The first rapier weaving machine

At the ITMA-exhibition in Milan in 1975, Picañol introduced the PGW. The PGW was the first Picañol weaving machine without a flying shuttle,which at that time continued to be used by the still young gripper insertion technology (PGW stands for Picañol Gripper Weaving machine). This technology allowed for a simplified way of weaving different weft threads (colors), and opened new sectors for Picañol, such as wool and upholstery weaving mills. The machine reached a production speed of 240 weft insertions per minute.

The engineering department was transferred to the Zonnebeekseweg in
May 1975. From the personnel magazine of 1975: “Let us just emphasize
that the environment in which our Engineering department is located is
truly unique. Located in the middle of fields and meadows where peace and
tranquility reign, indispensable factors to carry out research and development
effectively”. Also in 1975, a new dispatch hall was built on the grounds of the Karel Steverlyncklaan. Both the road and the railway track became the property of Picañol, providing trucks and railway carriages with direct access to the loading
pit. The old loading pit was closed and transformed into a new assembly hall.

Belgian trade exhibition in Beijing

In April 1975, a trade exhibition took place in Beijing with 28 Belgian companies participating, including Picañol. It was only the second time that Picañol was present in the People’s Republic of China. Our CM-SB/MDC-machine with positive let-off and independent take-up in MDC-version was a major attraction. Sales Director Louis Motte happily observes...

Miss England advertising Picañol weaving machines

Picañol regularly uses ‘beautiful people’ in the sales of its weaving machines. Miss England, and later Miss World 1974, Helen Morgan, advertised Picañol weaving machines at the open day of Premier Mill (United Kingdom). Also in 1974, Picañol officially inaugurated the automatic assembly line. Each shift had 12 minutes to finish its assembly work, following which a bell would sound and the loom moved on. Thanks to this new method, over forty machines could be assembled each day. The machines in the production departments were also replaced. Among others, two ‘Olivetti’ numerically controlled coordinate drilling and milling machines were purchased. The functioning of the new technology was explained to Charles and Bernard Steverlynck (picture).

The first electronically controlled flying shuttle machine

At the ITMA exhibition in Paris (1971), Picañol surprises the textile industry with the MDC, the world’s first electronically controlled fl ying shuttle machine. MDC stands for Mono Disc Control, referring to the electromagnetically controlled clutch-and brake unit which makes it possible to increase the speed of this 188 cm machine to 220 picks per minute. The MDC is also the first weaving machine with pushbuttons instead of levers.

Picañol at Inlegmash in Moscow

At the Inlegmash-exhibition in Moscow, Picañol used the defeat of the Belgian football team against the Soviet Union at the World Cup in Mexico to attract attention. The Russian inscription reads: ‘Our looms are much better than our football team. Still, our sincere congratulations’. Pavel Popovitch, the Russian cosmonaut who made 49 revolutions around the earth in 1962, appreciated the humor of it.

New assembly hall

At the end of 1969, Picañol increased the level of recruitment. At that time, 2,137 laborers and 418 servants were employed at Ieper, causing an acute lack of space. Therefore, the surrounding area of the factory in Ieper turned into an enormous building site. In the spring of 1970, construction started on the new assembly hall, which had to be ready before the vacation. For the first time, a ring road was also built. The number of showers and water connections for washing were also increased and the "rolling stock" was renewed. For example, in March, new commercial vehicles were put into use. The cars, with closed bodies, answered to the name Hannomag (Hannover), with a loading capacity of 1,700 kg. Drivers Lucien Wyckaert and André Mechelen used both cars to organize shipments over domestic and international routes.

Start of casting work for third parties

In 1969, Picañol started performing casting work for third parties. In 1970, approximately two-thirds of the time was used for own production, and the other one-third was used for the production of casting work for external customers, such as Ford Tractor.

Picañol in Ethiopia and the visit of Queen Juliana

In the spring of 1969, Picañol took part in an exhibition in Asmara in Ethiopia. The exhibition itself was primarily designed to enable visitors to see what was produced in Ethiopia. Picañol was present with a C.M. President featuring a heavy twill fabric, with a speed of 230 wefts per minute. For the correspondents of Picañol it was a pleasure to see how many visitors stopped to admire the loom. Even a British competitor exhibiting its own looms could not believe how our looms could run this fast. Apart from visits from Sudan and Kenya, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands also visited the exhibition. She was very interested in the origins of our looms, stating - "Well, it's amazing all the things that are manufactured in the Benelux.”.

