now. Request comparative productivity and uptime data versus your existing fleet to build a business case.
- For design and product development teams — APEXFiz’s virtual sampling capability can compress the design-to-production timeline and eliminate multiple physical prototypes. Integrating it with SDS KnitPaint-Online can create a seamless digital pipeline that directly feeds knitting machines.
- For textile machinery investors and analysts — Watch for any post-show order announcements that validate Shima Seiki’s push into the economical segment and its ability to convert interest in WHOLEGARMENT into tangible sales in a key transit market like Turkey.
Risk & Opportunity Assessment
| Commercial Risk | Low | The exhibition is a marketing event, but failure to convert interest into orders would delay revenue recognition in short term. |
| Competitive Risk | Medium | Rival flat knitting manufacturers such as Stoll (Karl Mayer) and Lonati may counter with their own seamless or cost-effective solutions at similar regional fairs, threatening Shima Seiki’s value proposition. |
| Regulatory Risk | Low | Textile machinery faces no near-term regulatory headwinds specific to the Turkish market; general trade restrictions remain a background risk. |
| Reputation Risk | Low | Any technical failure during live demonstrations would reflect poorly but is limited to attendee perception and can be mitigated by experienced partner support. |
| Technology Disruption | Medium | While Shima Seiki is the incumbent in WHOLEGARMENT, the growing availability of alternative seamless knitting methods and advances in 3D weaving or direct panel printing could eventually challenge the whole-garment knitting paradigm. |
| Commercial Opportunity | High | By showcasing WHOLEGARMENT and digital design at ITM, Shima Seiki is positioned to capture orders from a region actively seeking to replace manual labour with automation and to meet brand sustainability targets. |
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