Groz-Beckert to Show Knitting Innovations at ITMA
The German needle maker will present new products and a WeChat chatbot for customers in China during ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Needlework
Groz-Beckert will showcase innovations at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, including energy-saving LCmax needles for circular knitting and a new AI-powered WeChat chatbot for Knitting customers in China.
Why it matters
The showcase highlights new needle designs and digital customer service tools for knitting, weaving and nonwovens producers in the Asian market. The chatbot offers customers direct access to product information and price enquiries.
The LCmax needles feature a wave-shaped shank geometry, while the new WeChat chatbot uses natural language interaction to answer customer product and price questions. Specific launch dates and pricing for the chatbot have not been disclosed.
The players
Groz-Beckert
A German manufacturer of industrial needles and tools for knitting, weaving, sewing and nonwoven textile production.
SINOTEX
A Chinese textile company that jointly produced a knitted collar with Groz-Beckert for display at the exhibition.
The details
Products on display include the SAN TT flat knitting needle for tight loops in technical and medical textiles, the SAN FY needle for uneven effect yarns, and a jointly produced knitted collar made with SINOTEX. Groz-Beckert will also present the Litespeed and CB-Barb felting needles for nonwovens and the patented Spec. 51/43.36 G 101 compound needle for warp knitting.
Timeline
• ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 exhibition, where the innovations will be showcased in 2026.
Industry Dynamics
Groz-Beckert's WeChat chatbot follows the broader pattern of textile machinery suppliers adopting digital customer-service channels in China's market. The move places the company's product support inside WeChat, the platform most Chinese business customers already use daily.
Needlework enthusiasts and makers may see new needle types appear in commercial products over time, though the stub does not confirm availability. Customers in China can use the new WeChat chatbot to check product information and prices directly.
The takeaway
Industrial needle makers are investing in both new product designs and direct digital support channels. Readers interested in the tools behind textile work can track how these innovations reach hobby and craft markets.
Further reading
Explore more on Needlework to see how industrial needle innovations shape the craft.