Picañol in the Far East

At the end of 1968 the Danish company Maersk inaugurated a new line to Asia, providing Picañol with direct access to the most important markets in the Far East. The "Charlotte Maersk "(13,900 GRT) was the first boat to ensure the new link between Europe and the Orient. After loading the familiar Picañol crates at Antwerp, some 164 President looms left for Hong Kong. Meanwhile, 100 looms went to our customer Textile Alliance, with the other 64 destined for East Asia Textiles Ltd.

The launch of Picanol Deutschland

On 18 January 1968 in Dusseldorf, a German subsidiary was established under the name Fa Picanol Deutschland GmbH. With this new plant, Picanol wanted to stimulate its looms sales in the large neighboring country. At that time, a significant percentage of the approximately 70,000 looms on the German market already came from the factory at Ieper. Germany was the most important export market for Picañol at the time, with around 7,000 Picañol looms delivered and installed over the previous ten years. The Board of Directors was formed by W. Vanhee and Emmanuel Steverlynck. The rest of the team was made up of G. Gebhardt and our regional agents - Müller, Ludwig, and Kuttler. The founding was divulged at a press conference, which was attended by plenty of journalists. One year later, Picanol Netherlands would also be founded in Almelo, for the local sales and service of the weaving machines, mechanical parts, and castings.

Prince Albert as a guest at ITMA Basel

From 27 September to 6 October 1967, Picañol participated in the fifth international trade fair for textile machinery in Basel (Switzerland). After previous editions in Lille, Brussels, Milan and Hannover, a record turnout of more than 110,000 visitors from over 100 countries attended the new ITMA fair. Picañol was the big star among the 28 Belgian participants present. ITMA Basel was no less than six times larger than the first edition in Lille, which also showed how strong the textile machinery industry had grown in the meantime.

There were 11 President looms at the Picañol stand, complemented with six looms at other stands. Old and new customers were received by an extensive group of 40 Picañol employees. Offers were formulated, orders were booked, and whenever it got too hot, everybody hopped into the bar for a cool drink. In the late morning of 6 October, Prince Albert, as President of the Belgian Foreign Trade Office, also visited our stand.

Picanol of America moves to new premises

In September 1967, Picanol of America moved to a new building in Charlotte, a city in the state of North Carolina in the United States. This was necessary due to the large increase in the number of Picañol looms in the United States. By the end of 1967 there were already over 5,000 President looms divided over 35 American weaving mills. In addition to offices and sales services, the new building held a technical education center, a demonstration hall, and several warehouses.

Listed on the stock exchange

In 1966, Picañol was listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange. The main reason for the public offering was the appointment of Charles Steverlynck at the Banking Commission. Namely, it was forbidden for a member of this commission to have substantial interests in a company. That is why the Steverlynck family decided to convert Picañol into a limited liability company, and list their stock on the exchange. The family did, however, buy the majority of the stock.

The first towel loom

To meet the expanding market in Belgium and other European countries, Picañol launched its first towel loom on 15 November 1965. It was entirely built on the already successful multi-color loom, and included with the necessary parts for weaving loops. The loops were formed in the fabric according to the principle of movable reed that is adjustable from 0 mm to 19 mm. With a simple adjustment, the loop-pile could be created in two ways, in which a loop was formed by either three wefts or four wefts. The flying shuttle-towel loom would enjoy a long life. Picañol would supply machines of this type until 1985. The last towel loom was destined for Algeria. Today, Picanol is offering the TERRYplus 800 airjet weaving machine specially designed for weaving of terry cloth, based on the OMNIplus 800 series.

23rd Southern Textile Exposition

In 1964, the ‘23rd Southern Textile Exposition’ took place in Greenville (USA). The fair was a tremendous success, and a large proportion of the American textile industry visited the Picañol stand. The big attraction at the stand was the CC-C loom, on which dense rainwear poplin was woven. The warp and weft mixed 65% Dacron and 35% cotton. During the first days of the exhibition, the loom reached a speed of 260 wefts per minute. However, upon the request of Emmanuel Steverlynck, the speed was increased by 10 wefts every day. On the last day, the President ran with a speed of 304 wefts per minute. These speeds greatly impressed the visitors. And the numbers speak for themselves: Riegel Textile Corporation purchased 200 looms of this type.

