1996: the Gamma rapier weaving machine

In 1996 Picanol launched the Gamma-rapier weaving machine. Initially, the machine was driven by a clutch/brake-unit. However, in 1999, it received a direct drive switched reluctance engine. The engine was dubbed SUMO Super Engine (Sumo through its ability to shift a large weight very quickly). The application of this technology represented a new milestone in the electronic control of weaving machines, as the machine speed can be varied during the weaving process. The Gamma is also equipped with the Quick Style Change system, and reaches a speed of 600 weft insertions per minute. Picture: Prince Philip starting up new weaving machines at the reopening of Woodard Textile Mills Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia, 1996)

1995: technological innovation at the foundry

The technological innovation continues in the 1990s. A new melting plant was installed at Proferro in 1995, a modern duplex unit with a furnace capacity of 18 to 27 tons per hour. In 1996, Proferro started with the production and sale of nodular cast iron in response to the changing market demand. That year, the long-heralded investment for the finishing of frames (or bâtis) became a reality: three horizontal numerically controlled machining centers of the Mandelli-type were connected to a central computer.

1993: expansion in Asia

In 1993, Picanol was accredited with ISO 9001 certification, the international standard of quality management for the products and services provided. Picanol became the first weaving machine manufacturer worldwide to be accredited the ISO 9001 certificate. In his acceptance speech, Patrick Steverlynck emphasized the importance of quality in order to keep on playing a leading role on a global scale. Picanol also expanded its activities in Asia. In 1993, Prince Albert of Belgium opened Picanol’s renewed training center in Shanghai. In 1994, the group expanded further by founding the joint venture Suzhou Picanol Textile Machinery Works (SPT). The assembly of weaving machines in China began in 1995 with the GA733 (the Chinese version of the GTM-A). From that year onwards, the first GTMs rolled off the assembly line in China. Eberhard Huettl, Urbain Osaer and Marc Trioen were onsite to oversee everything. At the beginning, the machines were only destined for the Chinese market.

1993: launch of the Omni & Delta

In early 1990, Picanol produced a record number of machines, and realized the highest turnover in its history. However, in the second half of the year this success came to an abrupt halt. Due to the downturn in the economy, the recession in the USA and the Gulf crisis, many orders were cancelled, and others postponed. These setbacks did not prevent Picanol from continuing its course. The company invested in new assembly lines, new equipment and assembly robots. R&D also continued to play an essential role. In 1992, the company introduced a new generation of airjet weaving machines: the versatile Omni and the less extensive Delta. The Omni offered new possibilities for weaving different colors in narrow and broad reed widths. Both machines were made available with the unique Quick Style Change system, with which a single person could equip and set a loom for a completely different fabric in 30 minutes. The Omni (width of 190 cm) reached a speed of 1,000 weft insertions per minute, the Delta up to 800 weft insertions. Picture: advertising campaign from 1992.

1989: Farewell to Jaime Picañol and 10.000th PAT machine

On 13 August 1989, Picanol was informed that Jaime Picañol Camps, the Catalan inventor from whom the group took its name, had passed away. In 1936, he became the head of the weaving machine development department. By the end of 1936, he managed to launch the ‘Omnium’ - the first production-ready weaving machine. Jaime would remain involved with the development department until the early seventies. After his career at Picanol, he returned to Spain. In 1989, as two-thirds of sales of the foundry were realized outside of Picanol, the foundry division was split off from the other activities and made into a separate company, Proferro NV. Also in 1989, Picanol took a stake in former electronics company Protronic (now PsiControl Mechatronics). On 10 November 1989, the 10,000th PAT-airjet weaving machine was installed at the Italian Gruppo Miroglio Tessile. Eduardo Miroglio pressed the start button under the supervision of Patrick Steverlynck.

Farewell to the shuttle loom

On 22 January 1988 the last flying shuttle loom rolled off the assembly line; a CMC-U-MDC TC, tire cord of 176 cm – and it meant the end of an era. Over a 52 year period, Picanol had supplied over 170,000 flying shuttle machines worldwide. After being stuck for a long time on the quay, Picanol’s very last flying shuttle weaving machines were installed at the African Textile Mill, Uganda - between November 1989 and May 1990. Also in 1988, the first Chinese customer of Picanol, Nantong No. 3 Cotton Mill, paid a visit to Ieper. In 1979, Picanol had supplied 100 MDC weaving machines to this mill, which marked the breakthrough of Picanol in the Chinese market. In June 1988, aluminum was cast for the last time at Picanol. The aluminum foundry had been active for over thirty years, for example with the quality casting of plate models under low pressure.

Picanol rules the weaves in Paris

1987 was again an ITMA-year, for the second time in Paris after 1971. ITMA Paris attracted 160,000 visitors, five times the amount of the first ITMA in 1951. The first ITMA exhibition (Internationale Textilmaschinen Ausstellung) was launched by CEMATEX in 1951 and has taken place with great success every four years since then. Picanol was present as well. Around the "Parc des Expositions" several billboards appeared with Picanol posters reflecting the new image of customer satisfaction: Picanol Rules the Weaves! In 1987, Picañol changed the spelling of its name to Picanol (without tilde), and built the Picanol Service Center in Shanghai. Also during that year, modifications were made to the production facilities in Ieper. The company split the production division into smaller units, which meant that similar work pieces could be grouped together and finished in a specialized production cell. Picanol also published that year the first edition of its very own magazine Picanol News, which informs customers and prospects on a regular basis of new developments. The magazine is published in four languages: English, German, French and Chinese.

