SANTONI was born in 1919 as the first Italian socks machine manufacturer. In 1988 SANTONI became part of the prestigious LONATI Group, worldwide leader in the production of sock and pantyhose machines. From then on, the company has become synonymous with the “SEAMLESS” phenomenon, becoming the worldwide leader in the production of electronic machines for garments without seams.
Today SANTONI meets 97 per cent of the worldwide demand for seamless machines, whose use makes possible the development of a growing success diversified in various sectors of the garments market (underwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear, medical wear, etc.).
SANTONI does a turnover of over Euro 100 million per annum. In view of the importance of the Chinese market, the company has established a manufacturing facility in Shanghai which will be operational soon.
Mr. Gianpiero Valsecchi, Sales Area Manager of SANTONI S.p.A., says China is the biggest market for seamless followed by Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia and South America.
SANTONI has been working in the Indian market for over 10 years represented by Balaji Knitmatics. “India is very important, and we have a lot of good customers”, says Mr. Valsecchi. The company is positive on the growth prospects for its machines in the Indian market. The company has a strong aftersales service support team.
SANTONI’s machines are particularly suited for manufacture of sweaters, socks, sportswear and undergarments, particularly in the ultrafine gauge in large diameter machines. The company has an installed base of over 200 seamless machines and 300 large diameter machines in the Indian market, says Mr. Valsecchi.
“Tirupur is an important market, and we are targeting it, particularly for large diameter machines. We hope the market improves for man-made fiber, and if that happens then we will be able to sell more of our seamless machines in this market”, says Mr. Valecchi. “We also see a brilliant future in technical textiles for fine gauge”, he adds.
SEAMLESS was born as a phenomenon of collective custom, a sort of new way of approaching the apparel culture. SEAMLESS production is at the same time strongly connected with the story and the evolution of SANTONI as a company.
The challenge in the SEAMLESS machinery field took place in the 1980s, as a result of the crisis and the following strong drop of production in the hosiery industrial segment. At that point the LONATI GROUP introduced the LM1 machine, a prototype of knitting machine, which was built using a technology similar to that for hosiery.
The introduction of the SEAMLESS product has revolutionized the global production process. This was really an innovative discovery that allowed to knit ready-made apparel, something fully different from what had been done till then.
Then, since 1997, diversification came into the whole Group when SANTONI core business focused on the development and the production of electronic circular knitting machines for Seamlesswear.
SANTONI is present in 72 countries at an international level, is able to satisfy 97 per cent of the world demand for seamlesswear machines. At the same time, it continuously records success in all the fields of the apparel industry (underwear, sportswear, beachwear, outerwear and medicalwear).
The introduction of the SEAMLESS product has revolutionized the global production process. This change took place by using (two) different series of machines, the so-called single jersey SM8 machines and double jersey SM9 machines families.
These machines pave way for realization of finished products ready to be put into the commercial distribution channels, and reduce to a minimum standard the usual steps of the production process. This means high saving of industrial and working costs. The technological development consists in the fusion of two fields: the hosiery one, joined together with knitting technology.
As far as the educational and training aspects are concerned, the SANTONI GROUP has been organizing for a few years courses on the advanced technology of its machines for SEAMLESSWEAR.
These courses focus on Software Design, on the machines features which are fully illustrated, together with the most important producers of fibres and yarns support. These courses focus on Software Design, on the machines features which are fully illustrated, together with the most important producers of fibres and yarns support.
A team of technicians and designers leads the trainees through the whole production process of seamlesswear collections by demonstrating the various passages of the productive cycle (development, knitting, washing, dyeing, sewing and boarding).
SANTONI School has become a laboratory for innovation and prototypes that once tested by customers and stylists will be produced and distributed in the market.
Thanks to the company’s continuous research on revolutionary software systems, the group could achieve remarkable results with its machines: Tubular fabrics without seams, laid-in elastic yarns inserted in the welt bands and equipped with areas having gradual compression. These processes take place with remarkable savings (they cost 40% less than those knitted with the traditional systems).
The challenge for SANTONI is assuring the market a technology capable of fulfilling fashion demands. Therefore the garments knitted on SANTONI machines merge fashion with functional performances as they allow the making of different stitches like rib, net, jacquard, piquet, stripes, laces, as well as pre-shapen structures, hidden supports, pockets, collars and hoods. All that implies strong cost saving in manpower, performance and electrical energy, fabric stock and fabric wastes.
SANTONI SEAMLESSWEAR has become a product fulfilling the market needs with the proper timing, because it allows to get to the finished garment in a few minutes starting from the yarn and without passing through cutting and sewing operations.