The Flying President

In 1963, Picañol achieved a first in the history of the Belgian textile industry. For the first time, Picañol shipped a weaving machine across the Atlantic Ocean - to Mount Vernon Mills in Baltimore (USA) - by plane. This remarkable 'stunt' was performed on the occasion of the 75th birthday of Charles Steverlynck, but also, and above all, in order to meet the demand of an important U.S. customer in record time. Thanks to good cooperation between Picañol and the airline Pan-Am American Airways, the new President loom could be delivered in less than three weeks. Under normal circumstances, a delivery to the United States would have taken several months. This spectacular feat not only attracted the attention of the press, it also immediately gave Picañol a foothold in the U.S. However, conquering the U.S. market was no easy task. Up to that moment, Picañol had only been able to make a few modest sales in the United States. At the time, the market was being controlled by two national companies, in particular Draper, which held a near monopoly. Nevertheless, Emmanuel Steverlynck was determined to penetrate this market, even against the advice of his father Charles. Armed with an address book and his business card confirming his status as a manager, Emmanuel crossed the ocean. The first contacts with several large weaving mills proved to be very positive. However, as soon as the subject of purchasing was raised, the first question of the customers always related to where they would get spare parts from. To this end, Emmanuel Steverlynck leased a local garage and had four looms shipped in from Ieper. After showing the potential customers the looms, he had them dismantled. This way, Picañol already had some spare parts before even selling the first weaving machine. This effort proved not to be in vain, because shortly afterwards the first small orders were coming in.

Four colors

In 1960, Picañol split up the engineering agency into two departments. In the Polenlaan, seven men continued developing the single-color loom. At the domain of Jaime Picañol near Zandberg in Zillebeke, Picañol started the design of a multi-color loom. Under the supervision of Jaime himself, some twenty draftsmen, technicians, mechanics and weavers worked on the construction of the first prototypes. In the fall of 1962, the company launched a pilot series of a number of 'President-4C-C’, or fur machines, with four colors in the weft. Previously, they had launched a dual color mixing changer. Picañol supplied the first 50 multi-color looms to several weaving mills in Belgium and the Netherlands for a final test run under industrial conditions. The production series was scheduled for early 1963. Many customers showed an interest, because most of the parts were compatible with the parts of the classic President looms.

Entering the English market

In the early 1960s, Picañol slowly started conquering the English market. Even before the end of 1962, around 3,000 Picañol looms were running in England. The enhanced version - the B version - of the President-loom was perfect for processing number duck canvas. The SB version was used to produce multi-layer conveyor belt fabric. This was extremely convenient for the Coal Board in Great Britain, since there was a shortage of conveyor belts for the coal mines. 'Wilson & Longbottom', the local manufacturer of heavy looms, could not compete with the speed and price of the looms from Ieper, which allowed Picañol to quickly penetrate this market.

The sky is the limit

In the spring of 1962, the company added a new type to the President loom series. Picañol brought a new, reinforced machine on the market: the President CM suffix B (Bache) or SB (Super Bache). These were specially constructed looms for weaving canvas. These President looms allowed the company to penetrate an area of the industry that was yet to be explored up to that time. In this period, more and more use of synthetic yarns was made in the textile industry. A new market opened up for Picañol and one of the most renowned producers of technical fabrics was the Cramer Company in Nienborg - Westphalia, which only used Picañol looms. It manufactured a special Diol fabric, which was used as a cover to protect the parabolic antenna of the observatory in Bochum in western Germany. This fabric was to offer protection against atmospheric disturbances. Moreover, the President series got yet another special version: the 'Tire Cord' - for weaving tire cord for bicycle and car tires in cotton, nylon and even metalized yarn. The Japanese tire maker Bridgestone used these looms to compete with its counterpart Firestone. In the late sixties, the first astronaut and man on the moon even wore a flight suit on the Apollo flight, the fabric of which was produced on a Picañol heavy fabric President machine. The suit, made from tightly woven perlon wire and filled with porcelain powder, was designed to offer protection against the potential impacts of small meteorites during the spacewalk.

The innovation continues

In 1962, Picañol began with the study regarding a new foundry. This showed that it would be interesting to design and build its own foundry, which was certainly a bold initiative. The choice was made to work with the most modern form of technology: the high-pressure principle. At the time, the mechanization and automation in the molding were, just like this technique, still in their infancy. With this new principle, the focus was mainly on the quality of the sand, the accuracy of the dimensions, and surface conditions. At the end of 1964, a specialized company from Ghent placed two new overhead cranes, with a combined weight of approximately 30 tons. They would be used for loading and unloading trucks, and to supply the melting-furnaces. On 17 February 1966, the first machine of the new foundry was put into service. The 'Ballard' was an automatic painting machine with an immersion system and drying oven. It worked five times faster than the machine in the old foundry. This meant that 35 looms were painted per 9-hour shift. In November 1966, over 20% of the cast iron production was realized in the new foundry. The new 'Taccone' molding machine had a capacity of a full cast in 15 seconds or 4 casts per minutes. The four cupolas allowed for the casting of 150 tons of iron in 9 hours. To mold the larger pieces, the ‘Sandslinger’ was used, in which the molding boxes were filled by two casting pots with a combined capacity of 1 ton.