Launch of the Total Quality Management program

In 1984, Picañol launched the “Total Quality Management” program, for which it deployed new means of production with sophisticated CNC-machines (computer-controlled machine tools. )

In 1985, the investments in the production capacity rose sharply. Next to the depot for spare parts, a 4,000 m2 hall was built for all the CNC processing centers, which were previously dispersed all over the company facilities. In 1985 at the ATME-Greenville, Picañol introduced the PAT-airjet weaving machine with microprocessor technology. From a central computer, it became possible to communicate in two directions with the microprocessor of both machine types. We also received good news from Cameroon in 1985: field technician Joaquim Vieira stayed in Cameroon for three months to instruct the technicians of Cicam. The popularity of Picañol was proven by the establishment of a Picañol bar.

Farewell to Charles Steverlynck

(picture: Charles Steverlynck with son Emmanuel) In 1984 founder Charles Steverlynck died. In 1936 he became the general manager of Picanol and he would grow and lead the company to become a global player. In many ways he was the ‘pater familias’ of Picanol and the strategist behind the company’s foundation and growth. Up to this very day, his name lives on in the name of the street where Picanol Group has its head office: at the Steverlyncklaan no. 15 in Ieper. Many sports activities at the Picanol Group have been inspired by Charles’s soccer (left winger at S.C. Courtrai in the first division) and athletics activities during his youth. In 1984, even cycle championships were held on the factory site. It was an individual time trial over a distance of 2.205 kilometers in various age groups. Jeannot Derycke won the championship with a time of 3min 04 sec.

The first microprocessor-controlled rapier weaving machine

At ITMA Milan in 1983, Picañol introduced another innovation: the first microprocessor-controlled rapier weaving machine. The GTM (Grip Tronic Machine), the successor to the PGW, meant a breakthrough for the electronic control of weaving machines. The first GTM machines, with a width of 190 cm, reached a speed of 360 weft insertions per minute. Later, speeds of up to 500 weft insertions per minute were reached. In 1983, a new assembly line was built in Ieper to meet the rising demand. In 1986, in Brazil, a contract was signed with Itamasa (Itapecerica Maquinas SA). This was for the licensed production of the GTM and, at a later stage, the PAT-machines, for the local market, which ran until the early 1990s.

Launch of the PAT weaving machine

In 1980, Picañol launched the revolutionary PAT weaving machine at the ATME-exhibition in Greenville (U.S.). The machine used air insertion technology and surprised the textile world with the electronically controlled valves (PAT stands for Picañol Air Tronic). A PAT weaving machine with a width of 190 cm initially reached a speed of 600 weft insertions per minute. By making some improvements this was sped up to 800 weft insertions per minute.

Picture: the assembly team with the first PAT airjet weaving machine, destined for the French customer Hacot-Colombier.

Weaving Machines to Mexico with the Flying Tigers

The Nunatex story: after a fierce competition, a prestigious contract for 106 PGWs was closed in Mexico in 1980. The short delivery time (4 months), the special design, and the exceptional shipping method made it into an enormous challenge. All weaving machines must be shipped by plane and to achieve this an appeal was made to the ‘Flying Tigers’, the only cargo company that needed to deploy just four planes to transport 106 machines and 20,000 kg of spare equipment.

Breakthrough contract for casting and finishing cast iron carters

In 1980, ZF (Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen), a German manufacturer of gearboxes for trucks, came to an agreement with Picañol for the casting and finishing of cast iron carters. The contract was part of a compensation contract for the purchase of Leopard tanks by the Belgian army. It meant that the foundry could significantly increase its tonnage, and for Picañol this project represented a breakthrough in technical and quality areas. The gearboxes were a commercial success and created a huge demand. Eventually, over 600,000 kits were supplied. Between 1979 and 1983, the first robots for deburring gearboxes were put into service. The machines enable the grindstone to smoothly slide through the burrs of the carters.

Visit of Fidel Castro

In its rich history, the Picanol Group has been the scene of many important visitors from both Belgium and abroad: ministers, ambassadors, trade delegations etc. At the end of the seventies even Fidel Castro paid a visit to a textile complex with Picañol weaving machines in Santa Clara (Cuba). During the inauguration of the new textile complex in Santa Clara in 1979, our field technician Aquilino Jurado was greeted by the president.

Farewell to the old foundry

In June 1976, the foundry was moved to the Karel Steverlyncklaan. End of June 1976, the old foundry in the Polenlaan was closed. The foundry in the Polenlaan was deconstructed and sold to T.T.M. in Zagreb. Therefore, 252 tons of casting material made the move to Yugoslavia.

In 1976, Picañol signed a huge contract for the supply of 1,500 looms to Iraqi customer Diwaniya State Cotton Textile Company. Picture: Werner Schupbach and Patrick Steverlynck in the desert.