Company history

 1947

Hugo Kern KG - founded 1888 - began producing knitting parts for textile machinery and the textile industry. This sector experienced quick, constant growth over the following years. New customers acquired both domestically and abroad.

 1967

The compendium "What you need to know about KERN knitting parts" was written which contained everything there was to know about producing knitting parts as well as a systematic listing of shapes and applications.

 1971

Hugo Kern KG merged with knitting parts factory Liebers & Co. of Ingolstadt to become Hugo Kern und Liebers GmbH & Co., giving birth to the "KERN-LIEBERS" brand. The merger of these two sector leaders made it possible to cut costs and increase competitiveness on the global knitting parts market.
Over the years, KERN-LIEBERS has built up the world's most extensive range of knitting parts. Its distribution network with more than 70 representatives around the world ensures top customer service. The knitting parts catalog contained original size pictures of all knitting parts and complete technical details so that customers could find the right knitting parts to meet all of their needs.

 1998

Knitting part production transferred to the newly founded KERN-LIEBERS Knitting Parts GmbH, a legally independent 100% subsidiary of Hugo Kern und Liebers GmbH & Co. KG
Start of knitting parts production at KERN-LIEBERS Taicang Co. Ltd. All activities in China are coordinated and executed from this site.

 1999

KERN-LIEBERS Knitting Parts GmbH moved to a newly-built hall in Schramberg with a effective area of 12,000 qm.

2004

By the admission of SAXONIA INTERNATIONAL into the KERN-LIEBERS GROUP the textile division can extend its authority by special know-how in the manufacture of products for Raschel and warp knitting machines and complex sub-assemblies for textile mechanical engineering. In order to offer optimum service to the customers KERN-LIEBERS Knitting Parts runs the weft knitting business, Saxonia Textile Parts sells products for warp knitting and Raschel machines in future. Valuable know-how regarding pin plates and comb bars has been brought in by Bayerische Nadelleistenfabrik Paul Leistner GmbH, a company of the Saxonia-Group.

2005

The start of the production of needles for flat knitting machinery is an important milestone for KERN-LIEBERS. Successively the needle range is expanded so that KERN-LIEBERS now is a one-stop source for these complementary products to both OEM and knitting mills.

2006

KERN-LIEBERS takes over 100% of the shares of Haase & Kühn S.A. in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. In addition to the Suisse holding the Sächsische Nadel- und Platinenfabriken in Chemnitz, Germany, and production plants in Portugal and Romania are part of the group of companies. Latch needles, slide needles and warp knitting needles complement the product range of the KERN-LIEBERS textile division.

 Perspektive:

The developmental expertise of KERN-LIEBERS is becoming more and more appreciated by the textile machinery industry and cooperative efforts start out at a very early stage of machine development. That way we can put our know-how to work for our customers.