A visit from Baudouin

The Belgian Royal Family has always had a keen interest in Picañol. The highlight, however, came on Wednesday, 28 February 1962, when King Baudouin visited Picañol during a visit to Ieper. On a diplomatic mission in the Far East, the King had expressed his wish to visit the company. However, he did not limit himself to the traditional ceremonies and exchange of gifts. He also took the time to talk to some of the employees. The King not only spoke about the working conditions with the employees, he was also interested in their leisure activities and relaxation. During over an hour and a half, the King spoke with numerous employees. After the walk alongside the businesses located in the Polenlaan, the King witnessed another new development when one of the first fur weaving machines was put into service in the new assembly halls. In this factory, he also spoke with some employees, which made many see him - and with good reason - as "a great guy".

2,500th weaving machine in Almelo

On 16 June 1961, a true Ieper invasion of Dutch Almelo took place. In the center of the Twente linen industry, the textiles group Ten Cate was located. Just like Ieper, this was an agricultural area where, besides corn, farmers also grow flax. Therefore, there are many home weavers and spinners in this area. And here as well, industrialization gradually took over. The handlooms made room for more modern machines and Picañol contributed significantly to this reality. In April 1956, Picañol supplied its first loom to Ten Cate. And this cooperation reached its peak in 1961 when machine number 2,500 was delivered to the Dutch customer. Being a milestone that should not go unnoticed, this saw the cats and giants of Ieper, accompanied by the Picañol Brass Band and numerous personalities, come together to see the 2,500th loom handed to Holland's largest textile company. Nicole I, the Ieper Cat Queen, had the honor of starting up the Picañol loom.

The first American player in the Belgian basketball league

In 1960, Jules Bastil, the Athlon President, inaugurated the 'Bernard Steverlynck ground' in the Kruisstraat. In the 1960-61 season, following the merger between BBC and Athlon, the basketball team started under the name BBC Athlon Ieper for the first time. Athlon Ieper was originally founded as an athletics club, hence the name Athlon ('athl' from athletics and 'lon' from Picanol). Following the laying of the first stone of the new indoor sports hall, the team organized a basketball festival at the end of 1961. On 11 November, there followed the official inauguration of the 'Bernard Steverlynck sports hall', named after Bernard Steverlynck, the founder and honorary chairman. From then onwards, the basketball team played their home games at an indoor court in the Kruisstraat. The fact that BBC Athlon Ieper had a large appeal was reflected in the interest of foreign players to play for the team. In 1963, Rex Hughes, the first American player in the Belgian league, joined the team. Hughes came over from the NCAA West (Los Angeles) university team where he had won the championship. At a height of 1.94m and with a deadly jump shot, he was an outstanding defender who excelled in rebounds. On 4 September 1963, he joined the PR department and the basketball team. He was also immediately appointed as youth coach. In addition, in 1963, BBC Athlon was the first team in Belgium, and maybe even Europe, that possessed the latest American novelty in the field of sports and basketball training: the automatic Mc Call Rebounder. This device helped to quickly improve the rebound technique of players.

The inauguration

The major festivities took place on Monday 30 October 1961. The inauguration of the industrial zone in the Kasteelwijk Quarter was a milestone in the industrialization of south-west Flanders. The inauguration was performed by the then Prime Minister Theo Lefèvre. In addition to the Prime Minister, the presence was also noted of Achiel Van Acker, Senate President, Spinoy, Minister of Economic Affairs, Declerck, Minister for Small and Medium-sized Businesses, Gillon, Minister of State and many other public figures. At the same time, the first buildings of ‘The New Factory’ were officially inaugurated. This related to the new assembly hall with a length of 180 meters and a width of 42 meters. From that moment onwards, 25 looms would leave the assembly line per day, 95% of which were destined for export to other countries. The pre-assembled sets were screwed together on 18 synchronized assembly posts, which meant that in 27 minutes the loom could be moved up to the next post. They were the first steps towards a future automated assembly line. Under the expert guidance of Guido Manhaeve, the Head of the assembly department, fully tuned machines were delivered to the shipping department where, in those days, they would predominantly be shipped from the loading dock to their destination by rail.

