Picanol’s 3 airjets and 3 rapiers

As one of the world’s leading weaving machine manufacturers, Picanol has always had a very close relationship with the Chinese textile industry. This relationship is not a matter of chance or coincidental developments: on the contrary, it is the result of long-term, strategic planning by the Picanol management.

In this firm belief, Picanol sent its first pioneers to explore the possibilities in the Far East, already in the early 1950s. Picanol took part in one of the first international exhibitions held in Beijing. This was the period when Picanol sales managers, still based in Ieper, criss-crossed the Orient to promote its weaving machines at exhibitions and technical seminars.

The growing installed base of Picanol machines in China, as well as the increasing demand for a higher level of service and support resulted in the establishment of the Picanol Service Centre, which was set up in Shanghai in 1987. A network of local service engineers was also established to serve the other South-Asian countries.

The next step in the history of Picanol in China was the set-up of PST, Picanol Suzhou Textile Machinery Works, thus starting its career as a Chinese textile machinery manufacturer. This set-up took place in 1994 and Picanol celebrates this year as the 22 years existence of Picanol Suzhou Textile Machinery Works.

PST was Picanol’s first production line outside Belgium, and the technology and organisation were based entyrely on the assembly concept employed at the company’s headquarters in Ieper. Today, PST houses a complete production unit with three assembly lines for three product types (GT-Max, GTMax-i with rapier technology and the OMNIplus-X with airjet technology), a mechatronics division, and a sales, service and spare parts organisation. The majority of the Chinese management, engineers and technicians have been trained in Belgium.

Machines produced in PST aim at the top layer of the mid segment and are besides in China, also quite successful in the new emerging textile regions outside China. The Belgium produced machines are built for the top segment.

Headquarters in Belgium

One of the big assets of this cross border entrepreneurship is the mixture of drawing upon the know-how and quality standards from Picanol Group, combined with good understanding of its local customers. With more than 200 engineers and strong R&D teams headquartered in Belgium, Picanol invests heavily in R&D activities every year. Picanol’s R&D aims not just at development and production of the most advanced weaving machines, but also achieving the most profitable weaving process in the world.

Picanol offers eight types of weaving machines: the OptiMax-i, TerryMax-i, GT-Max and GTMax-i with rapier technology, the OMNIplus Summum, TERRYplus Summum, OMNIplus 800 TC and the OMNIplus-X with airjet technology. Together, these machines cover the full spectrum of textiles including apparel, household and technical fabrics. The high degree of digitisation of all these machines, together with their Sumo main drive, ensures a lower weaving cost, higher quality of the fabrics produced, greater flexibility and exceptional ease of operation in comparison with other weaving machines.

Product portfolio at ITMA-CITME

At the occasion of the ITMA-Asia + CITME fair (21-25 October, Shanghai) Picanol presented a wide variety of weaving machines, both airjet and rapier. The highlight was on the OptiMax-i, for the first time on display in the Asian continent.

Two other rapiers on display: one GTMax-i 190 cm and one in wider width version of 340 cm. As for the airjet machines 2 OMNIplus Summum and one OMNIplus-X was shown. In total nine Picanol machines was on display, of which six on its own booth (Hall H3, booth C20). One Picanol OMNIplus Summum with jacquard was on display at Bonas booth and one OptiMax-i on the Stäubli booth.

As a technological market leader, Picanol constantly invests in R&D to assure the highest performance of its weaving machines, both for new machines and for those already installed in the field. For each new product development launched on new machines, the Picanol aftermarket team investigates how the new feature can bring a solution or benefit to get the most out of the weaving machine. Also the after market upgrade possibilities presented on the Picanol booth.

Picanol weaving machines on display at ITMA Asia + CITME 2016:

OMNIplus Summum 6-R 190 weaving a shirting fabric: This airjet is equipped with a high speed dobby. It combines performance, flexibility and energy effectiveness. Waste control and style changes are simplified thanks to the Blue22 EasySet prewinders. Special features include: WarpYarn count: Ne 120/2; Density: 41,5 ends/cm; Weft Yarn count: Ne 120/2; Density: 36 picks/cm; Drawing-in width: 179 cm.

OMNIplus Summum 4-P 280 weaving a sheeting fabric: This machine brings the answer to the increasing demand to weave sheeting fabrics on a type 280 at the highest speeds thanks to the air tucking version for continuous reeds. Special features include: Warp yarn count: Ne 60/1; Density: 72 ends/cm; Weft Yarn count: Ne 40/1; Density: 42 picks/cm (double pick); Drawing-in width: 270 cm.

