news JUNE Picanol at Techtextil Frankfurt 2 Meet Team Technical 3

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1 JUNE 2017 news Picanol at Techtextil Frankfurt 2 Meet Team Technical 3 Impossible? Not anymore. Picanol s 6 principles of the technical weaving market 9 Picanol and Industry The gripper department: precision at its best! 17 letsgrowtogether.be

2 2 PICANOL NEWS Picanol at Techtextil Frankfurt From 9 till 12 May, Picanol attended Techtextil Frankfurt where it presented its solutions for technical textiles. In addition to state-of-the-art-weaving machines Picanol also showcased a full range of solutions for technical weavers, including service, spare parts, upgrade kits and advice. In fact Picanol offers a whole new approach to technical weaving, as demonstrated by its dedicated technical teams present at the exhibition. These experts were able to answer questions on service, speed, upgradability, alternatives for other technologies etc., demonstrating Picanol s competency and commitment in this area. High spec with flexibility and modularity. Impossible? Not anymore. World-class technology with world-class customer service, worldwide. Impossible? Not anymore. Meeting the highest technical standards, yet very competitively priced compared to the market equivalent. Impossible? Not anymore. Picanol aims to grow in the technical market. But above all, Picanol wants its customers to grow, through versatility, speed, good service, and reliability. That s why Picanol s baseline is: Let s grow together! Impossible, you say? Not anymore. Picanol at Techtextil Frankfurt

3 JUNE Meet Team Technical There are thousands of different kinds of technical fabrics, and nobody can weave them all. So working in the technical market almost by definition means working in a niche market, and there is nothing wrong with that. But nowadays, technological progress is getting faster and faster. Since technical weaving is at the forefront of this development, markets are changing much more quickly. And the last thing you want is to be stuck in a fading niche when the market changes and you are unable to follow. It could be the best reason why you should talk to the people of Picanol s Team Technical. Because they can explain to you why Picanol is a worthy alternative for your next investments. Many premium markets offer premium service compared to their mainstream counterparts. But strangely this seems not to be the case in the technical weaving market, where weavers do not enjoy the speed and quality of service that have become standard in the mainstream market. Picanol has grown up in the mainstream market, and so we re used to providing excellent customer service as a basic necessity for competitiveness. Simply put, we try harder. Every day, our teams at Picanol work together to help our customers grow. Our long experience in the mainstream market and our specific knowledge of the technical market: that s what Team Technical is all about. As locally connected first points of contact, they are dedicated to service for our technical customers, growing together with their needs.

4 4 PICANOL NEWS Our technical customers about us Company: Specialty: Spokesperson: Central Textiles, USA Pocketing Fabrics Patrick McReynolds, Manufacturing Manager Central Textiles is an integrated textile producer that has been operating in Central (South Carolina, USA) since 1984 when the current owners purchased an old, existing textile mill and began a complete modernization, making it into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility able to compete in today s global marketplace. Central Textiles produces technical textiles and apparel and is specialized in coating and laminating fabrics. The upgrades have been a continuing, ongoing process with regular installation of the latest generations of Picanol weaving technology. Patrick McReynolds, Manufacturing Manager Company: Specialty: Sage AI, USA Automotive Interiors Sage Automotive Interiors became independent from Milliken in September 2009 and now ranks first in the USA and second in the world. With a presence on all continents and a workforce of 3,000 associates, Sage AI manufactures automobile seating, panels and console fabrics as well as headliners. Picanol has supplied nearly 100 of its weaving machines since 2011 including OptiMax, OptiMax-i, OMNIplus 800 and OMNIplus Summum, either in dobby or in jacquard version. The versatility of the Picanol looms as well as the local presence of Picanol technicians in the USA, Brazil and Europe provides a perfect match for the Sage requirements, as they have operations in the USA, Brazil and Poland.