Looking for a new location

Where production in the early years was adjusted to four machines per day, this had already been increased to eighteen. Gradually, the company experienced the scenario where the demand for weaving machines began to exceed the production capacity. The average of 140 machines per week was no longer sufficient to meet all of the orders that were coming in. Due to the increased demand, the company was starting to lack sufficient space for assembling the looms. Therefore, it was decided to move to another location. In order to be able to meet the demand for new industrial grounds, a 19-hectare area between the Menensteenweg and Ieper-Roeselare railway line was equipped as industrial ground. Due to the ever present need for employment in the region, the construction and equipping of a new industrial zone had become more than a necessity. Thanks to the efforts of Albert Dehem, the Ieper Mayor, and some industrialists, this new business location would provide a new momentum for employment in Ieper. Approximately 10 hectares of this new industrial zone had been reserved for Picañol. In the spring of 1961, important works were performed on the new industrial zone along the Quarter Kasteelwijk. Cranes hoisted heavy beams for the construction of an impressive assembly hall. And after a few months, the machinery and spare parts of the complex along the Polenlaan could already be taken to the new site.

Picañol in Atlantic City

In 1960, Picañol participated in a big trade fair in the U.S. A huge show for textile machinery takes place in Atlantic City every four years, with international participants. Picañol was also represented and the President loom was the center of attention, which paved the way for major prospects regarding the introduction into the immense textile industry of the U.S. In the photo from left to right G. Bruynooghe, our field technicians Eichele, Dumerie and Carrein, Emmanuel Steverlynck and H.B. Hess. Picañol also successfully participated in the fair in Greenville.

The first Flemish celebrities pay us a visit

Social life also continued at full speed. At the time, Picañol possessed thriving and active football, basketball and music associations. Thanks to Sint-Elooi, musical revues had already been offered in Ieper for several years, offering many talented employees the opportunity to do their thing on stage. For example, the Ieper Operetta Society, already established in 1956, was made up mainly of Picañol employees. The group was also constantly looking for reinforcement: “We would like to address a special appeal to all employees, their families, and any friends, to join us in bringing new impetus to Picañol and Ieper's recreational life. We can use anyone - they don't all have to be up there with Mathilde, Philidoors or Hypoliets, much less Maria Callases, B.B.’s, Louis Armstrongs, or any of the like…” The first Flemish celebrities visited us during the social activities and this saw Tante Ria (Aunt Ria) and Nonkel Bob (Uncle Bob) stop by our Workshops.

Farewell to the Omnium

In 1960, the decision was made to take the ‘Omnium’ out of the production program, leaving only the 'President' in a series of narrower types. The Omnium had proven to be a success. From the end of the Second World War, Picañol had manufactured more than 8,000 Omniums. Gradually, the demand for wider machines grew and the company decided to expand the range of products with a series of machines suitable for wider cotton fabrics as well as heavier materials. With the use of as many parts of the existing products as possible, two new types were launched.

In the Holy Land

Due to growing interest from African countries, all attention was centered on that continent. Stimulated by Emmanuel Steverlynck, numerous visits to Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia followed and several major projects in Sudan slowly took off. This provided Picañol with the opportunity of supplying thousands of looms to this African country. For these 'turnkey' projects, the supplier of the machines was responsible for starting up the looms and the corresponding weaving tests. The supplied machines were not purchased until positive test results were attained. Meanwhile, Charles Steverlynck was in Israel to discuss the possible creation of a new company. This resulted in an agreement to establish an assembly plant near the Mediterranean Sea at Ashdod, about 35 km from the capital Tel Aviv. The local government had plans to build a port in the fall of 1960, and make this city the main southern port city of Israel. In the presence of numerous guests, the new company ‘Metapic’ was officially launched on 12 May 1960. Pinhas Sapir, the Israeli Minister of Trade and Industry, cut the symbolic ribbon. Assembling the looms outside of Ieper enabled Picañol to shorten delivery times for the region of the Near East. And by establishing this assembly hall, Metapic became the first Belgian company to establish itself in Israel under its own name, and additionally, the only one tending to the production of looms.

