The recent ISPO exhibition provided the ideal platform for Santoni to showcase the potential of its latest seamless knitting machine, the SM8-TOP2ST. At the show, the Brescia-based firm introduced this latest model, which represents an evolution of its best-selling SM8-TOP2V, which can be used to create sculptural terry patterns and advanced seamless designs.
The SM8-TOP2ST is a single jersey electronic circular machine with 8 feeds and 2 points of selection needle-by needle per feed for the production of single garments in selective terry (in selection needle by needle) and standard seamless garments for underwear, outerwear, beachwear, sportswear and sanitarywear. It is available in diameters ranging from 13 to 20 ins and in gauges 24, 26 and 28G.
“This new variant of Santoni SM8-TOP2V, through an innovative and patented mechatronic device, is the first machine ever in the history of seamless knitting to produce garments with needle-by-needle / sinker-by-sinker selective terry (full electronic selection of the sinkers),” Santoni explained. “The machine keeps the main TOP2V specs and textiles possibilities but offers the capability to make sculptured terry patterns.” A key point here is that this selective terry can be placed in any area of the garment improving its technical-functional performances, Santoni said.
“These knitted tubulars can be worn either in a conventional way, with the terry on the inside, or turning them inside out, in order to have the terry on the outside.
“On the one hand, the terry, being in the internal part of the garment, plays a cushioning function, providing greater softness, comfort and breathability.”On the other hand, the terry, being placed outside the garment, enhances it especially from an aesthetic point of view.
“The selective terry provides a high added value mainly to technical garments, such as those presented in preview at ISPO 2023.”