5 JUNE Company: Mattex, USA Specialty: Carpet Backings Spokespeople: Patriek Demeyere, Operations Manager / Penny G. Justice, Beaming/Weaving Manager Patriek Demeyere, Operations Manager Mattex started production of woven polypropylene carpet backings in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in For almost two decades now the company has experienced consistent growth. Mattex currently produces backings in three plant locations: Dubai, Jeddah and Chatsworth (Georgia, USA). Mattex Manufacturing USA opened in 2014 and produces primary and secondary carpet backings for indoor and artificial turf applications with a capacity of 137 million m² per annum. For this it uses 80+ Picanol OptiMax machines, equipped with Positive Guided Grippers. Penny G. Justice, Beaming/Weaving Manager

6 6 PICANOL NEWS Company: Specialty: Spokesperson: Heathcoat Fabrics, UK Parachute Fabrics Peter Hill, Director Woven Fabrics the earliest parachutes and actually manufactured parachutes as well as fabric from the early 1930s until the late 1960s. The company then ceased parachute manufacture so that it could concentrate on the production of parachute fabrics for its customers around the world. Modern parachute fabrics are made with high-tenacity nylon 66 rather than silk. Some more challenging uses demand exotic fibers such as para-aramid. Peter Hill Heathcoat, Director Woven Fabrics Heathcoat Fabrics Limited was established in 1808 by John Heathcoat, the inventor of the bobbinet lace making machine. It relocated from the English Midlands to its present site in Tiverton, Devon, 200 years ago this summer. Due to the use of silk for bobbinet Heathcoat became involved in the production of some of Over the past 10 years we have embarked upon a plant refurbishment and upgrade program as part of our World Class Manufacturing project, explains Peter Hill. Following extensive trials we selected Picanol as our key partner for airjet and rapier weaving looms and have installed a total of 31 Picanol looms to date. We have been very pleased with the after-sales service from Picanol. We weave very complicated technical fabrics with demanding yarns and structures. Picanol has worked closely with us to optimize the weaving of these technical fabrics and together we are pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved for the future.

7 JUNE Company: Specialty: Spokesperson: Santex, Italy Medical Textiles Roberto Fusato, Weaving Manager decisive contribution to the growth of the business by continually investing in technology, product development and organization. Santex has been a benchmark in the sector for over 50 years now, and is the only company to produce dressing products entirely in Italy. Mr Roberto Fusato, Weaving Manager Santex describes itself as a 100% commitment to the health system. And yes, indeed, this is their core business: the whole range from incontinence to hospital dressing products. Santex was founded in 1961, the brainchild of the entrepreneur Alberto Santurro. In keeping with the family tradition, the company is today managed by his children, who have made a The headquarters and administrative office is in Milan, while the two production plants are located in the province of Vicenza. The Meledo facility produces incontinence aids, while the one in Sarego produces a complete range of dressings, orthopedic products and disposables for the operating theatre, as well as taking care of business development for the Italian and foreign markets. The production unit in Serago consists entirely of Picanol airjets and this goes back a long time. In 1988 Santex started with Picanol PAT machines and with every replacement of the production apparatus they renewed their trust in the Picanol equipment. The most recent investment was in 18 OMNIplus Summum airjets to replace the old PAT machines, which were in full production until

8 8 PICANOL NEWS Company: Specialty: Spokesperson: TFE: Textiles For Europe, Austria Automotive Interiors Bernd Matt, Compan Manager producing the actual main product, namely black polyester fabric for the automotive industry. In the years that followed TFE bought Picanol OMNI and OMNIplus airjet looms, always second-hand, from Austria, France and Italy. In 2013 Getzner Textil AG in Bludenz acquired 75% of TFE and in 2015 Getzner took over the remaining 25%. Bernd Matt, Company Manager TFE - Textiles For Europe was founded in 1995 as a weaving mill in Nüziders (Austria) and now also has a second plant with finishing in Bludenz, a small town in the Vorarlberg region. Until 2007 TFE produced raw fabrics on airjet looms, for ladieswear, supplied to markets in Italy, France, Germany and Spain. When the main customer went bankrupt TFE obtained its first 12 Picanol OMNI airjet looms from the bankrupt estate. With these looms it started Since then TFE has invested in 48 brand-new Picanol OMNIplus Summum airjet looms, so that today it operates with a total of 72 Picanol airjet looms in widths of 220 cm and 250 cm running at high speeds, with high efficiency and low energy consumption. It successfully produces black PES fabric and PES microfilament fabrics for the medical sector along with elastic fabrics. TFE operates around the clock in three shifts with a total of 35 employees producing around 600,000 running meters per month. In addition to weaving preparation and weaving TFE also has a finishing line for washing out, drying, calendering and cutting. TFE appreciates the perfect cooperation with Picanol and is happy to grow further together in the future.

