Advanced weaving technology producer Picanol reached an impressive milestone this week when the 20,000th OptiMax rapier weaving machine rolled off the production line at its plant in Ypres, Belgium.
“The first OptiMax which was produced in Ypres in 2007 is the most advanced and fastest rapier weaving machine on the market today with speeds of up to 700 picks per minute,” Picanol said in a press release.
According to Picanol, the 20,000th OptiMax will be shipped this week to a Bangladesh based denim fabric producer, Sister Denim Composite Ltd.
The OptiMax offers the ideal combination of considerable versatility and highly productive weaving and features components that are designed for higher operating speeds and optimum productivity.
The OptiMax was given a boost in 2011 when Picanol also presented a positive gripper version to complete the offerings of its rapier platform.
The machine which is available in all widths up to 540 cms, opened up new perspectives in technical segments such as coating fabrics, primary and secondary carpet backing and geogrids.
“OptiMax represents the benchmark of the rapier industry and thanks to its modular and future-oriented design, it can be adapted to a wide range of conditions,” Johan Verstraete, VP (Marketing & Sales) said.
“With speeds of up to 700 picks per minute, this is the fastest industrial rapier weaving machine in the world and it has an installed base of more than 800 customers in over 50 countries,” he added.
“Achieving this milestone demonstrates our ability to produce best-in-class weaving machines for the world’s most reputable textile manufacturers and also confidence of our customers,” he noted.
“Picanol weaving machines are a synthesis of technological know-how and experience that has been built up over nearly 80 years and has seen more than 300,000 machines produced,” it noted
As of date, Picanol has more than 175,000 weaving machines running in some 2,600 weaving mills worldwide.
“At Picanol we are convinced that we can help our customers to grow and we have done it in the past and we are very eager to keep doing so in the future,” Picanol informed. (AR)
