Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery

What Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery does

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery Co., Ltd. is a Chinese industrial machinery manufacturer headquartered in Jinshan District, Shanghai, that produces seamless knitting machines, large-diameter circular knitting machines, and sock and hosiery knitting machines for textile manufacturers worldwide. The company is a subsidiary of Italian Lonati Group and operates three primary product lines — the seamless series (SM8-TR1, TOP2 FAST, EX8 FAST, SM-DJ2T, CHN-MF12H), large-diameter circular machines (ATLAS, ZENIT family, INNOTAS, PULSAR, ORION), and sock/footwear machines (STAR-D, WANMEI, SOOSAN family, X-MACHINE) — each protected by a portfolio of registered patents covering proprietary sinker-free circular knitting architecture, 8-path multi-feed systems, self-cleaning mechanisms, and intarsia knitting. In November 2023 Santoni completed the acquisition of German circular knitting manufacturer Terrot GmbH to expand production capacity, market share, and high-end technical capability.

The business model is primarily hardware sales of industrial capital equipment to B2B textile manufacturers via a direct sales force, with pricing handled through quote-based contracts rather than public disclosure. Complementary revenue streams include an online spare parts e-commerce channel (shop.santonichina.com), proprietary software licensing for the Nautilus production management system and Diagraph3 Plus programming suite, and training services delivered through the Santoni Circular Knitting (SCL) Training Center. Customer segments span seamless apparel manufacturers (intimates, sportswear, outerwear, medical and compression garments), circular knitting fabric producers, sock and hosiery manufacturers, and — via the X-MACHINE product line — knitted footwear manufacturers.

Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with sustained participation in major international textile trade shows (ITMA ASIA, SPINEXPO, ISPO Beijing), a long-running Santoni Pioneer Designer Program engaging fashion designers across 23+ seasons, and digital platforms including the My Santoni community, the knittingplatform.com sample library, and the company's spare parts marketplace. The operational footprint is global despite the Chinese manufacturing base, and the recent Terrot acquisition marks a deliberate move to consolidate European high-end circular knitting capacity under the Lonati Group ecosystem.

Name

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery

Legal name

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery Co., Ltd.

Website

https://santoni.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery is a Chinese subsidiary of Italian Lonati Group that designs and manufactures seamless, large-diameter circular, and sock knitting machines for global B2B textile manufacturers, supported by patented proprietary technology, the Nautilus production management system, and a recently expanded footprint via the 2023 Terrot GmbH acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Knitting Machinery

NAICS

Knit Fabric Mills (31324), Apparel Knitting Mills (3151)

SIC

Knitting Mills (2250)

akta.pro primary industry

Knitted Fabric Mills (IMAOABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)

Keywords

• Circular knitting machines
• Seamless knitting machines
• Sock knitting machines
• Industrial knitting machinery
• Electronic jacquard machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Jinshan

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Knitting Machinery and Equipment Sales: Santoni generates revenue primarily through the sale of industrial circular knitting machines, seamless knitting machines, and sock knitting machines to textile manufacturers. Machines are sold as capital equipment with standard configurations and optional upgrades.
2. Spare Parts and Accessories: Spare parts are sold through the company's online parts store (shop.santonichina.com), providing consumables, replacement components, and upgrade parts for Santoni machines.
3. Software and Digital Solutions: Revenue is generated from proprietary software solutions including the Nautilus production management system and Diagraph3 Plus programming software, which may include licensing, updates, and support fees.
4. Training and Support Services: Revenue from training services, including the Santoni Circular Knitting Training Center (SCL), online training videos, and seminar programs for customers and industry professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery manufactures and sells industrial knitting machinery to textile manufacturers worldwide, organized into three product lines: seamless knitting machines (e.g., SM8-TR1, TOP2 FAST, EX8 FAST, SM-DJ2T, CHN-MF12H), large-diameter circular knitting machines for single-jersey and double-jersey fabrics (e.g., ATLAS, ZENIT series, INNOTAS, PULSAR, ORION), and sock/hosiery knitting machines (e.g., STAR-D, WANMEI, SOOSAN series). The company also sells supporting proprietary software (Nautilus production management, Diagraph3 Plus programming suite), spare parts through an online store, and training services via its SCL training center.