9 JUNE Impossible? Not anymore. Picanol s 6 principles of the technical weaving market This is the Picanol motto as we bring our machines, service and solutions to the technical weaving market. We believe that if you want to achieve the impossible, you first have to imagine the impossible. In many markets, real breakthroughs do not come from the traditional players. This is because they believe in the old approach: We ve always done it this way. Picanol is not limited by the conventions and assumptions that every traditional player in the market believes to be true. We take a fresh look and come up with alternative solutions. We have an open mind. We have a strong foothold in technical weaving, but we come from the mainstream weaving background. And we are convinced that technical weaving and mainstream weaving can learn a lot from each other. This may sound like heresy, but we believe it to be true. Of course, mainstream weaving has always benefitted from developments in the technical markets, just like mainstream cars use technologies derived from Formula One. But the mainstream market s attention to aspects like speed, cost and customer service is relevant to the technical market too. Or at least, it should be, and this is when we can offer extra added value. Anyway, Picanol s selling volume in the mainstream market allows us to invest in world-class manufacturing and in technological advances that are also relevant for the technical market. So read about our view of the technical weaving market, in 6 principles. Principle #1 Technical quality is our number one priority. p.10 Principle #4 Speed is everybody s business. p.11 Principle #2 Nobody wants to be stuck in a fading niche market. p.10 Principle #5 Technical should not mean unaffordable. p.12 Principle #3 Versatility through modularity. p.11 Principle #6 Customer service excellence to match the technical quality. p.12

10 10 PICANOL NEWS So read about our view of the technical weaving market, in 6 principles Principle #1 Technical quality is our number one priority. Let s start with the main principle, which we do not challenge. In the technical weaving market, everything starts and ends with the quality of the final fabric. Does or doesn t it meet the very strict quality requirements of the technical markets for which it is designed? For Picanol too, this is our starting point and the basic criterion for all our machines and services. We do not question this goal. We do question the way to achieve it. Technical quality is our number one priority. Principle #2 Nobody wants to be stuck in a fading niche market. There are thousands of different kinds of technical fabrics, and nobody can weave them all. So working in the technical market, almost by definition, means working in a niche market, and there is nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, it can be quite profitable. Nobody wants to be stuck in a fading niche market. But nowadays, technological progress is getting faster and faster. Since technical weaving is at the forefront of this, markets are changing much more quickly. And the last thing you want is to be stuck in a fading niche when the market changes and you are unable to follow. This is where our mainstream versatility proves its value.

11 JUNE Principle #3 Versatility through modularity. Technical fabrics have to meet very specific requirements. In order to create machines that can weave them, it seems completely logical to start from those requirements and build a machine around them. That way you can guarantee perfect delivery of a perfect fabric. However, this comes with a price. Literally, of course, but also in terms of market flexibility. Your fabric is so special, only one machine in the world can weave it? Picanol s way to achieve this versatility is to start from a common base and then create specific modules to meet specific technical requirements. Modularity allows our machines to quickly adapt to changing requirements. This means that not only your original investment is lower, you also benefit from it longer. Technical quality and versatility. Impossible? Not anymore. Principle #4 Speed is everybody s business. Who can honestly say speed is not important to their business? Is there any market left in the world that has not seen dramatic increases in speed of operation, along with expectations of fast delivery? Why should the technical weaving market be any different? Traditionally, the focus on technical output quality has sidelined the importance of speed of weaving. But why should you have to choose? Just because it s technical, you weave it slower? Picanol has always been known for the speed of its machines without compromising on quality. This is something we are now proud to bring to the technical market. Technical quality and speed. Impossible? Not anymore.

