Japanese machinery maker SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. is pushing a digital ecosystem designed to shave weeks off product development cycles. The company’s strategy relies on software that lets manufacturers simulate entire collections before a single physical sample is knitted.
Connecting design to production
Up to 75% of a product development timeline is spent in preproduction, according to the company. Every day saved in this phase translates into faster deliveries, lower costs and better cash flow. SHIMA SEIKI’s approach focuses on the APEXFiz design software, which supports the workflow from planning and design through digital sampling and production.
Digital Yarn Sourcing Streamlines Production
The software connects directly to the yarnbank digital yarn sourcing web service. Yarn manufacturers digitize and share data, allowing brands to create realistic virtual products based on actual yarn characteristics. This generates technical data for production that can be shared with manufacturing partners. By working from the same digital product information, suppliers can assess production feasibility earlier and shorten development cycles.
A second web service, SHIMA Datamall, gives customers access to a library of knitting data and design assets usable within APEXFiz.
Partnerships expand the ecosystem’s reach. A collaboration with CLO Virtual Fashion connects 3D garment design with knit simulation and manufacturing. A partnership with Lonati extends this to the sock industry through the integration of APEXFiz and Lonati’s ORION software.
Seam-Free Knitting Transforms Premium Wear
One particularly powerful example of this integrated workflow is the combination of APEXFiz and seam-free WHOLEGARMENT knitting technology. By knitting complete garments in three dimensions without sewing, manufacturers reduce material waste, eliminate sewing processes and shorten production lead times. This opens opportunities in premium knitwear categories, including seam-free luxury knitwear, athleisure and technical textiles.
Read Also: Half of online fashion orders under 1000
For customers, the results are measurable. One premium knitwear manufacturer previously required four to five rounds of physical sampling before approving a product. After implementing SHIMA SEIKI’s digital technologies, sampling dropped to one or two iterations. Digital samples are now used for design evaluation, approvals and production communication. Processes that once took more than a month are now completed digitally in a matter of days.
SHIMA SEIKI views AI as a key technology for accelerating processes and is developing NEURALKNIT.AI, a family of AI solutions built on its decades of knitting expertise and technical know-how. NEURALKNIT.AI is designed specifically for knitwear and can generate highly realistic knitwear visuals that support concept development and design exploration. The company aims to leverage AI to strengthen the connection between product planning, design and manufacturing, enabling a more seamless and efficient development workflow.
India’s Knitwear Market Adopts Innovation
India is one of the fastest-growing knitwear manufacturing markets and is steadily moving toward higher-value production. Based on discussions with local manufacturers, four key trends are emerging. First, manufacturers are looking for faster product development and reduced sampling as brands demand shorter lead times and more frequent collections. Second, there is growing demand for modern yet affordable technology. Startups and emerging brands are also seeking affordable and versatile solutions. The N.SSR model computerized flat knitting machine was developed to address these requirements. Third, manufacturers are seeking higher productivity with less dependence on skilled labor.
Rising labor costs and shortages of experienced knit programmers and technicians are driving demand for technologies that improve efficiency while maintaining quality. SHIMA SEIKI’s latest flat knitting machines, including the N.SVR series, help address these challenges while supporting innovative knitting techniques such as i-Plating, which enables jacquard-like effects with lower yarn consumption and lighter fabrics. Finally, demand is growing for premium and functional knitwear, including seam-free knitwear, athleisure, performance wear and technical textiles. Through WHOLEGARMENT, advanced flat knitting machines and digital development technologies, SHIMA SEIKI helps manufacturers expand into these higher-value markets.
SHIMA SEIKI’s APEXFiz design software plays a key role in this transition, enabling users to create highly realistic digital samples using actual yarn data. This software supports various textiles, including knitwear, woven fabrics, and embroidery, and integrates with other 3D tools for flexible workflows.
Leave a Reply