Leading flat knitting machine manufacturer SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan together with its U.K. subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI EUROPE, LTD. will hold a private exhibition in association with Hong Kong-based spinner UPW in London this November. The "SHIMA SEIKI EUROPE APEX Show" will feature the SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system, highlighting the company's Digital Yarn Project.

SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system is at the core of the company's "Total Fashion System" concept of unifying the fashion supply chain. From yarn input, planning, design and machine programming to sales promotion, APEX3's offers comprehensive support of the entire knit production process. It's greatest strength lies in its unparalleled capability for Virtual Sampling. Photo-realistic simulation capability allows Virtual Sampling to minimize the need for actual sample-making, effectively reducing time, cost and material--and environmental impact--from the supply chain equation. APEX3 is capable of transforming the fashion industry through smart, speedy and sustainable production.

The key to realistic simulated sample making can be found in the least common denominator of knitting: the yarn. SHIMA SEIKI's Digital Yarn Project aims to digitize yarn with the cooperation of spinning companies so that its customers can select yarn for their design and produce simulations for digital sampling, while programming data allows the required amount of yarn to be calculated so that the yarn can be ordered as soon as approval is obtained for that design. UPW is one of the most advanced collaborative partners in this Project, offering access to its inventory of digitized yarn online.