Product overview

Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery operates as a knitting machinery manufacturer producing three main product lines: seamless knitting machines (无缝系列), large-diameter circular knitting machines (大圆机), and sock knitting machines (袜机). The seamless series includes models SM8-TR1, TOP2 FAST, EX8 FAST, SM-DJ2T, and CHN-MF12H, designed for producing seamless underwear, sportswear, swimwear, medical garments, and outerwear. The large-diameter circular knitting machine line comprises ATLAS, ZENIT, ZENIT HS, ZENIT F, ZENIT 3.6, ZENIT 2.4 JE, INNOTAS, PULSAR, and ORION models, used for single-jersey and double-jersey fabrics for underwear, sportswear, medical textiles, and home textiles. The sock machine line includes STAR-D, WANMEI, SOOSAN-SS163, SOOSAN SS-605X, SOOSAN SS-E604X, and X-MACHINE (for shoe uppers). Supporting these product lines is the Nautilus production management system (Nautilus生产管控系统), a production control software that connects to and manages Santoni and Lonati machines, offering real-time data collection and ERP integration. In 2023, Santoni Shanghai completed the acquisition of German circular knitting machine manufacturer Terrot GmbH to expand its production capacity and technological expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SM8-TR1 Seamless Knitting Machine An 8-path single-sided electronic jacquard seamless knitting machine with 2 selection points per path, three-position knitting technology, and 1 patented selection point for mesh or anti-ladder structures, designed for producing seamless underwear, sportswear, swimwear, and medical garments.
• TOP2 FAST Seamless Knitting Machine A high-efficiency 8-path single-sided electronic jacquard circular knitting machine with 2 selection points per path, three-position knitting technology with 16 selectors, capable of float/added-yarn patterns and elastic interlining for underwear, outerwear, sportswear, swimwear, and medical garments.
• EX8 FAST Seamless Knitting Machine An 8-path high-output single-sided electronic jacquard circular knitting machine with 2 selection points per path and three-position knitting (16 selectors), supporting float/added-yarn patterns with elastic yarn insertion for underwear, outerwear, sportswear, swimwear, and medical garments.
• SM-DJ2T Double-Faced Electronic Circular Knitting Machine A standard-path double-faced electronic circular knitting machine for rib fabric production, supporting continuous knitting with cast-off and divider lines, featuring patented independent stepper-motor-controlled stitch cams for rapid density and color changes within the same row, applicable to underwear, sportswear, outerwear, swimwear, home textiles, medical garments, and shoe uppers.
• CHN-MF12H Seamless Knitting Machine A 12-path single-sided electronic jacquard circular knitting machine with 1 selection point per path (12 selectors), used for high-quality pile and loop pile fabrics in underwear, outerwear, and sportswear.
• ATLAS Single-Jersey Circular Knitting Machine An ultra-fine gauge sinker-free single-jersey circular knitting machine for producing single-jersey fabrics.
• ZENIT Single-Jersey Circular Knitting Machine A single-jersey 4-track circular knitting machine family, including ZENIT, ZENIT HS, ZENIT F, ZENIT 3.6, and ZENIT 2.4 JE variants, with capabilities for LYCRA knitting, plated stripes with LYCRA, three-position knitting electronic jacquard, and 2.4 feeds per inch for high-efficiency large jacquard pattern production.
• INNOTAS Single-Jersey Circular Knitting Machine A single-jersey circular knitting machine with patented self-cleaning system that reduces equipment maintenance cleaning cycles, lowers oil consumption, decreases energy consumption, and supports networked monitoring for production metrics.
• PULSAR Double-Jersey Circular Knitting Machine A double-jersey knitting machine for producing pile and 8-lock structure fabrics, configured as a multi-functional machine with 2.8 feeds per inch.
• ORION Double-Jersey Circular Knitting Machine A double-jersey circular knitting machine for rib, pile, and 8-lock rib fabrics, configured with a 4-track needle dial, 2-track needle cylinder, and 2 feeds per inch for multi-functional production.
• STAR-D Sock Knitting Machine A 1-path single-cylinder single-sided sock knitting machine capable of producing multi-color patterns, used for manufacturing short socks and long stockings.
• WANMEI Sock Knitting Machine A sock knitting machine from the WANMEI series designed for sock and hosiery manufacturing applications.
• SOOSAN-SS163 Sock Knitting Machine A SOOSAN-series sock knitting machine (SS163 model) used for sock and hosiery manufacturing.
• SOOSAN SS-605X Sock Knitting Machine A SOOSAN-series sock knitting machine (SS-605X model) used for sock and hosiery manufacturing.
• SOOSAN SS-E604X Sock Knitting Machine A SOOSAN-series sock knitting machine (SS-E604X model) used for sock and hosiery manufacturing.
• X-MACHINE Footwear Knitting Machine A single-cylinder computerized knitting machine with 4-path reciprocating knitting and 2 selection points per direction, supporting intarsia patterns for footwear uppers, including single or double cuffs, elastic yarn insertion, three-position knitting, and arbitrary loop pile in both directions.
• Nautilus Production Management System A proprietary production management software that connects and manages Lonati and Santoni machines in a factory via standard computer networks, automatically collecting and presenting real-time production data, with remote machine operation, automatic production cycle calculation, downtime monitoring, and ERP integration via open data interfaces.
• Diagraph3 Plus Programming Software A proprietary design and programming software suite including Atlas, Quasar, Photon, and Galois modules for machine programming and fabric design on Santoni and PULSAR knitting machines.
• Santoni Spare Parts and Accessories Spare parts, consumables, replacement components, and upgrade parts for Santoni knitting machines, sold through the company's online spare parts store (shop.santonichina.com / knittingplatform.com/market).
• Santoni Circular Knitting Training Center (SCL) Professional training services delivered through the Santoni Circular Knitting Training Center (SCL), including seminars, workshops, and online training videos that educate industry professionals and customers on seamless and circular knitting technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% reduction in equipment maintenance cleaning cycles with INNOTAS system
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Terrot GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2023Santoni Shanghai completed the acquisition of Terrot GmbH, a German manufacturer of circular knitting machines, in November 2023 following regulatory approval from Chinese authorities. The acquisition aims to strengthen Santoni's position in the industry by increasing production capacity, market share, and technological expertise, particularly in high-end circular knitting products. This is part of Santoni's strategy to build a global ecosystem for the circular knitting machinery industry.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Groz-Beckert: German manufacturer of knitting machine components including needles, sinkers, and system parts. An adjacent industry participant supplying consumables and parts to Santoni and its competitors, with deep knowledge of the circular knitting industry.

