Page 56 - TEXtalks. October- November 2023
P. 56

Picanol celebrates a                                                                                     experience gained in the production, to date, of
       56

                                                                                                                                   400,000 weaving machines is also the best
                      historic milestone with                                                                                      guarantee to our customers, worldwide, that Picanol
                                                                                                                                   produces the very best weaving machines on the
                                                                                                                                   market. This is, therefore, also the moment to thank
                          the production of the                                                                                    all of our employees who have contributed to this
                                                                                                                                   milestone achievement over the past decades. It is
                                                                                                                                   purely due to their commitment and dedication that
                                                                                                                                   Picanol has grown into the world leader it is today,"
                             400,000th weaving                                                                                     explains Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving
                                                                                                                                   Machines.
                machine in Ieper, Belgium                                                                                          A pioneer in weaving machine technology
                                                                                                                                   A constant focus on innovation, combined with
                                                                                                                                   continuous improvement of products and
                                                                                                                                   processes continues to ensure Picanol’s capacity to
                                                                                                                                   surprise the market, time after time, with
                                                                                                                                   high-quality, innovative weaving machines. Indeed,
 German Review                                                                                                                     generations of weaving machines to the market,
                                                                                                                                   since producing its first weaving machine in 1936,
                                                                                                                                   Picanol has introduced more than 20 new
                                                                                                                                   and recently also its new digital platform
                                                                                                                                   PicConnect. Sustainability Inside, Driven by Data,
                                                                                                                                   Smart Performance, and Intuitive Control are the
                                                                                                                                   basic principles applied in the development of every
                                                                                                                                   new weaving machine. In June, Picanol successfully
                                                                                                                                   participated in ITMA 2023 in Milan. This is the
                                                                                                                                   world's most important, quadrennial, textile
                                                                                                                                   machinery fair at which, among other innovations,
                                                                                                                                   the new Ultimax rapier weaving machine was
                                                                                                                                   presented.

                                                                                                                                   Today, Picanol is the technological leader in both
                                                                                                                                   airjet and rapier weaving machines, with production
                                                                                                                                   taking place in Ieper and Suzhou (China). Driven by
                                                                                                                                   an ongoing commitment to R&D, weaving machine
                                                                                                                                   speeds have evolved dramatically. The first (shuttle)
                                                                                                                                   weaving machine achieved a speed of
                                                                                                                                   approximately 140 wefts per minute. Today, the
                                                                                                                                   latest rapier weaving machine, the Ultimax, is able
                                                                                                                                   to reach industrial speeds of more than 800 wefts
                                                                                                                                   per minute. The OmniPlus-i Connect airjet weaving
                Picanol celebrates milestone of 400,000 weaving machines
                                                                                                                                   machine excels at speeds of up to 1,350 wefts per
                                                                                                                                   minute in weaving mills, which makes this machine
            The weaving machine manufacturer Picanol achieved   Ieper this week on its way to a customer in India.                 the fastest airjet weaving machine in the world.
            a new milestone last week with the production of its
            400,000th weaving machine in Ieper, Belgium. This is   "We are extremely proud of this achievement, which              Picanol's weaving machines are used daily in some
            a new high point in the company's rich history of   once again highlights our position as the global                   2,600 weaving mills, spread across more than 100
            production, which started in Ieper. The very first   leader in weaving machines. Over the past decades,                countries. Various fabrics are woven on these
            Picanol weaving machine was produced in 1936,     we have continually pushed our boundaries, always                    high-tech machines: clothing (e.g. denim, shirt
            based on a design by Spanish engineer Jaimé       working in close partnership with our customers. At                  fabric, sportswear, etc.), interior textiles (e.g. sheets,
            Picañol, after whom the company was named. The    the same time, we have always remained true to our                   curtains, terry cloth, etc.) and technical fabrics (e.g.
            400,000th weaving machine, an OmniPlus-i Connect   core mission — to design and manufacture                            airbags, parachute fabric, canvas, car tire cord
            airjet weaving machine, leaves the home base in   innovative, high-tech weaving machines. The                          fabrics, etc.).

               October/November 2023
   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61