From pioneering the development of automated machines for knitting gloves, Shima Seiki has become a major supplier for the advancement of knitted apparel, accessories and various textiles for the fashion, furnishing, automotive and aerospace industries.

"We made the impossible possible," says Dr Masahiro Shima, president. "We took a complicated industry, studied it and streamlined it into a modern viable business."

Shima Seiki offers complete textile production solutions including a full range of knitting, cutting and inkjet printing machines. The company's knitwear technology is unrivalled and continues to advance, producing groundbreaking textile manufacturing systems.

Among its pioneering solutions is the takedown comb used to perform individual-shaped knitting on a short needlebed. This innovation became the benchmark for knit manufacturing worldwide. The company's Digital Stitch Control System supports modern knit producers as they respond to market demand for higher-quality knit.

Shima Seiki was also the first to apply computer graphics to the programming of flat knitting machines and texture mapping technology to the apparel industry. Equipped with specialised printing technology, Shima Seiki printers generate superb definition, and can reproduce a fabric's fine shades and hues down to the texture of the knit.

Shima Seiki develops everything - from software programs to machines. This approach ensures product consistency and enables the company to provide quality, detailed service to customers. Its latest advantage is another first in the world - WHOLEGARMENT technology.

Creating a complete garment in a single production step, Shima Seiki's WHOLEGARMENT technology is an efficient alternative to conventional knitting. It uses a breakthrough seam-free knitting process that can be applied into any garment or textile design. With a single push of a button, a knitter can create knitwear just by setting the thread onto a pre-programmed knitting machine.

"WHOLEGARMENT is a plus for people who buy it, wear it and manufacture it," Shima says. "For consumers, it's more comfortable to wear and it fits very well. For manufacturers, it can be produced in very short cycles. Custom-made knitwear becomes possible."

The WHOLEGARMENT method also saves resources and energy, and reduces labour costs. "What we offer is extremely short lead times in production as there's no sewing involved," Shima says. "To produce a dress, for instance, what used to take months only requires an hour. It's also better for the environment because it uses fewer materials."

As the growth of the Asian textile industry opens doors for expansion in the textile machinery market, a high degree of automation coupled with flexibility has become a precept in the region.

Shima Seiki seeks to provide the best computerised knitting systems to manufacturers on the mainland, in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. It ensures its customers' investments are worthwhile by offering "ideal knitwear" solutions that support the development of new markets and niche items.

"Our customers' success means our own success so we place their interests first," Shima says. "Efficiency, diversity, comfort and fit - these are the things that produce consumer satisfaction. We work hard to achieve these principles and strive to be a company that customers can always trust."