Hosiery and knitwear manufacturers are rapidly increasing their use of automation and robotics regardless of difficulties associated with handling textile structures that are light, elastic, or unstable. Detexomat (England), Esox (France). Solis (Italy), and Takatori (Japan) are perfecting pick and place systems. Areas where automation is being applied include the manufacture of tights and socks. Knitwear applications for linking collars are currently semiautomatic. Knitting machine manufacturers, such as Shima Seiki and Stol, are working to develop fully automatic systems. Santoni of Italy has also developed a near complete garment concept for bodywear, underwear, and swimwear.