The President among the Presidents

At the end of 1959, President Nasser, who at the time was Head of State of the United Arab Republic, visited the important MISR industrial center in Helouan, Egypt. Manufacturing looms for MISR had already started in 1958 and several loads left for the Port of Antwerp to be shipped. No less than 816 looms were ordered, which were taken to a new factory, for exclusive use in our weaving machines. Our engineers went to work in tropical temperatures, and were introduced to local practices. A tour on the 'ship of the desert' was naturally a must. And interestingly, camel fat was used in the preparation of various dishes. However, the engineers on the spot did find out that it was less suitable for making their beloved fries, since they would become stuck together… (photo: Roland Desquirez as a sturdy camel rider)

Cooperation with Yugoslavia

In 1959, a trade agreement was reached regarding the production of looms between Picañol and the Zagreb construction firm Tekstilstroj. This agreement practically ensured Picañol's monopoly-position on the Yugoslav market. The cooperation with Picañol was realized after Yugoslav representatives contacted several manufacturers, but came to the conclusion that the Picañol loom offered the most benefits for the Yugoslav market. (photo: Bernard and Emmanuel Steverlynck with the Tekstilstroj delegation)

The 1,000th employee

From 12-19 September 1959, another international ITMA-exhibition took place in Milan, following ITMA '51 in Paris, and ITMA '55 in Brussels. In Milan, Picañol introduced a new rationalized system for the supply of weft threads on its machines. The Unifil flying shuttle machine, which was of American origin, was built onto the President loom for the first time. Another innovation was the automated loading installation for weaving shuttles, from Swiss company Georg Fischer. At the fair, Picañol announced during a press conference that it had signed an agreement with U.S. firm Saco-Lowell from Boston. From that moment onwards, Saco-Lowell would represent Picañol in the United States and Canada. The prospects were very bright at the time. Large orders were received, and with regard to the prospecting of new markets, Emmanuel Steverlynck was highly enthusiastic about countries where up to that point it had seemed absolutely impossible to sell even a single loom (because these countries had their domestic products, and stubbornly persisted in using only products of own fabrication). The number of employees proves how much Picañol benefited from the textile fair in Milan: on 10 December 1959, Gaston Delameilleure, the 1,000th employee, was honored.

New weaving mill in Nijverdal

On 24 January 1959, a new, automated weaving mill was put into use at the Royal Textile Factories Nijverdal - Ten Cate NV in the Netherlands. At the time, this group was one of the largest textile companies in Europe, with 6,090 looms, one-fifth of which originated from Ieper. The new, automated weaving mill was built using the latest technology in temperature and humidity, and was filled with 360 President looms. The official inauguration was attended by many authorities of both the Dutch government and the textile world. The speeches were followed by the ceremonial start, in which all 360 looms were running within seconds. The success of the looms did not go unnoticed. In the late fifties, more and more guests found their way to Ieper. Delegations from Yugoslavia, Brazil, the Philippines, the U.S. and other countries visited the Workshops in Ypres.

New sales territories

In late 1958, however, the demand for weaving machines dropped. In the Works Council, Bernard Steverlynck explained that this was not a matter of Belgian affairs, but was due exclusively to certain countries suffering political turmoil. In Cuba as well as Venezuela, two countries with textile-oriented economies, there was political unrest, and both countries were on the brink of revolution. In both countries, the credit lines were closed, making any sales impossible. Meanwhile, in Mexico the market stagnated, and even European markets like Italy and France showed no market movement. All of this created an economic standstill for Picañol. Therefore, other countries on different continents were explored in search of new sales territories. This was done under difficult circumstances. When an order came in from Turkey for the supply of over 700 machines for the Sumerbank, Omer Deschacht and technical advisor Tony Debruyne were sent to Ankara. After days of discussions, in the freezing cold, a contract was typed in a hotel room on a borrowed typewriter. Photocopiers did not yet exist, and the carbon paper available was only able to make four copies. To further increase the workload, eight copies had to be made, not to mention the same number of versions in English and in French. Price calculations were still made on a mechanical calculator, on which one had to turn the reel to multiply. When, in addition, a detailed list of spare parts for two years should be included, the home front was called in – this saw Robert Bastil of the spare parts department having to ensure that all of the necessary information was sent to Ankara by telegram. However, all of this painstaking work was not in vain. A contract was signed for 750 looms, which meant that the company could run at full speed again.

