Stoll

What Stoll does

Stoll, founded in 1873 and headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany, is a manufacturer of computerized flat knitting machines and supporting software for fashion, apparel, and technical textile manufacturers globally. The portfolio includes three core machine families — ADF (Autarkic Direct Feeding all-in-one knitting), CMS (performance knitting), and BMS 52 ki (entry-level) — alongside the proprietary knit and wear® seamless ready-to-wear technology and a TT-machines line for sport, medical, mobility, and interior textiles. The software ecosystem is anchored by knitelligence®, a networking platform connecting machines with design, production planning, and machine-control software (CREATE PLUS/LITE/DESIGN, M1plus, PPS, and the Crypto Tool for IP protection). Notable enterprise customers referenced in the data include Adidas (autocreate® 'Knit for You' 2022), Brazilian luxury knitwear producer Bonneterie, Italian knitwear manufacturer Maglificio Liliana (founded 1969), and German medical-textiles leader Juzo Julius Zorn (JUZO).

Revenue mechanics historically combined hardware sales (the ADF, CMS, BMS, and knit and wear machines), recurring software licensing (CREATE family, M1plus, Smartcards sold through the STOLL Webshop), replacement-parts commerce (5,000+ SKUs), and technical-support services delivered through dedicated helplines and a network of representatives in over 70 countries. Distribution combined direct enterprise sales, regional offices in Germany, China, the United States, India, and Bangladesh, and e-commerce channels including the Webshop and Patternshop.

On 31 October 2025 the company discontinued new flat-knitting-machine production under the STOLL brand and closed its Reutlingen production site. Operating status under KARL MAYER Holding SE & Co. KG now centers on after-sales support: spare-parts logistics transferred to KARL MAYER's Obertshausen warehouse (effective November 2025) with KARL MAYER China as the central BMS warehouse; software licensing, helpline support, and reconditioned-machine sales continuing; and a maintained software cadence including M1 PLUS V.8.0.022 (October 2025), EKC/OKC version updates (February and July 2025), and Create Software V.2.11.3700 (May 2026).

Name

Stoll

Legal name

KARL MAYER STOLL Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

Website

https://stoll.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Stoll, founded in 1873 in Reutlingen, Germany, manufactured flat knitting machines and supporting knitelligence® software for fashion and technical textile manufacturers globally. Following the October 2025 closure of its Reutlingen production site, it now operates as an after-sales brand under KARL MAYER, supplying spare parts, software, and technical services for its installed machine base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reutlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flat Knitting Machines: Sale of computerized flat knitting machines including ADF family, CMS family, TT machines, BMS machines, and knit and wear machines for fashion and technical textile applications.
2. Software Licenses: Sale of software licenses including CREATE PLUS, CREATE LITE, CREATE DESIGN, M1plus, and Smartcard licenses for pattern programming and machine control.
3. Spare Parts: Sale of spare parts for STOLL machines through the STOLL Webshop. More than 5,000 spare parts available in stock for immediate delivery worldwide.
4. Technical Support Services: Helpline services for machine questions, M1plus & CREATE software support, and technical service across global locations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stoll manufactured and supplied computerized flat knitting machines and integrated software solutions for fashion, technical textiles, and industrial knitting applications. The portfolio included the ADF, CMS, BMS, knit and wear, and TT machine families, complemented by the knitelligence platform, CREATE pattern design software, and the PPS production planning system. Following the discontinuation of machine production on 31 October 2025, Stoll now focuses on spare parts supply, software licensing, and support services for its installed machine base under KARL MAYER.

Product overview

STOLL is a manufacturer of flat knitting machines and related software solutions, now operated under KARL MAYER after production ceased in October 2025. The product portfolio includes three main machine families (ADF for all-in-one knitting, CMS for performance knitting, and BMS as entry-level), the knit and wear seamless technology, and TT machines for technical textiles. The software ecosystem centers on the knitelligence platform for machine networking, complemented by the CREATE family of pattern design software (CREATE PLUS, CREATE LITE, CREATE DESIGN), PPS production planning system, and Crypto tool for IP protection. Support services include helpline, webshop for spare parts and licenses, and patternshop for design resources. The company serves fashion, technical textiles (sport, medical, mobility, interior), and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• knit and wear: Seamless knitting technology that combines several operations into one economical process, producing garments almost ready-to-wear
• knitelligence
• STOLL Patternshop
• STOLL Webshop
• STOLL-KNITROBOTIC
• Crypto tool

