Picanol to unveil Ultimax weaving machine at ITMA 2023 in Milan

In addition to six rapier weaving machines, Picanol will also present four airjet weaving machines featuring new developments. Furthermore, a rapier machine in Jacquard execution will be on display at the Bonas booth and an airjet machine in jacquard execution will be presented at the Staubli booth, Picanol said in a press release.

Johan Verstraete, vice president, weaving machines, explained: “Picanol has sold more than 130,000 rapier machines worldwide since the launch of our first rapier weaving machine, and we have challenged ourselves to further improve our current and highly successful OptiMax-i Connect rapier platform. The result is the brand-new Ultimax rapier weaving machine that focuses on three main benefits—ultimate performance and high-quality output, readiness for the sustainability requirements of tomorrow, and the greatest ease of use thanks to a maximum level of digitisation. In addition, the classic Picanol exterior design of the machine has been radically disrupted, to make it clear from the outside how revolutionary Ultimax is on the inside.

“Creating a worthy successor to the OptiMax rapier generation, of which over 60,000 units are running worldwide, was a real challenge. But combining 85 years of experience with new ideas and technologies has resulted in the all-new and revolutionary Ultimax rapier machine. It excels in the fields of performance and quality. It is designed with sustainability as the baseline and the high degree of digitisation results in a previously unseen ease of use.”

At ITMA 2023, Picanol is also set to launch a speed increase on its airjet platform, the OmniPlus-i Connect. This is another example of how Picanol sets the benchmark in the industry. Also, on display for the very first time will be a brand-new leno system, the o-Leno, which combines smart performance, user-friendliness, and intuitive control at its best.

With PicConnect, Picanol is centralising its digital tools and services in one new fully digital platform. At ITMA 2023, visitors will be able to discover all the benefits and latest features of PicConnect to leverage the full extent of the possibilities offered by its Picanol weaving machines. Among other things, the recently released features such as alerting, access control, the action centre, and the export of monitoring data should catch the attention of many visitors.

The Ultimax-4-R-220 Denim utilises a warp with Co Nm 17/1 at a density of 19 ends/cm and a drawing in width of 210 cm. The weft is PBT Nm 22/1 with a density of 18.5 picks/cm. Among its highlighted features are the readiness for recycled yarn, EcoFill 4c, and Electronic Right Gripper Opener (ERGO). It also includes gripper stroke measurement, gripper tape monitoring, Guided Gripper GC, and Quick Style Change (QSC). The standard features include the BlueBox electronic platform, BlueTouch display, and SUMO drive concept, along with climate monitoring, shed calculation, and PicConnect enablement. The monitoring package includes access control, OptiStyle, raw material use, AutoSens, and gripper tape monitoring, while the optimisation package provides power monitoring, harness frame stroke measurement, shed simulation, and on-loom Picascope.

The Ultimax-8-R-360 Voile uses a warp of Pes 76f24/800 dtex with a density of 30 ends/cm and a drawing in width of 336 cm. Its weft is a combination of Pes 76 dtex, Pes 22 dtex, Pes 167 dtex, Pes 330 dtex, and fancy Nm 3 with a variable density of 18-28 picks/cm. Its highlighted features include OptiForce take-up, QuickStep weft presenter, on-loom Picascope, Tension Display (TED), Electronic Filling Tensioner (EFT), SmartCut, and e-Leno. The standard, monitoring, and optimisation packages are similar to the Ultimax-4-R-220 Denim.

The Ultimax Terry-8-J-260 Terry towel is designed with a ground warp of Co Nm 40/2 and a pile warp of Co Nm 40/2, both with a density of 11 ends/cm and a drawing in width of 253 cm. The weft combines Co Nm 27/1, Co Nm 40/2, Cv 500 dtex, and Chenille Nm 8.5, with a density ranging from 19 to 120 picks/cm. Its special features include a pneumatic pile backrest, pile monitoring, pile formation system, BlueTouch display, Guided Gripper GCv, needle roller, and needle roll control. The standard, monitoring, and optimisation packages are the same as those of the Ultimax-4-R-220 Denim.

The Ultimax-12-J-340 Flat carpet, OptiMax-i Connect-4-P-430 Anti hail, OptiMax-i Connect-4-R-540 Coating, TerryPlus-i Connect-6-D-260 Terry towel, OmniPlus-i Connect-4-D-340 Sheeting, OmniPlus-i Connect-4-D-190 Car seat, and OmniPlus-i Connect-4-P-190 Bottom weight (100 per cent recycled yarn) are all equipped with unique specifications and highlighted features that suit their specific application requirements. However, they all share common standard features, including the BlueBox electronic platform, BlueTouch display, SUMO drive concept, climate monitoring, shed calculation, and PicConnect enablement. The monitoring packages generally include access control, OptiStyle, raw material use, AutoSens, and gripper tape monitoring. The optimisation packages are designed for power monitoring, harness frame stroke measurement, shed simulation, and on-loom Picascope. Some models also include smart savings packages and automation packages for enhanced performance and energy efficiency.

All of the weaving machines at Picanol’s booth will be connected to PicConnect, added the release.

While the OmniPlus-i Connect-4-J-220 African damask will be displayed at Staubli, hall 6, booth A201b, OptiMax-i Connect-12-J-190 will be showcased at Vandewiele/Bonas, hall 10, booth B201c.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)