Picañol at the World Exposition in 1958

The date 17 April 1958 saw the start of the much talked about World Exposition in Brussels, which would last until 19 October. Picañol participated in the event and did so with a President loom at the Symatex stand in the Belgian pavilion. On 12 July, Picañol organized a group outing with the Brass Band for the employees who wanted to visit the World Exposition. And on 4 September, Picañol appeared on Flemish television. The following Picañol employees – O. Deschacht, R. Desquirez, M. Dufromont and J. Liefhooghe – participated in a short television report. Thanks to this, our loom and the Picañol Workshops received the honor of becoming Symatex's most important member at the ‘Maison de la Metallurgie’ (the House of Metallurgy). The television reporter asked O. Deschacht a couple of questions about the evolution of the loom in the last 200 years.
- “Where are these looms manufactured?”
- “In Ieper, in the heart of West Flanders.”
- “Are they also sold in Belgium?”
- “Certainly, an important model company from Bruges has recently purchased numerous looms, however, many of them cross the seas to foreign countries.”
- “Could we see and hear this ‘fierce machine’ in action for a moment?”
- “Absolutely.”
And, following these questions, the Picañol loom roared at the Expo and on Flemish television for fifteen minutes.
(foto: Bernard Steverlynck at a presentation in the Atomium)

Telex automation

In the fifties, technology was advancing rapidly globally, not least at Picañol. Until that period, all correspondence with the international correspondents had taken place by telephone, letter exchange or by telegram. However, from 1955 onwards, Picañol put the first telex machine into use. At the time, this marked a milestone in the history of office automation. And from that moment on, office workers of Picañol could transmit messages, both nationally and internationally, without using the phone or regular written correspondence. By entering a telex-number (similar to dialing a phone number), one could reach the company to be contacted. The message could be typed directly, or punched onto the tape of the telex machine. This meant that many meters of tape would roll out of the machine to be converted to text.

The first honorary citizens of Ieper

28 November 1954 is truly memorable in the history of the Picañol company, as it was the day that saw Picañol celebrate in style. The small company that started business before the Second World War had gradually become a world player. The number of employees had already increased to 700, meaning that Picañol made a significant contribution to employment in the region of Ieper. The festivities started with an assembly at the company buildings of management and employees. With the Picañol Brass Band leading the way, those gathered left in procession for the cathedral to attend the jubilee mass. First, a floral wreath was placed at the monument of the fallen. Then the delegation was received at the city hall, where 41 people were decorated. The merit of the two pioneers of 'weefautomaten Picanol NV', had not gone unnoticed by the city council. They were very much aware of what our company had meant for the city. Thus, as a token of appreciation, Karel Steverlynck and Jaimé Picañol were appointed the first honorary citizens of the city of Ieper, and they were not even natives of Ieper.

Success on the other side of the Channel

Gradually, Picañol also started to establish itself in the United Kingdom. Notwithstanding the British government's strong import restrictions and a 14% import tax, Picañol managed to convince several British customers of the quality of its products, thanks to excellent test results. In particular, its willingness to adapt the looms to the customer's needs, proved to be a convincing argument. Once the requirements of the ‘British Cotton Board’ could be met as well, it really opened up the floodgates. To meet these requirements, it had to be demonstrated that the product of the foreign supplier was of superior quality to their own domestic product. Following comparison with the loom of British manufacturer Northrop, the British ‘Ministry of Commerce’ eventually lifted the import duties for the United Kingdom. Even before the end of 1962, approximately 3,000 Picañol looms were running in the United Kingdom. The special designs and the high performance of the looms even resulted in the President ending up on the 5-pound notes of Northern Ireland.

Advanced Service

The choice of Nijverdal-Ten Cate for the President looms and the corresponding service made a huge impression on other potential buyers, leading to new contacts. New sales areas for the President looms were easily found, not only in Turkey and Egypt, but also in France and Germany as well. Gradually, the sales area also extended to countries in Africa. In 1953, the comprehensive installation of the President weaving machines began at the Utexleo firm in what was then the Congo. The increase in sales forced the production capacity to be increased. In order to have the delivered machines perform at the highest possible efficiency, Picañol chose to set up a training center for specialized technicians from all over the world. They are trained in Ieper in assembling and adjusting the looms. Once they have fully mastered the profession, they return to their countries to start up the newly supplied machines on-site and to perform the maintenance on them. Even nowadays Picanol puts great effort into keeping its field technicians up to date on the latest technological changes in the machines. Among other things, several internal seminars or 'mechanics days' are organized every year.