12 12 PICANOL NEWS Principle #5 Technical should not mean unaffordable. Gone are the days that just being in the technical market allowed you to ask unreasonable prices. You cannot charge your customers anything you want, so neither should your suppliers. Again, our background in the mainstream weaving market has taught us how to handle price competitiveness. We re not afraid of it. And again, our system of modularity allows us to offer a technically equivalent solution at a very competitive price, compared to a traditional made-to-measure solution. So you buy an expensive machine without a second opinion? Technical quality and competitive pricing. Impossible? Not anymore. Principle #6 Customer service excellence to match the technical quality. Many premium markets offer premium service, compared to their mainstream counterparts. This seems, strangely, not to be the case in the technical weaving market, where weavers do not enjoy the speed and quality of service that have become standard in the mainstream weaving market. Picanol has grown up in the mainstream markets, and so we re used to providing excellent customer service as a basic necessity for competitiveness. Simply said, we try harder. So when you need technical support, you have nobody to call? Also, our system of modularity allows us to have more technical people able to handle your machine, and a better spare parts service level in all the important weaving markets than any competitor. This way, we can react quickly and decisively to any problem you might encounter, and you ll be up and running again much faster. Technical quality and excellent customer service. Impossible? Not anymore.

13 JUNE Let s grow together in the technical market We believe in win-win situations. Especially in the technical market, delivering the very specific solution for your very specific problem requires working together. And this cannot be achieved unless both parties can win. Picanol is a market leader in mainstream. In the technical market, we have lots of room to grow. But we cannot do it without you. We re convinced the whole technical market can grow through versatility, good service and speed. And so can you. It all starts with a mindset that is open for alternative solutions. We re ready for growth. Do you want to grow with us? 2016, Picanol s best year ever In line with the previously announced forecast, the Picanol Group (Euronext: PIC) realized a consolidated turnover of million euros over the full 2016 financial year, which represented an increase in turnover of 20.8% compared to the million euros recorded in This means that the Picanol Group outperformed its previous record year (a turnover of million euros was recorded in 2013), and this all took place in the year that Picanol Group celebrated its 80th anniversary. In 2016, the Weaving Machines Division experienced a record breaking year. The growing demand for quality and technology created strong sales and an increased market share in many markets. This resulted in Picanol putting a record number of weaving machines on the market in 2016, thereby especially focusing on dealing with production peaks. The Industries Division also had a strong year and increased its contribution to the group result thanks to a higher turnover in various sectors. This allows the Picanol Group to achieve its strategic ambition to further diversify the activities of the group.

14 14 PICANOL NEWS Saxion master s degree students visit Picanol and Sioen A dozen graduate students and two lecturers from the Saxion University of Enschede (Netherlands) recently paid a visit to Picanol as part of the master s degree course in Innovative Textile Development. Picanol had been asked to provide a master class in weaving, which it was very glad to do. But instead of organizing the class on campus we invited the group to spend a couple of hours with us at our headquarters and manufacturing plant in Ieper (Belgium). The master s degree course in Innovative Textile Development is new at Saxion university, and there would seem to be a need for this subject in the Netherlands. The course is about innovation in textile and covers weaving, knitting and nonwoven techniques. The students took full use of the opportunity to visit not only our headquarters but also the nearby Sioen weaving mill which acts as a reference for Picanol. Thanks to this two-part visit the students were able to become acquainted with the corporate culture, products and methods of the two leading companies. They were all very enthusiastic and remarked that without the company visits they would not have been able to get an impression of the high quality of the products and the corporate philosophy of the two world leaders. A few of them even declared that seeing the unexpected applications and the advanced production processes gave them extra motivation to pursue their course. Some of these master s students are expected to later become managers or experts in various textile companies, and so this motivation is very important for them to pursue their careers as the textile industry does not always get the good press that it deserves. We are confident that the budding textile technologists have learned that here in Europe there is a wealth of opportunities for those who seek their future in this dynamic branch of industry. The question of whether to continue this series of lessons in future is still being considered, but in the meantime we hope that Saxion will pursue its initiative further and achieve success with the new master s course. Students and lecturers of Saxion at Picanol