Direct peers

• Shima Seiki: Japanese manufacturer of computerized flat knitting machines for whole-garment and seamless knitwear production. A leading direct competitor in seamless knitting technology serving similar fashion and apparel manufacturer customers.
• Karl Mayer: German manufacturer of warp knitting and technical textile machinery. A direct peer in industrial textile machinery with overlapping customer base of textile mills producing knit fabrics for apparel and industrial applications.
• Lonati Group: Italian parent company and a leading global manufacturer of sock and hosiery knitting machines. Directly comparable as Santoni's parent and a strategic operating partner; both share technology platforms (e.g., Nautilus) and serve overlapping textile mill customers.
• H. Stoll (Stoll Group): German manufacturer of flat knitting machines for fashion knitwear, technical textiles, and footwear uppers. A direct competitor particularly in knit footwear and fashion knitting applications where Santoni's X-MACHINE also competes.
• Mayer & Cie: German manufacturer of circular knitting machines specializing in single-jersey and fleece fabrics. A direct competitor in large-diameter circular knitting machinery serving apparel and technical textile customers globally.
• Pai Lung Machinery Mill: Taiwanese manufacturer of circular knitting machines for apparel and industrial fabrics. A direct competitor in the mid-tier circular knitting machine market with strong presence in Asian textile manufacturing hubs.
• Terrot GmbH: German manufacturer of circular knitting machines acquired by Santoni in November 2023. Produces large-diameter circular knitting machines for single-jersey, double-jersey, and electronic jacquard applications, directly competing in the same machinery categories as Santoni's ZENIT and PULSAR lines.
• Ningbo Cixing: Chinese manufacturer of computerized flat knitting machines and circular knitting machines. A direct competitor, particularly in the Chinese market, serving apparel knitting mills with similar product offerings.

Regional players

• Toyoda Gosei (textile machinery): Japanese industrial group with knitting machinery operations. A regional peer in Asian textile machinery manufacturing serving Japanese and broader Asian knitting mill customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santoni-shanghai-knitting-machinery-co-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Santoni Shanghai Knitting Machinery