OMNIplus-X 2-P 190 weaving a bottomweight fabric: The OMNIplus-X airjet machine, based on the Picanol airjet platform. Possible to weave a wide range of fabrics at an unbeaten price/performance ratio. Special features include: Warp yarn count: Ne 32/1; density: 57 ends/cm; Weft Yarn count: Ne 10/1; Density: 26 picks/cm; drawing in width: 160 cm.

OptiMax-i 4-R 190 weaving a fancy denim: Machine specified to show the top performance achievable with the new OptiMax-i. Special features include: Warp Yarn count: Ne 40/2; density: 42 ends/cm; weft yarn count: Ne 33/1; Material: Polyamide/Elastane; Yarn count: Ne 20/1; Material: Cotton/Elastane; Density: 29 picks/cm; Drawing in width: 179 cm.

GTMax-i 8-R 340 weaving a deco fabric: The new generation of GTMax-i in wider width execution. Weaving a high versatility article. Special features include: warp yarn count: 76 dtex; Material: Polyester; Density: 28 ends/cm; Weft yarn count: Various; Material: Polyester, Viscose, Chenille: Density: variable; Drawing in width: 314 cm.

GTMax-i 6-R 190 weaving a shirting denim: The narrow width GTMax-i in the new execution. Thanks to the technological evolutions this machine continuous to set the standard for denim as well as shirting fabrics. Special features include: Warp yarn count: Ne 32/1; Material: cotton; Density: 47 ends/cm; weft yarn count: Ne 32/1; Material: Cotton; Density: 31,5 picks/cm; Drawing in width 171 cm.

At Stäubli booth

OptiMax-i 12 – J 190 weaving an upholstery fabric

• Warp Yarn count: dtex 167
• Material: Polyester
• Density: 66 ends/cm
• Weft Yarn count: various
• Material: Polyester, viscose, blends
• Density: 26 – 45 picks/cm
• Drawing in width: 146 cm

At Bonas booth

OMNIplus Summum 6-J 190 weaving a furnishing fabric

• Warp yarn count: denier 150
• Material: Polyester
• Density: 48 ends/cm
• Weft Yarn count: Nm 20/1 & 27/1
• Material: mix viscose, polyester, polyamide
• Density: 34 picks/cm
• Drawing in width: 155,5 cm

At Shanghai Tongxiang booth

GTMax-i 12-J 190 weaving a shoe fabric

• Warp yarn count: denier 100
• Material: polyester filament DTY
• Density: 82 ends/cm
• Weft yarn count: denier 50
• Material: polyester filament DTY
• Density: 40 pics/cm
• Drawing in width: 174,5 cm

Innovation is a constant at Picanol. An R&D team of over 150 researchers are working day-in-day-out on performance, efficiency, user friendliness and versatility of the Picanol weaving machines, so that the weaving industry can get the most out of its energy, time, material, market and talent. This makes the Picanol machines the most innovative in the world.

The Picanol Group is an international, customer-oriented group specialised in the development, production and sale of weaving machines, engineered casting solutions and custom made controllers.

The group develops, manufactures and sells through Weaving Machines (Picanol) high-tech weaving machines, based on air (airjet) or rapier technology. It supplies weaving machines to weaving mills worldwide, and also offers its customer such products and services as training, upgrade kits, parts and service contracts. For more than seventy-five years, Picanol has played a pioneering role in the industry. Today, it is a world player in the weaving machine industry.

Picanol also markets accessories via GTP Global Textile Partner. Next to this, the division Industries covers all activities not related to weaving machines like the foundry activities (Proferro) and the group’s mechanic finishing activities. It is the ambition to offer the customer engineered casting solutions for middle to large series in a value-driven partnership in the long term. Through PsiControl and Melotte the company applies to the design, the development, the manufacturing and support of technological components, services and mechatronical system solutions for original equipment manufacturers in various industries. Next to the head office in Ypres (Belgium), the Picanol Group has production facilities in Asia and Europe, linked to its own worldwide service and sales network. The Picanol Group realised a consolidated turnover of 529 million euros in 2015.

The Picanol Group employs 2,000 employees worldwide and has been listed on Euronext Brussels since 1966 (ticker: PIC). Since 2013, the Picanol Group has also had a reference interest in the Tessenderlo Group (Euronext: TESB).