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.