15 JUNE Ceccatelli celebrates 40th anniversary Tessitura Daniele Ceccatelli in Prato (near Florence, Italy) celebrated their 40th anniversary on 2 October 2016 with a lavish party in the typical Mediterranean family atmosphere. This family business was founded back in 1976 and has one of the most versatile mills in Italy. On the occasion of the anniversary, Bruno Caffieri and Adriano Oggionni of Picanol presented Daniele with a silver plate in token of our pleasure and pride in being his weaving machine supplier for the past 20 years. We wish him many more successful celebrations to come. The fully air-conditioned shed something unusual in that part of the world has 38 Picanol rapier machines in 220 cm reed width, including 10 of the very latest OptiMax-i model. The machines run all kinds of articles ranging from car seat fabrics for the automotive industry to very fine 20 den filaments and fancy bouclé for ladies fashionwear designers. Other acclaimed products are coarse wool Cardato (a Prato specialty), and fine worsted for Biella, a renowned textile center in Piedmont. The machines at Ceccatelli work almost non-stop: 6/7 and 24/24. Prato has a rich history in the textile industry and is renowned for its carded wool. Italy and fashion: a world-famous combination! Cardato from Prato is even seen at the fashion week in Milan for the autumn/winter collection, thanks to cooperation with the Cardato recycled label. So the product is not only beautiful but is also the best ecological choice. Weaving top-quality products with such a wide range of applications is only possible thanks to the experience and great practical skills of the owner Daniele Ceccatelli supported by his winning team, not to mention the technical varieties of his weaving machines including Stäubli dobbies and jacquards, mechanical tuckers, fancy beams, batching motions and modern set-up for weaving quality leno fabrics. We have been growing together for two decades now and we will do our best to continue in the future!

16 16 PICANOL NEWS Picanol and Industry 4.0 Weaving machines for technical textiles often have features that differ from those for the mainstream market. As such they require special care and know-how in the assembly process. Picanol has therefore created a dedicated assembly unit for these machine versions. The production techniques employed in this factory of the future are highly advanced. The basic construction of the machine is still done on the main assembly line, but then the framework is moved to the specialty zone for further completion using modular elements. This is done by a team of experts using the most modern assistive assembly techniques (physical as well as cognitive). For example they use smart lifting devices to manipulate modules in the most efficient way, along with augmented and virtual reality techniques to receive the information needed at that particular moment. The operator receives the assembly instructions on a tablet which guides him step by step in assembling the parts and monitoring the quality checklist. The wireless digital technology can also be used to ensure that all valuable data and feedback are captured and shared automatically. This is Industry 4.0 in action. In fact, not only are the Picanol products Industry 4.0-ready, but also the entire manufacturing process makes use of the Industry 4.0 technology to further increase the quality and reliability of the product. The use of Industry 4.0 techniques in the production process will find its way into all aspects of manufacturing, not least the textile industry. The digitization of production can be seen as a 4th industrial revolution whose impact can only be compared with the three preceding ones, namely the steam-powered weaving loom (1784), the moving assembly line (Ford, 1923) and the first computercontrolled machines (1969).

17 JUNE The gripper department: precision at its best! On our OptiMax-i rapier machines, weft transfer is done by specially designed grippers. These are assemblies of small, complex parts weighing only a few grams that require very precise machining. In its ongoing effort to optimize the production process, Picanol has invested in a state-of-theart laser cutting machine: the new Fibermark Momentum from Emarksan. This machine is used to cut rapier parts out of thin steel plates. The Fibermark offers optimal speed and quality when cutting the rapier components. It represents a major step forward in terms of ease of use and requires much less maintenance, which significantly reduces the maintenance costs in the short term explains Hannie Ugille (Manufacturing Manager Gripper Department). components. Finishing is done on grinding and spark-erosion machines. Finally a microscope inspection is done to ensure that the surface coming into contact with the yarn is completely free of burrs. Each part is laser-marked with the part number and date of manufacture to permit tracing. The final step is assembly of all the components, followed by a quality test. Laser cutting is however only the first step in the complex process of manufacturing the perfect gripper. Three Matsuura 5-axis vertical machining centers are used to mill the complex and delicate Caption ontbreekt bij het beeld

