5 Leading Seamless Knitting Machine Manufacturers in 2026

Seamless knitting has moved from a niche technique to a core production method for underwear, activewear, sportswear, swimwear, and shapewear. By knitting garments and garment-sized tubes directly on specialized machines, apparel producers can remove most cutting and sewing steps, lower labor costs, reduce fabric waste, and deliver the smooth, chafing-free fit that consumers now expect. The same construction method also appears in medical and compression garments, where knitted pressure zones replace sewn seams. According to Grand View Research, the global seamless apparel market was valued at USD 69.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 123.7 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 7.4%, and this demand growth is driving investment in seamless knitting machinery worldwide. For buyers, choosing a seamless knitting machine manufacturer is therefore a strategic decision that shapes product quality, unit cost, and time to market for years, because a knitting line typically stays in service for a decade or more. The profiles below compare five leading manufacturers in 2026, from circular seamlesswear specialists to whole garment flat knitting pioneers and cost-competitive full-line suppliers, and close with practical criteria for making the final choice.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Santoni S.p.A.

Introduction

Santoni S.p.A. is headquartered in Brescia, northern Italy. Founded in 1919 as the first Italian manufacturer of sock knitting machines, the company joined the Lonati Group in 1989 and over the following decades built a comprehensive range of electronic circular machines for seamlesswear, a field in which it is recognized as a world leader. Today its portfolio covers circular seamless machines, large-diameter circular machines, sock machines, footwear machines for knitted shoe uppers, and auxiliary equipment, serving underwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear, and medicalwear producers around the globe. Through the Lonati Group's international sales and service network, Santoni supports customers in the world's main apparel producing regions. The company backs its technology with an in-house training center, the Santoni School, and continues to invest in digital and AI-assisted seamless knitting innovation.

Features

• Comprehensive range of electronic circular seamlesswear machines across multiple feeds, gauges, and cylinder diameters

• Broad application coverage, from underwear and sportswear to beachwear, medicalwear, and knitted shoe uppers

• Santoni School training center for machine operation and pattern software

• Engineering and R&D resources of the Lonati Group

• Ongoing development of AI-driven and digitalized seamless knitting solutions

Best For

Best for: Premium underwear, sportswear, and shapewear brands and their contract manufacturers that need proven high-speed circular seamlesswear technology with global support.

2. Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.

Introduction

Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. is headquartered in Wakayama City, Japan, and was founded in 1962. The company began with the automation of glove knitting, launching the world's first fully automated seamless glove knitting machine in 1970, and in 1995 it introduced the SWG, the first WHOLEGARMENT flat knitting machine. WHOLEGARMENT machines knit complete garments in one piece directly from yarn, eliminating cut-and-sew operations and the waste they generate. Today the company's range includes computerized flat knitting machines such as the flagship SWG-XR and the MACH2 series, glove and sock knitting machines, automatic cutting machines, and SDS-ONE APEX design systems. These products are grouped under the company's Total Fashion System concept, which connects planning, design, and production into a single digital workflow. With overseas sales representing more than 80% of its business and subsidiaries and technical service centers across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, Shima Seiki serves applications from fashion and sportswear to healthcare, footwear, and automotive textiles.

Features

• WHOLEGARMENT technology for complete, seam-free garment production in a single process

• Advanced platforms such as the SWG-XR and MACH2 series, built on four-needle-bed knitting with moveable sinkers

• SDS-ONE APEX design systems for 3D virtual sampling and faster product development

• Digital services including the yarnbank digital yarn sourcing platform

• A global sales and technical support network covering the world's main apparel producing regions

Best For

Best for: Brands and knitwear producers pursuing zero-waste, whole garment production for fashion, sportswear, and technical knitwear.

3. Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd.

Introduction

Ningbo Cixing Co., Ltd. is based in Cixi, Ningbo, in China's Zhejiang Province. Founded in 1988 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under stock code 300307, Cixing has grown into one of the world's largest manufacturers of computerized flat knitting machines by production and sales volume, and its 200,000th flat knitting machine came off the line in 2020. The company's product range covers sweater knitting machines, shoe upper machines, collar machines, knit-to-shape whole garment machines such as the KS3 series, and computerized seamless underwear machines, in which it holds a leading position in the Chinese market. Cixing also owns the Swiss flat knitting brand Steiger, and the group holds more than 150 invention patents as a national high-tech enterprise. In a significant industry restructuring, Karl Mayer is transferring the STOLL brand, selected inventory, and technological assets from its discontinued flat knitting business to Cixing, extending the group's reach into the premium flat knitting segment.

Features

• One of the world's largest production and sales volumes of computerized flat knitting machines

• Knit-to-shape and whole garment machine series, including the KS3 line

• Computerized seamless underwear machines with a leading market position in China

• Swiss Steiger brand and flat knitting technology within the group

• Acquisition of the STOLL brand and selected flat knitting assets from Karl Mayer

Best For

Best for: Volume-driven sweater, shoe upper, and seamless underwear manufacturers seeking capable knit-to-shape technology at competitive prices.

