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Cixing Acquires the STOLL Brand and Core Assets from Germany, Aiming for the Future of High-End Fashion, Technical Textiles, and Unmanned Knitting
Time:
2026-06-18 09:51
FRANKFURT, Germany — On June 15, 2026, Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. (stock code: 300307; hereinafter "Cixing"), a global leader in the computerized flat knitting machine industry, formally signed a strategic acquisition agreement in Frankfurt with representatives of the owner of the STOLL brand — which has a history of over 150 years. Under the agreement, Cixing will acquire select core assets of the STOLL brand. The move marks a decisive step in Cixing's international growth strategy and is poised to reshape the global landscape of knitting machinery and high-end textile supply chains.
A Century-Old Temple of Technology Excellence: An Inimitable Brand Moat
Founded by Heinrich Stoll in Reutlingen, Germany, in 1873, STOLL holds a “temple of technology” status in the global flat knitting sector. From inventing the world's first hand-operated purl flat knitting machine to launching the first computerized flat knitting machine and the first professional pattern design system, STOLL — through "German precision engineering" and more than a century of sustained innovation — has become synonymous with high-end knitting technology. Its CMS and ADF series of computerized flat knitting machines are renowned across the industry; in particular, its "Knit to Wear" and "Multi Gauge" technologies have fundamentally transformed the flexibility and efficiency of knit production.
In industrial applications, STOLL machines moved beyond fashion long ago. They are widely used to produce automotive seat covers, medical bandages, high-performance uppers for athletic footwear, and even three-dimensional fiber composites for the aerospace sector. Today, roughly 130,000 modern STOLL flat knitting machines are in operation worldwide, and the STOLL brand has maintained branches, sales outlets, and service centers in more than 100 countries. From Europe's leading fashion houses to Asia's large-scale manufacturers, customers have embedded STOLL technology ecosystem deep within their own Research and Development processes. This moat — built from technology patents, process know-how, a loyal customer base, and a global service network — constitutes the enduring core value of the STOLL brand.
A Powerful Alliance: Three Clear Strategic Directions
Cixing brings powerful industrial manufacturing capabilities, a large-scale supply chain system, and an extensive sales network to the global computerized flat knitting machine field. The aim of this strategic acquisition is to draw on Cixing's industrial resources to inject fresh growth momentum into STOLL, further expand its business across Europe and the Asia-Pacific, and ensure that customers worldwide gain access to higher-quality, more competitive knitting solutions.
Building on STOLL long-accumulated technological heritage and breadth of applications, Cixing has defined three strategic directions:
First, deepening presence in the high-end fashion and luxury supply chain. STOLL machines have long been used by the world's top luxury and designer brands to produce complex knitted fabrics and garments, and its “Fashion and Technology Center” provides in-depth support to designers worldwide. Cixing will consolidate this advantage and deliver more competitive, cutting-edge knitting solutions to the high-end fashion industry.
Second, expanding into technical textiles. STOLL has a deep vertical customer network in B2B fields such as automotive seat covers, medical bandages, and industrial filtration. Going forward, Cixing will further develop high-growth applications — including electronic skin for humanoid robots, smart wearable textiles, and high-performance composites — bringing German precision-engineering capabilities into emerging industry sectors.
Third, developing knitting robots for unmanned knitting factories. Combining STOLL's accumulated process know-how with Cixing's experience in automation and intelligent manufacturing, the two will jointly develop a new generation of intelligent knitting equipment, advancing knitting plants toward unmanned, "lights-out" operation and leading the industry into the Industry 4.0 era.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter of Glory for a 150-Year-Old Brand
This strategic acquisition is more than an asset transaction; it is a deep integration of two industry-leading brands across technology, markets, and talent. Cixing will fully respect STOLL's brand spirit and technological heritage and, drawing on its own manufacturing strength and global network, ensure that STOLL customers continue to receive consistent, high-quality service and innovative products. Together, the two companies will strengthen the global computerized flat knitting machine landscape, offer customers more advanced and intelligent knitting solutions, and breathing new life into the 150-plus-year glorious STOLL brand under fresh growth momentum.
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