Multiknit

What Multiknit does

Multiknit (Pty) Ltd is a South African manufacturer of knitted synthetic fabrics and shade netting, founded in 1964 and headquartered in KwaZulu-Natal with manufacturing operations in Mkhuhlu and White River, Mpumalanga. The company operates through three divisions: Knittex (synthetic shade net fabrics including proprietary product lines SpectraNet, Colourshade, DriZ, and Knipol), Sakpro (synthetic virgin HDPE knitted produce bags), and Multiknit International (global export operations). Its core technology is raschel-knitted High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) fabric incorporating UV inhibitors and colour pigments, with products undergoing burst, tear, and shade testing against SATAS, AS, Cal Fire, and ASTM International standards.

The company serves agricultural, industrial, commercial, civil, mining, and domestic/consumer end-markets through direct field sales, regional sales offices, retail/wholesale channels, and a dedicated export division reaching more than 65 countries. Hardware sales of physical netting, bags, and rope/twine products drive the entire revenue model, with quote-based pricing determined by customization (colour, size, branding, specifications). Long-tenured enterprise customer relationships (e.g., WJ Kruger Boerdery spanning 30 years) and continuous product innovation — most recently the 2024 Hail Release Knipol for table grape protection — anchor the commercial proposition, while the senior management team's average 21-year tenure and 800-employee workforce underpin operational stability.

Name

Multiknit

Legal name

Multiknit (PTY) LTD

Website

https://multiknit.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Multiknit is a South African manufacturer of HDPE knitted synthetic fabrics, shade netting, and produce bags operating since 1964. It serves agricultural, civil, mining, commercial, and consumer markets across 65+ countries via three divisions: Knittex, Sakpro, and Multiknit International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Shade Netting and HDPE Knitted Fabrics

NAICS

Knit Fabric Mills (313240), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133), Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (31491)

SIC

Knitting Mills (2250), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural & Horticultural Technical Textiles (Crop Covers/Shade Nets/Mulch Fabrics) (IMAOADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Knitted Fabric Mills (IMAOABAB), Coated & Laminated Industrial Fabrics (Tarpaulins/Awnings/Inflatables/Architectural Membranes) (IMAOADAI), Knitted Fabrics (CRAAAMAC)

Keywords

• Knitted shade netting
• HDPE fabrics
• Agricultural shade cloth
• Produce packaging bags
• Windbreak netting

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 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. HDPE Knitted Produce Bags: Multiknit manufactures and sells synthetic virgin HDPE knitted produce bags for the agricultural industry (Sakpro brand) and civil engineering applications. Bags are sold in customized colours with brand identification options. Also used for soil erosion prevention when filled with sand or stone aggregate.
2. Shade Netting Products: Sale of knitted synthetic shade net products including SpectraNet, Colourshade, DriZ, Windbreak Nets, Perimeter Netting, and Knipol. Products are sold to agricultural, industrial, commercial, civil, mining, and domestic sectors. Available in standard configurations or customized to client specifications.
3. DIY and Hardware Products: Sale of ropes, twines, and DIY shade cloth products through retail and wholesale channels for agricultural, mining, fishing, and general consumer markets.
4. International Export: Multiknit International division supplies all Multiknit products to more than 65 countries worldwide, including Knittex's synthetic shade net fabrics and Sakpro's mesh polyethylene knitted bags.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Multiknit manufactures and supplies knitted synthetic fabrics made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) using raschel knitting patterns. The portfolio spans shade netting (SpectraNet, Colourshade, Knipol, DriZ), knitted HDPE produce bags (Sakpro), windbreak and perimeter netting, ground sheets, ropes and twines, and DIY shade cloth products serving agricultural, industrial, commercial, civil, mining, and consumer markets across 65+ countries.

