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.