For more than 120 years, Mayer & Cie. stood as one of the most respected names in circular knitting technology. Renowned for German engineering excellence, precision manufacturing and durable knitting solutions, the company built a legacy that shaped generations of textile production worldwide. Yet, like many traditional industrial manufacturers navigating an increasingly volatile global market, the iconic brand eventually faced one of the most difficult chapters in its history. Today, however, Mayer & Cie. is scripting a remarkable comeback story.
Under the leadership of 32-year-old Chinese entrepreneur Xu Hongjie and backed by the industrial strength of Huixing Machinery, the German circular knitting pioneer is restarting operations with renewed energy, sharper market focus and a modern management philosophy designed to restore profitability and global leadership.
What makes this turnaround particularly compelling is that it is not merely a financial rescue. It is the revival of a historic German premium brand through a fusion of traditional engineering values and a new generation’s entrepreneurial agility.
A Historic Brand Finds a New Lifeline
When Mayer & Cie. entered insolvency proceedings last autumn, uncertainty surrounded one of the textile machinery industry’s most recognized names. The company’s headquarters in Albstadt, Germany, long regarded as a center of innovation in circular knitting technology, faced an uncertain future.
The turning point came when Xu Hongjie, a second-generation entrepreneur from Shishi, China, decided to acquire and revive the business. Xu, who has spent more than a decade working within the family-owned Huixing Machinery Group, saw not just a struggling company, but an opportunity to preserve and strengthen a globally respected premium brand.
“We are convinced of the unique value of the brand, the quality of the machines, and are deeply impressed by the technical expertise of the new team,” Xu stated following the successful completion of the transaction.
The acquisition brings together two strong forces in circular knitting machinery — Mayer & Cie.’s 120-year German engineering heritage and Huixing’s fast-growing industrial manufacturing ecosystem in China.
Preserving German Engineering Excellence
One of the strongest assurances from the new management has been its unwavering commitment to preserving Mayer & Cie.’s German identity and premium positioning.
Research & development, production and key administrative operations will continue to remain in Albstadt. Xu Hongjie has repeatedly emphasized that Mayer & Cie. will remain a German premium brand, developed and manufactured in Germany.
For the textile industry, this is a critical message. Mayer & Cie. machines have long been associated with precision, reliability and long-term durability — attributes that remain essential for premium circular knitting operations worldwide.
The company’s broad portfolio covering single jersey, double jersey, interlock and jacquard machines for apparel, underwear and home textiles will continue to target the premium segment globally.
A New Management Philosophy Built on Speed and Simplicity
While preserving its engineering roots, Mayer & Cie. is simultaneously embracing a far more agile and customer-responsive management structure.
Xu Hongjie’s philosophy is straightforward: “Listen, execute, improve — and do it fast.”
This mindset represents a notable shift from the slower, more layered operational models often associated with traditional European industrial organizations. Under the new leadership, the company aims to operate with shorter decision-making paths, less complexity and greater openness in communication.
The guiding principle for the transformation is equally clear: “Simplify, digitize and renew.”
This combination of German technical rigor and Chinese operational agility may ultimately become the defining strength of the new Mayer & Cie.
A Customer-Centric Transformation
At the core of the turnaround strategy lies a renewed emphasis on customer requirements and fabric outcomes rather than simply machine sales.
The company now intends to focus more deeply on the fabric produced by its machines — recognizing that the real value of a knitting machine lies in the quality, efficiency and innovation it enables for customers.
“Mayer & Cie. machines serve the outcome our customers achieve with them,” explained Axel Brünner, the company’s long-standing head of product management.
This customer-centric approach extends beyond product development. Xu Hongjie has openly stated that if customers encounter problems, the company’s responsibility is to solve them quickly — even repeatedly if necessary.
Such responsiveness reflects the operational culture that helped Huixing grow into a globally recognized circular knitting machine manufacturer, particularly in mattress ticking applications.
Rebuilding with Experience and Continuity
A key strength of Mayer & Cie.’s restart is the return of experienced personnel. The newly formed Mayer & Cie. Global currently comprises around 50 employees across design, product management and sales, many of whom previously worked for the company before insolvency.
This continuity is particularly important in textile machinery manufacturing, where decades of technical know-how, machine expertise and customer relationships play a decisive role.
Xu Hongjie himself has become deeply involved in the turnaround process, reportedly spending nearly 80 percent of his time in Germany overseeing the revival efforts and rebuilding customer confidence.
Leveraging Global Scale and Industrial Strength
The turnaround is also supported by Huixing’s extensive industrial capabilities. Headquartered in Shishi, China, Huixing has evolved into a diversified industrial group operating seven major production facilities spread across more than 300,000 square meters of manufacturing infrastructure.
Beyond textile machinery, the group has expanded into software development, AI applications and industrial internet technologies, offering Mayer & Cie. access to broader technological and manufacturing resources.
The new management also plans to streamline Mayer & Cie.’s cost structures through global sourcing strategies and economies of scale generated in cooperation with Huixing.
Returning to the Global Stage
The company’s return to major global exhibitions signals growing confidence in its revival strategy.
Mayer & Cie. will participate at ITM 2026 in Istanbul with current machine models on display, while preparations are already underway for ITMA Asia and ITMA Hannover 2027.
These exhibitions will play a crucial role in re-establishing customer confidence and showcasing the company’s renewed direction to the global textile industry.
A New Chapter for a Legendary Brand
The revival of Mayer & Cie. is more than a corporate restructuring story. It represents the convergence of legacy engineering excellence and next-generation industrial entrepreneurship.
At a time when many traditional European machinery manufacturers face mounting pressures from changing global dynamics, Mayer & Cie.’s transformation demonstrates how heritage brands can reinvent themselves without losing their identity.
The road ahead will certainly demand disciplined execution, market responsiveness and sustained innovation. Yet, the foundations being laid today — customer-centricity, operational agility, global manufacturing strength and technological continuity — suggest that Mayer & Cie. is not merely returning to business.
It is preparing to redefine its future. For the global knitting industry, the comeback of Mayer & Cie. is not just the survival of a historic brand. It is the emergence of a new model where tradition and transformation work together to create long-term industrial resilience.