Bangladesh as of today is aggressively looking at product development and automation in their facilities to satisfy the customers and Santoni’s introduction of the latest seamless knitting machine Mec-Mor Variatex CMP at the DTG show, highlights the seriousness and confidence of the Italian-pioneer towards Bangladesh. Established in 1919, Santoni started as a socks knitting machines manufacturer and has now grown to fulfil 97% of the global demand of seamless knitting machines for manufacturing innerwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear and medical textiles. The company claims to have no competitors in the segment of seamless knitwear as of now because of the know-how and expertise required for manufacturing such high-end machines.
The company has been present in the country since 2006 and has got a good response for its basic knitting machines, but now it is positive that the industry is ripe to also accept its advanced knitting machines. Gianpiero Valsecchi, Area Sales Manager, Santoni who has been visiting the country for the past two decades mentioned, “As of now 30 customers who have bought these machines are AKH Group, Metro Group, Knit Concern, Reedisha Knitex and it will take much less time to reach 300, as we will continue to meet the standards which we have setup for producing machinery on same quality and technical grounds along with sound technical know-how and R&D.”
Mec-Mor Variatex CMP can make a sweater in four minutes and features stitch structures using various types of yarn and can do single and double jersey, jacquards, plated effects, pockets and four-colour stripes with speed reaching up to 25 RPM. The machine has open variable panel (Variatex technology) for production of garments of weft knitting. The variable width of panel allows setting number of working needles for required product which in turn enables one single machine to produce all sizes without any wastage.
“Maintenance and training support system is critical for Santoni Group,” says Gianpiero Valsecchi. There are many first with the company, it sends new customers for training to its manufacturing facilities in Italy and China. The company also has weekly programs conducted by a team of engineers, 3 local engineers in Bangladesh and 3 from Italy for delivering better quality and providing better support. The company has been closely working on increasing its after-sales service and technical support, with its sole agent in the country SS-Bangla Textile.