Products and services

• ADF Family Flat Knitting Machines All-in-one flat knitting machine generation featuring Autarkic Direct Feeding yarn carrier technology enabling free horizontal and vertical movement, allowing for pattern and color variations. Models include ADF 830 ki, ADF 530 ki, and ADF 330 ki. Targeted at fashion and apparel manufacturers.
• CMS Family Flat Knitting Machines Computerized flat knitting machines offering efficiency, flexibility, and reliability for Fully Fashion knitting with unlimited pattern variety. Models range from CMS 202 ki through CMS 933 ki. For knitwear manufacturers and apparel producers.
• knit and wear Technology Ready-to-wear seamless knitting technology that combines knitting, shaping, and connecting into a single process on one machine, producing almost ready-to-wear garments. Available across ADF and CMS machine lines. For knitwear and apparel manufacturers.
• BMS 52 ki Flat Knitting Machine Entry-level flat knitting machine from the knitelligence generation offering STOLL quality with high performance and minimal costs in terms of purchase, operation, and spare parts. Targeted at manufacturers seeking accessible STOLL technology.
• TT Machines for Technical Textiles Flat knitting machines with innovative configurations for technical textile applications, including TT sport, TT med, TT home, and TT mobility clusters adapted for functional materials. For manufacturers of technical textiles.
• Reconditioned Machines Fully refurbished pre-owned STOLL flat knitting machines offered with the same high quality as new machines at more affordable prices. For manufacturers seeking cost-effective access to STOLL technology.
• CREATE PLUS Pattern Programming Software Advanced pattern programming software for flat knitting machines combining full-featured programming with an easy-to-learn interface, realistic knit views, intelligent tools, and integrated grading system. For knitwear designers and manufacturers.
• CREATE LITE Patterning Software Streamlined patterning design software for knitting technicians focused on efficiency, offering essential tools for classic fashion and technical patterns without advanced feature complexity.
• CREATE DESIGN Software Software that digitizes the entire knitwear design and development process, enabling creation of photorealistic images of fully knitted garments through simulation in external 3D software such as Browzwear, CLO 3D, and Style3D.
• knitelligence Platform Digital networking solution connecting intelligent flat knitting machines, coordinating communication between software and hardware for digital-era production. Provides a tool chain from design concept to production, including image creation, individualized grading, and optimized production control.
• PPS Production Planning System Web-based production planning tool that controls, plans, and optimizes knitting production, improving response times, ensuring on-time delivery, and reducing lead times through ERP integration. For manufacturing operations.
• Crypto Tool Intellectual property protection tool for knitting programs, binding programs to specific target machines and production time periods to prevent plagiarism and unauthorized copying.
• STOLL Webshop (Spare Parts & Software) Online platform for ordering spare parts, smartcards, software licenses, and downloads for STOLL machines, with more than 5,000 spare parts in stock and representatives in over 70 countries.
• STOLL Technical Helpline Technical support helpline for machine questions and specialized STOLL M1plus and CREATE pattern software support, available via email in German and English, with regional helplines for China, India, North America, and Bangladesh.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% waste reduction compared to traditional cut-and-sew methods
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.

• AdidasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Adidas used STOLL's autocreate® platform in their 'Knit for You' project for autonomous knitting production, demonstrating sustainable on-demand garment manufacturing capabilities.
• KARL MAYERcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTOLL flat knitting machine business has been discontinued and production moved under KARL MAYER. KARL MAYER continues to service the installed STOLL machine base through its global locations. Spare parts will be stored in Obertshausen warehouse and KARL MAYER China serves as central warehouse for BMS parts.
• BrowzwearsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPlugin integration for V-Stitcher enabling complete export of textures and maps from CREATE DESIGN to V-Stitcher for 3D simulation. All plug-ins included in CREATE release software.
• CLO 3DsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPart of CLO Ecosystem Partnership Program (EPP). CREATE DESIGN plug-in enables direct transfer of STOLL knit designs to CLO 3D for accelerated digital product development. Digital knitwear collection available on CLO-SET platform.
• Style3DsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership enabling seamless fashion design and product development combining 3D and AI with photo-quality results for yarns, textures, avatars and backgrounds.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pai Lung Machinery Mill: Taiwanese manufacturer of computerized flat and circular knitting machines. Direct competitor in flat knitting, particularly in mid-market and Asia-Pacific customer segments where Stoll's premium positioning faces cost-driven price competition.
• SHIMA SEIKI: Japanese manufacturer of computerized flat knitting machines and WHOLEGARMENT technology. Stoll's most direct global competitor in the flat-knitting machine segment, serving the same fashion, technical textile, and knitwear customers with overlapping CMS-class product portfolios.
• Mayer & Cie: German manufacturer of circular knitting machines headquartered in Albstadt, and a sister-business under the broader Mayer textile machinery lineage. Competes with Stoll in industrial knitting machinery for apparel and technical textile customers, particularly in the European market.
• Santoni (Lonati Group): Italian manufacturer of circular, seamless, and hosiery knitting machines under the Santoni brand (part of Lonati Group). A direct peer in industrial knitting machinery for fashion and sportswear applications, with comparable global reach via Lonati's after-sales network.
• Terrot Textilmaschinen: German manufacturer of large-diameter circular knitting machines based in Chemnitz. Direct peer in industrial knitting machinery, particularly in jersey, interlock, and technical textile applications overlapping with Stoll's CMS and TT families.

Others

• Groz-Beckert: German-headquartered global manufacturer of industrial needles and knitting machine components. Adjacent/ecosystem peer supplying consumables and parts used in Stoll-class flat knitting equipment, making it a partner-competitor for spare-parts revenue.
• CLO 3D: Korean-origin 3D garment simulation and digital apparel design platform that is an active Stoll technology partner via the CLO Ecosystem Partnership Program. Adjacent peer competing for share of digital knitwear design workflow alongside Stoll's CREATE DESIGN software.
• Browzwear: 3D apparel design and simulation platform integrated with Stoll's CREATE DESIGN via V-Stitcher plug-in. Adjacent competitor/partner in the 3D apparel design stack, particularly relevant for digital knitwear product development.

Emerging players

• Lectra: French technology company specializing in software, CAD/CAM, and cutting solutions for fashion, apparel, and technical textiles. Overlaps with Stoll's software ecosystem (CREATE, knitelligence) at the digital pattern and production planning layer of the apparel value chain.

Broad incumbents

• KARL MAYER Holding: Parent company of Stoll and one of the world's largest textile machinery manufacturers, with leading positions in warp knitting, technical textiles, and woven fabric machinery. As Stoll's owner since the wind-down, it is both corporate parent and a broader industrial-textile-machinery incumbent whose portfolio overlaps Stoll's customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stollftny
• Facebookfacebook.com/Stollknitting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stoll-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Stoll