Shima Seiki to demo SVR123SP flat knitter at Expotextil Perú 2026

Shima Seiki will exhibit its SVR123SP computerised flat knitting machine and a standalone version of its KnitPaint design software at Expotextil Perú 2026 in Lima. The show runs 5–8 November at the Centro de Exposiciones Jockey. The Japanese machine builder is exhibiting with its local sales representative, STT Peru Innova S.R.L., at stand Q2, open 12 noon to 8.30pm daily.

The Lima display pairs the SVR123SP SV14G with SDS KnitPaint-Online, a decoupled edition of programming software previously available only inside the SDS-ONE APEX integrated design system. That packaging decision matters for smaller mills. It gives Peruvian manufacturers a route to create and edit knitting data for Shima Seiki flat knitters without buying the full SDS-ONE APEX system. Shima Seiki has not published pricing for the standalone product. Buyers should treat the entry-cost claim as unverified until quotes are issued.

What can the SVR123SP actually knit?

The SVR123SP SV14G carries a loop presser bed mounted above the rear needle bed. That configuration supports inlay techniques producing hybrid knit-woven structures — fabrics that combine knitted flexibility with woven-type structural properties. Shima Seiki pitches these constructions at differentiated fashion products and technical textile applications. The company has not said which Peruvian sectors it targets first.

The machine also brings together several established Shima Seiki systems:

• DSCS Digital Stitch Control System
• Rapid Response R2CARRIAGE system
• Spring-type movable sinkers
• Stitch presser, yarn gripper and cutter
• Takedown comb

The unit shown in Lima adds i-Plating technology. Unlike conventional plating, i-Plating controls yarn position within the same knitting course and at individual needles. The result is jacquard-like colour effects in lightweight plain jersey structures, without the weight penalty of traditional jacquard construction. The claim is plausible on the engineering; independent fabric trials have not been reported.

Why Peru, and why now?

Shima Seiki frames the exhibition as part of a wider strategy to widen access to advanced knitting technology in international markets, where manufacturers want flexibility, differentiation and faster production. Peru's cotton and alpaca knitting base fits that pitch. The company has confirmed no buyer orders or local installations alongside the exhibit.

Context supports the hardware credibility, at least. Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Wakayama, Shima Seiki commercialised WHOLEGARMENT technology in 1995, knitting complete garments without linking or sewing. Its SDS-ONE APEX series and APEXFiz software support virtual sampling, letting makers evaluate designs before physical production. Fewer physical samples mean shorter development cycles and lower material consumption, the company says. Virtual sampling reduces waste; it does not eliminate fit verification on real fabric.

What does this change for sourcing teams?

For Peruvian knitters, the decision is capital allocation. The standalone KnitPaint-Online lowers the software barrier to Shima Seiki's machine ecosystem, while the SVR123SP's inlay capability opens a hybrid-fabric lane beyond commodity jersey. Buyers evaluating Lima-made knit-woven structures should ask suppliers for sample yardage, yarn-range limits and verified stitch-density data — none of which Shima Seiki has released for this show. The machine and samples are viewable at stand Q2 from 5 November.