Stoll Strickmaschinen

Stoll Strickmaschinen, formally H. Stoll AG & Co. KG, is a German flat-knitting machine brand with roots dating to 1873, when Heinrich Stoll and Christian Schmidt founded the business in Riedlingen. After a dispute over production expansion, Stoll moved to Reutlingen in 1878, which became the company's long-term headquarters. The firm specialized in flat-knitting machines used to produce sweaters and other knitted garments, and it held numerous patents. At its peak in the 2010s, Stoll employed around 950 people and generated more than €300 million in revenue, with an export share of roughly 90 percent and China as its most important market. The company operated subsidiaries in China (Shanghai), France, India, Italy, Japan, and Germany. In July 2020, the Karl Mayer Group acquired Stoll. However, in early 2025 Karl Mayer began preparations to close the Reutlingen site, and production under the Stoll brand ceased on October 31, 2025, with about 270 employees affected. The flat-knitting machine business under the Stoll brand was discontinued. In June 2026, it was announced that the Chinese knitting machine manufacturer Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. (CIXING Group) would take over the traditional Stoll brand along with selected assets, including technological assets and some real estate in Reutlingen. The STOLL spare parts service, helpline, and the stoll.com domain are being transferred from KARL MAYER to CIXING, with spare parts warehousing moving to Obertshausen and China. The brand remains active under CIXING ownership, though the future use of the Reutlingen sites and facilities is not yet fully clarified.

Stoll Strickmaschinen was founded in 1873 by Heinrich Stoll and Christian Schmidt in Riedlingen, Germany. When the municipality refused permission to expand production, Heinrich Stoll moved the business to Reutlingen in 1878. His partner Christian Schmidt went to Neckarsulm, where he briefly continued making knitting machines before switching to motorcycle production; those vehicles became known under the NSU brand and formed the basis for the Audi plant in Neckarsulm, now part of the Volkswagen Group. In 1891, the company invented the world's first "links/links" flat-knitting machine, which was also presented at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. At that time, the firm operated as Reutlinger Strickmaschinenfabrik H. Stoll & Cie. Over the 20th century, Stoll became a leading manufacturer of flat-knitting machines, used to produce sweaters and other knitted garments. The company held numerous patents. In the 2010s, with around 950 employees, Stoll generated revenue of more than €300 million. Its export share was approximately 90 percent, and China was its most important market. Subsidiaries operated in China (Shanghai), France, India, Italy, Japan, and Germany. In 2008, the group reported annual revenue of €294 million with about 800 employees worldwide. The CEO was Andreas Schellhammer. At some point, a Chinese group invested in Stoll. On July 1, 2020, the Karl Mayer Group acquired the company. After significant job cuts at Stoll, the real estate group Trias bought the "Stoll-Areal" to convert it into a commercial area. In early 2025, the Karl Mayer Group began preparations to close Stoll. The Reutlingen facility was closed at the end of October 2025, and the 270 employees were to be laid off. The flat-knitting machine business under the Stoll brand was discontinued, and the production site in Reutlingen closed on October 31, 2025. On June 17, 2026, it was announced that the Chinese knitting machine manufacturer Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. would take over the traditional Stoll brand as well as selected assets of the former H. Stoll AG & Co. KG. The purchase included the brand, technological assets, and some real estate in Reutlingen. The further use of the sites and facilities was not yet fully clarified. According to the official website, the STOLL spare parts service, the STOLL Helpline, and the stoll.com domain are currently being transferred from KARL MAYER to CIXING. Spare parts will be stored in two warehouses: KARL MAYER's central warehouse in Obertshausen will take over the stock from Reutlingen in November and handle logistics through to shipment, while KARL MAYER China will serve as the sole central warehouse location for BMS machine parts. The STOLL WEBSHOP remains available until October 14, 2026, and software license keys can still be purchased.

• Founded by Heinrich Stoll and Christian Schmidt in Riedlingen, Germany.

• Heinrich Stoll moved the company to Reutlingen after expansion was refused in Riedlingen.

• Invented the world's first "links/links" flat-knitting machine, presented at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

• Reported annual revenue of €294 million with about 800 employees worldwide.

• Employed around 950 people and generated revenue of more than €300 million.

• Acquired by the Karl Mayer Group.

• Production facility in Reutlingen closed; flat-knitting machine business under the Stoll brand discontinued.

• Announced that Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. would take over the Stoll brand and selected assets.

Premium German manufacturer of flat-knitting machines, historically a global technology leader with a strong export focus and China as its key market.

• Flat-knitting machines

  Machines used to knit sweaters and other flat-knitted garments.

• STOLL spare parts service

  Spare parts supply for STOLL machines, being transferred from KARL MAYER to CIXING.

• STOLL Helpline

  Technical support helpline for STOLL machines, being transferred from KARL MAYER to CIXING.

• STOLL WEBSHOP

  Online store for spare parts, available until October 14, 2026.

• Sampling software

  Software for knitting sample development; latest updates available.

1. 1Homestoll.com
2. 2STOLL Supportstoll.com
3. 3Stoll Strickmaschinende.wikipedia.org
4. 4Stoll Strickmaschinenwikidata.org