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.