4. Keumyong Machinery Co., Ltd.

Introduction

Keumyong Machinery Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Daegu, South Korea, and has manufactured textile machinery since 1956. The company designs and builds a full range of circular knitting machines, including high-speed single jersey, rib, interlock, mini jacquard, computerized jacquard, and striper models, alongside dedicated seamless machines. Its garment-length electronic double-knit seamless machines, the KDOS-12 and the mesh-capable KDMS-12, produce body-size rib tubes for seamless garments, sportswear, and sanitary wear, and can also knit inlay structures. The seamless machines are built in 16 to 20 inch cylinder diameters with gauges from 14 to 18. Electronic needle selection on every feed of both cylinder and dial, independently motorized stitch control, and a variable-speed take-up system give producers precise command over pattern detail and fabric quality.

Features

• Seven decades of circular knitting machine design and manufacturing experience

• Garment-length electronic double-knit seamless machines, the KDOS-12 and KDMS-12

• Needle-by-needle electronic selection on both cylinder and dial

• Rib and inlay knitting capability for seamless, sportswear, and sanitary wear applications

• A full circular knitting portfolio beyond the seamless line, from single jersey to computerized jacquard

Best For

Best for: Producers of rib-structure seamless garments and sanitary wear that need stable double-knit body-size knitting from a long-established specialist.

5. Wellknit Textile Technology Co., Ltd.

Introduction

Wellknit Textile Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 1987 in Taiwan, China, and set up its main manufacturing base in Quanzhou, Fujian Province in 1995, making it an early Taiwanese knitting machinery maker to move production to the Chinese mainland. The company manufactures a complete range of knitting machinery: seamless underwear knitting machines, single and double circular knitting machines, flat knitting machines, and computerized sock machines. Production is supported by an in-house cylinder factory and a team of more than 200 engineering and technical personnel, and the catalog spans more than 50 product lines and nearly 400 machine models, with thousands of machines produced annually. Around half of output is exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, South America, and Europe. Wellknit holds ISO 9001 and European CE certifications and develops customized machine configurations on request. For seamless garment producers, that combination of in-house component production and a broad machine catalog makes it possible to equip everything from fabric knitting to finished seamless underwear lines with a single supplier.

Features

• Seamless underwear knitting machines suited to running tights, jumpsuits, yoga wear, swimwear, and sanitary wear

• A catalog of nearly 400 models covering circular, flat, seamless, and sock knitting machines

• In-house cylinder factory with self-processing of more than 80% of key machine parts

• Customized knitting machine development based on specific production requirements

• Export experience across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Europe

Best For

Best for: Small and mid-sized apparel manufacturers that need cost-effective seamless underwear machines, flexible customization, and dependable delivery from a full-line supplier.

How to Choose the Right Seamless Knitting Machine Manufacturer

Choosing a seamless knitting machine manufacturer is a capital-intensive decision that should rest on a structured evaluation of product fit, quality, manufacturing capability, certifications, delivery, and after-sales support, not on brand recognition alone. The five manufacturers profiled above differ in technology route, machine range, and market focus, so the right choice depends on what your production line needs to knit and where it operates. Four factors deserve the most attention.

Evaluate Product and Technical Fit

Start with the technology route. Circular seamlesswear machines, offered by Santoni, Keumyong, and Wellknit, knit body-size tubes at high speed for underwear, activewear, and sanitary wear. Whole garment and knit-to-shape flat knitting machines from Shima Seiki and Cixing produce complete knitwear such as sweaters with little or no sewing. Within each route, match gauge, cylinder diameter, feeder count, and available knit structures to your target products and yarns, because a machine whose specifications and pattern software align with your product roadmap will generate returns faster than one that forces workarounds.

Verify Quality Standards and Certifications

Confirm that the manufacturer operates a certified quality management system such as ISO 9001 and that machines meet the electrical and safety requirements of your market, for example European CE marking. Certification alone does not guarantee machine performance, but it indicates disciplined manufacturing and is frequently required by brand compliance programs.

Review Production Capacity and Lead Times

Ask for verified annual output figures, current order backlogs, and realistic delivery schedules for both standard and customized machines. Manufacturers that produce key components in-house, such as cylinders and cams, generally achieve tighter precision control and more stable lead times. If your products demand special gauges or configurations, confirm the supplier's customization process and the additional engineering time involved before committing.

Consider Market Experience and Support

Evaluate where a manufacturer already exports, and whether it has agents, spare parts stocks, or service engineers near your factory. Operator training, pattern software support, and fast spare parts supply directly affect machine uptime across a service life that often exceeds ten years. A supplier with proven experience in your region and end-use market will shorten commissioning and lower production risk.

Conclusion

The seamless knitting machine market in 2026 is shaped by specialists with distinct strengths. Santoni sets the benchmark in circular seamlesswear technology, Shima Seiki pioneered whole garment flat knitting, Cixing pairs the world's largest computerized flat knitting machine output with knit-to-shape and seamless underwear lines, Keumyong brings long-standing double-knit seamless expertise, and Wellknit offers a broad machine range with strong customization and export support. For buyers, the practical approach is to match the technology route to the product first, choosing circular seamless machines for underwear and activewear or whole garment flat knitting for complete knitwear, and then comparing specifications, certifications, capacity, and after-sales support against the production plan. Budget and total cost of ownership, including energy consumption, spare parts, and operator training, belong in the same comparison. A manufacturer planning seamless underwear production, for example, may find that a flexible, cost-competitive supplier such as Wellknit fits its needs as well as a premium European brand. Verifying every claim against real specifications and reference installations remains the surest way to protect the investment.