Social fund

In order to be able to help employees in cases of 'social misfortune and problems', the company established a social fund. This fund originates from the company football team, known to everyone as W.A.P. Sport. With it, Bernard Steverlynck and Roger Bolle lay the foundation for what would become the Social Fund. Up until 31 December 1952, the football club financially helped and supported ill or injured employees during their period of inactivity. By purchasing a membership card from the Social Fund, the employees were entitled to compensation in cases of illness or misfortune, in accordance with the cash position in those days. With the help of some progressive employees, the statutes were established in 1952. Under the supervision of Management and the Works Council, Management Council 'De Dageraad' was established. On 9 January 1953, the first meeting was held, with Director-General Maurice Huvelle as its first President. In view of the fact that Mr. Huvelle was spending a lot of time abroad, the presidency was taken over by Jan Elebaers in February. Due to the contributions of its members and management the Social Fund could provide relief in the event of illness, accidents, death or other family events, such as weddings or births, to several associations. The Social Fund also contributed to the employees enjoying their well-earned pensions after their years of service.

The Picañol sports day

On August 17 1952, the first ever Picañol sports day was held. There were three sporting events - basketball, athletics and football. It all started with an 'idea' from a few members of the Party committee. It was not called a 'celebration day' at the time, but it would literally become one later on. It was basically a large-scale sports event, which the people started calling 'Straight through Ieper'. Whilst you will not find any of this back in the program of the original Sports day, such imaginative ideas ultimately led to other inspiring ideas. The 'idea' was submitted to the Party committee, and at the end of the meeting, it had been firmly established: Picañol would get its first Sports day. Eventually, this grand event was successfully organized in cooperation with the city council, the Bekaert company, the football clubs of K.V.C.S. Ieper, White Star Ieper and W.A.P. Sport Ieper, the Athletics and Basketball club Athlon, and the Picañol Brass Band. The first Picañol sports day was not only a first for the company, it was also the first of its kind in our country. To make it even more unique, the event also saw the debut of Athlon as a basketball team. The team played pretty well against Bekaert, its neighbors from Zwevegem. The first two quarters were very tight, and at times Athlon was able to give their opponents a bit of a scare. Unfortunately, the second half of the game saw the team collapse a little, resulting in a 14-24 score, which everyone agreed was ultimately quite flattering. Nevertheless, the performance proved to be the start of a promising future for the team. In the afternoon, the Athlon-athletes took appropriate revenge by beating Cercle Ieper and Bekaert following a superb contest. There was also a football match afterwards: White Star Ieper played Cercle Ieper for the Picañol cup. As the match ended with honors even, it was agreed that both White Star and Cercle would keep the cup for 6 months each. The first Picañol sports day was attended by approximately 1,500 people.

The big breakthrough

The big breakthrough came one year after the ITMA-exhibition in Lille. In 1952, the Royal Textile Factory Nijverdal-Ten Cate, the largest Dutch weaving mill at that time, requested a quotation for 800 looms. This gave Picañol the chance to prove itself against the 'established names' of that time. Thanks to the technical cooperation with Jaimé Picañol and Joseph Vermandere, the special needs of Ten Cate could be fulfilled. Following consultation between the engineers of Picañol and the potential new customer, the loom was reworked, and in a short period of time, a modified President was created. A number of these machines were installed at Nijverdal-Ten Cate on a trial basis, so that they could be tested extensively against those of the competitors. Due to the frequent visits of and the cooperation with the TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) in Delft, a special comb-movement was designed. By applying gradual crossing it was possible to give the poplin shirts a special character. Coincidentally, these new machines start with the number 4711, and they are known as the "eau de cologne" series. Based on the test results, Nijverdal-Ten Cate decided to place an order at Picañol for 800 looms. And along with the technical and commercial approach, another unexpected element played a role, namely that both partners speak the same language! By 1961, Picañol had supplied Ten Cate with as many as 2,500 looms.

The ‘clock spring’ affair

In the fifties, Emmanuel Steverlynck wanted to penetrate the important American market at all costs. However, this was no small task. Until then, two national companies had established a firm monopoly position in this market, which had a noticeable effect on prices. When Picañol's breakthrough in the American market occurred, it was partly due to the ‘clock spring’ affair. The largest American competitor, the Draper firm, was willing to do anything to prevent Picañol from selling its looms on American soil. In fact, during one of their efforts, they sued Picañol for infringement of a patent of theirs, deposited in 1952. This patent describes the use of coil springs ('clock springs') for retracting the weaving frames. However, the Bockstael Patent Office was able to demonstrate that Picañol had exhibited such a retraction system at the ITMA-exhibition in Lille (1951), and that consequently this had been preceded by several years of research. Moreover, the Picañol family from Sabadell had already filed a patent on 'the use of coil springs for raising roller blinds' before their arrival in Ieper. Due to the fact that in the meantime Picañol had also filed its own patent for the use of multiple 'clock springs', Draper was never able to market broad and heavy fabric machines.