18 18 PICANOL NEWS Silk Machine Seminar A seminar on Picanol GTMax and GTMax-i machines for weaving natural silk was held on 28 September 2016 in Huzhou, the center of high-end silk fabrics in China. The meeting was attended by 25 customers including Huzhou Dongbo Silk Fabric along with some customers from outside Huzhou. Particularly worth mentioning is Anhui Xinfeng Carbon Fiber, a national emerging high-tech enterprise located in Suzhou, Anhui Province. The meeting started with a brief introduction of Picanol and Picanol Suzhou Textile Machines followed by a presentation of the GTMax and GTMax-i machines. Compared to his other machines, the GTMax certainly performs better. The CEO claimed that free flight (FF) machines have more advantages than a loom with hooks because they can weave more difficult articles. In the afternoon the attendees were able to pay a visit to the Dongbo factory. The seminar was very interactive with people asking questions about the available loom widths, speeds, etc. The CEO of Dongbo gave a brief presentation of his experience with GTMax running in his factory for the past nine months. So far he has woven different articles on the two GTMax machines, including light and heavy fabrics, and the results are uniformly excellent, and the efficiency was 95-96%. Inlegmash 2017 This year Picanol participated at Inlegmash, the exhibition of textile manufacturing and processing machinery, held as usual in Moscow from 20 to 22 February. The Picanol stand, organized by our Russian agent NAT Group, was the busiest of the whole exhibition! The event was combined with the Russian Textiles Week where our representatives were able to present the latest Picanol developments to a wide audience. Nowadays the Russian market is characterized by the growing dominance of technical textiles and the active involvement of government investment. The textile market is the second largest in Russia, worth 2.8 trillion rubles (42 billion euros), and the annual volume of synthetic fabric production has increased by 85.2% over the last six years. Amazingly, half of all production plants are due to be upgraded in the near future,

19 JUNE which obviously presents a unique opportunity for textile machinery manufacturers such as Picanol. The priority of the government, acting through the Industry Development Fund, is to improve the quality and competitiveness of local manufacturers in order to satisfy the domestic demand for textiles and to reduce imports from Asian countries. Participation at Inlegmash not only makes it possible to meet customers from all over the Russian Federation but also affords an insight into the most recent market trends and new opportunities for the weaving industry. If you want to receive Picanol News, please fill in this form and return it to us. Mr./Mrs.: Company: Job title: address: Postal address: Please fill in and return by mail to Picanol News, Steverlyncklaan 15, 8900 Ieper, Belgium or by fax to , or send your request and contact details by to info@picanol.be. Please put me on the mailing list for the paper version of Picanol News. Please put me on the ing list for the electronic version of Picanol News.

20 Growing is the essence of weaving. Thread by thread, line by line, from the most basic to the most exquisite, a wide range of fabrics emerge from our weaving machines. That s why Picanol offers a wide variety of machines and services that enable weavers to create every fabric imaginable. letsgrowtogether.be Growing is the essence of doing business. The relentless pursuit to weave faster, better and more cost-efficiently is what drives you, and motivates us. That s why we make our machines ever more energyefficient, user-friendly and easy to set. Growing is the essence of the future. The world changes quickly, and only those who are ready to learn and adapt will survive. That s why Picanol machines are sustainable, futureproof and intelligent machines that can adapt to changing circumstances and connect with each other. And that s why at Picanol, we want to be an intelligent organization that listens to our customers and develops together with them. Because our goal is to Grow Together. With you, our customers and partners. We will grow together by removing all the obstacles and conventions holding back your ambition and our imagination. We will grow together by enabling your continued access to the latest technology. We will grow together by inspiring each other, listening to each other and learning from each other. We truly believe that the future holds tremendous opportunities for growth. Let s grab them. Let s grow together Picanol News is the newsletter of Picanol nv Steverlyncklaan Ieper Belgium Tel Fax info@picanol.be Chief editor: Erwin Devloo Subscriptions: Picanol News is free; if you want to be added to our mailing list, please fill in the subscription form and return it to us, or subscribe on-line at