Picanol inaugurates new training centre in Ieper

Inaugurated by Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, the new training centre measures about 600 m¦ and also houses a guest centre and several meeting rooms.

In Picanol, a developer, producer and a marketer of high-tech weaving machines, inaugurated its new training centre and new test and shipping area in Ieper, Belgium. The official inauguration took place in the presence of Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders. Since improving the competitiveness through further productivity and quality improvements and targeted investments is a top priority, an investment programme for an amount of 17.5 million euros in Ieper was approved in 2013. This investment plan includes a new training centre, a new test and shipping area for weaving machines and the purchase of several production machines.

Training takes your talent further
Well trained employees are important for optimum machine and plant performance. The weaving industry is no exception: the quality of the fabric and the performance of the machine are determined not only by the input materials and the machine itself, but also to a large extent by the way the materials and the machine are handled. Picanol naturally attaches the highest importance to good training, and so last year it was decided to invest in a state-of-the-art training centre. With three fully equipped training rooms (each with two weaving machines, cut models, mini-workshop, etc.) covering a total area of 270 m¦, the new training centre allows Picanol to train the technicians of its worldwide customers on its weaving machines under optimal conditions. The new training centre measures about 600 m¦ and also houses a guest centre and several meeting rooms.

Focus on quality
The new test area replaces the old one and is equipped with 24 test stations. All weaving machines leaving the assembly lines are mechanically and electronically tested in the new test area before they go to the customers, enabling Picanol to offer an even higher quality and reliability. After all, quality is essential and therefore the highest priority of Picanol. Following testing and final check, the machines are put on a moving carpet, where accessories are added and packaging of the machines is done. After the packaging line, the machines are placed in the buffer zone awaiting shipment. Since the summer of 2014, the shipping area has been housed in a new space with two loading docks and one loading space. Every day, trucks with containers depart from this area to take Picanol weaving machines to all corners of the world.

The inauguration of the new training centre and test zone marks a new milestone for Picanol in Ieper.

For further information:
Erwin Devloo
Phone: 057 222 090
Email: edv@picanol.be