Product overview

Multiknit is a South African manufacturer of knitted synthetic fabrics and shade netting, established in 1964. The company operates three divisions: Knittex (synthetic shade net fabrics), Sakpro (HDPE knitted produce bags), and Multiknit International (global export). The product portfolio centres on HDPE-based knitted products including SpectraNet (light wave manipulation for agriculture), Colourshade (decorative shade netting in 30+ colours), Knipol (waterproof laminated shade net), and DriZ (all-weather shade with waterproof coating). Supporting products include Ground Sheets, Perimeter Netting, Windbreak Netting, Ropes & Twines, HDPE Bags, Kapenta Netting, and DIY Hardware. The products serve agricultural, industrial, commercial, civil, mining sectors and domestic applications, with distribution to 65+ countries worldwide. All products are 100% recyclable and manufactured with UV stabilisers and quality pigments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SpectraNet Premium shade net for climate control and light wave manipulation in agricultural and horticultural industries. Protects crops against hail, wind, insects, birds, drought, and sunburn by manipulating blue, green, red, and far-red wavelength energies. Light transmittance varies from 4% to 96% depending on colour and pattern.
• Colourshade Decorative shade netting manufactured from virgin HDPE with UV stabilisers and high light-fastness pigments. Available in three weight categories (light 150gsm, medium 190gsm, heavy 320gsm), over 30 colours, with a ten-year manufacturer's warranty against UV degradation.
• Knipol Unique waterproof shade net fabric combining SpectraNet properties with clear laminated HDPE waterproof coating. Provides extra rigidity and strength against wind and hail, with five-year manufacturer's warranty against UV degradation.
• DriZ Revolutionary all-weather shade net providing protection against sun, rain, hail, snow, and wind. Features laminated UV protection coating with water-resistant properties. Available in multiple colours with 5-year manufacturer's warranty.
• Ground Sheet Raised profile knitted mesh fabric ideal for camping, picnics, and garden parties. Made from UV-stabilised HDPE with hydrophobic construction that repels water, dries quickly, and resists mold and mildew. Protects grass while allowing sand and dirt to fall through.
• Perimeter Netting Attractive flexible barrier net manufactured from HDPE with UV stabilisers for demarcating construction sites and restricting unauthorised entry. 66%-83% cover factor, 1.8m width, 50m roll length, 135 gsm mass with eyelets on both sides and centre.
• Windbreak Netting Penetrable wind barrier manufactured from HDPE that reduces wind velocity on leeward side by approximately 35%, reducing damage from sandblasting, erosion, water evaporation, and temperature fluctuations. Available in 50m rolls in widths of 0.75m, 1.5m, and 3m.
• Ropes & Twines Braided and twisted ropes manufactured from polyethylene, polypropylene, co-polymer, cotton, rayon, nylon, and polyester. Serving agricultural, mining, fishing, retail, and wholesale markets with over 35 years in the market.
• HDPE Bags Synthetic knitted HDPE bags with raschel knitting pattern for unique weft strength properties. Used in agricultural and civil engineering industries with open pattern for air circulation to maintain produce freshness. Customisable colours, sizes, and branding.
• Kapenta Netting Knitted HDPE mesh fabrics for aquaculture and fish farming. Includes Kapenta Nets for covering fish dams and tunnels, Code 10 and 20 shade cloth for bird protection, and Knipol material for waterproof aquaculture applications.
• DIY & Hardware Versatile shade cloth for at-home DIY projects including pergola covers, garden canopies, raised bed covers, privacy screens, dog bed kennels, and outdoor pillow covers. Available in Code 40H and Code 80H varieties in multiple colours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wind velocity reduction of approximately 35% on leeward side
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fibertex Nonwovens: Denmark-based manufacturer of nonwoven and technical textiles serving industrial, agricultural, and construction applications. While broader and not knitted-focused, Fibertex overlaps with Multiknit in agricultural and civil engineering textile segments.
• Tenax Group: Italian producer of geosynthetics, agricultural nets, and plastic industrial products. Tenax operates in overlapping technical textile categories (windbreak, ground stabilisation, shade) and represents a broader incumbent in the technical textiles space.
• Beaulieu Technical Textiles: European technical textiles manufacturer producing woven and knitted fabrics for agriculture, horticulture, civil engineering, and industrial uses. Beaulieu is a broader incumbent with overlapping customer segments and product categories to Multiknit's Knittex and Sakpro divisions.

Direct peers

• Ginegar Plastic Products: Israeli producer of agricultural films, shade nets, and knitted plastic fabrics. Ginegar directly competes with Multiknit's core shade netting and crop protection portfolio and exports globally to similar horticulture and greenhouse customers.
• Arrigoni S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of agrotextiles including knitted HDPE shade nets, anti-hail nets, and windbreak screens. Arrigoni is a direct competitor in the technical agricultural textile category, with comparable product positioning to Multiknit's SpectraNet and windbreak ranges.
• Polysack Plastics Industries: Israel-based manufacturer of knitted HDPE shade nets and agricultural films. Polysack is a direct competitor to Multiknit's Knittex division, serving the same global horticulture and agricultural protection markets with comparable raschel-knit technology and product categories.
• Belton Industries: UK-based manufacturer of knitted HDPE agricultural and industrial netting including shade cloth and windbreak nets. Belton directly competes with Multiknit's Knittex products in the UK, European, and African agricultural markets.
• Tama Plastic Industry: Israel-based manufacturer of agricultural netting, shade cloth, and crop protection textiles. Tama competes directly with Multiknit in knitted HDPE shade nets and serves overlapping global horticulture and aquaculture markets.

Regional players

• Donaghys: New Zealand-based agricultural and industrial product manufacturer including shade cloth and crop protection textiles. Donaghys serves comparable horticulture and aquaculture markets in Australasia with overlapping product categories to Multiknit's Knittex and Kapenta ranges.
• Capatex: South African woven and knitted textile manufacturer producing industrial fabrics, agricultural textiles, and shade products. Capatex is a domestic South African peer competing with Multiknit in similar agricultural and industrial textile categories within the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KnittexSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@multiknitptyltd6409
• Facebookfacebook.com/KnittexSA
• Instagraminstagram.com/multiknit_shade_net
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/multiknit

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

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 Multiknit