With the solutions for technical fabric weaving it introduced in ITMA 2011 Barcelona, Picanol, the Belgium based specialist in the weaving technologies, has displayed a successful graph in the last 6 months. The order and sales agreements made for these technologies throughout and after the exhibition, satisfied the company. Having left 75 years behing in the sector, Picanol continues to be demanded in 2012 with OptiMax and OMNı series it exhibited at the end of 2011. As it can be remembered, 4 machines out of 10 the company exhibited at ITMA Barcelona were for the technical textiles sector, which were stated to be focused on by the company.
After the exhibition, the super wide OptiMax flexible rapier machine received positive feedbacks from the weavers and technicians who search for user-friendly and flexible machines. At the exhibition, several contracts for 540 cm wide machines were made for applications in coating fabrics, conveyor-belts and carpet-backings. The gripper machines continued to receive appreciaton months after the exhibition. OptiMax positive gripper machine was exhibited at OptiMax platform, which is considered to be the success of Picanol. Hard and voluminous technical yarns can be added to the process at the maximum speed and without a problem. Ecofill at the side of the machine features the waste-less system. Picanol has announced that it has enhanced the development of this technology due to the heavy demand from the technical weavers.
Another innovation by Picanol is OMNIplus Summum airjet machine, which was also exhibited at ITMA Barcelona. The machine with a high speed filament style of 2011 rpm, has technical formats such as parachutes and car seats. Summum, which means ‘The Best’ in Latin, is considered to be the most successful product of the airjet OMNI series of Picanol. future-oriented electronics and a completely new insertion system with full electronic pressure regulation and a triple airtank for the relay nozzles are the innovations within the machine. These new features offer a widened application field while providing a lower power consumption and a higher operation speed. The company applied a lengthy testing process on Summum before it was introduced at ITMA Barcelona. The machine that achieved a succedd beyond expectations, managed to convince its customers around the region the test was applied. Several companies placed orders for Summum before the factory tests were completed and many industrial machinery installations were done concurrently. Summum, which has innovations such as Picanol BlueBox system, is expected to be replaced by OMNIplus 800, another machine of the company.
Increased Its Turnover by 18 Percent in 2011
Despite the stagnation obserbed in the second half of 2011, Picanol increased its annual income by 18 percent and reached EUR 465,95 million. This figure was recorded to be EUR 395.77 million in 2010.
However the company displayed a stagnation in the second half of 2011. In the first half of 2011, the company gained an income of EUR 260,06 million while this figure was recorded to be EUR 206,89 million as a result of the decline by 20,5 percent at the second half of the year. Compared to the second half of 2010, a decline by 4,3 percent is observed in the income. Picanol stated that, related to the weak Euro and appropriate Yen exchange rates, there was a heavy global demand for the weaving machinery in the first half of 2011, which was a strong year in general. As for the second half of the year, it is stated that the uncertainty created by the debt crisis in Europe and limited fundings for the investments have a finger in the stagnation observed in the demand for the weaving machines
Last year, the Industries Division of the company continued the positive trend began 2010 with its new moulding line (Proferro), and its controller capacities (PsiControl Mechatronics). In 2011, Picanol earned a REBIT (recurring earnings before interests and taxes) of EUR 67,26 million thanks to cost control and the increase observed in the turnover of its divisions. This figure was EUR 47,59 million in 2010.
Picanol states that a stagnation will occur in the weaving machinery sector in 2012. It is argued that this stagnation will be affected by the attitude of the customers, who act more crafully and postpone of plan to postpone their investments seeing the the economic uncertainty, limited investment financing. Today more than 110 thousan Picanol machines are being used in more than 2,600 textile companies across the world.
