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.