Picanol Weaving the Future with Smart, Sustainable Innovation
June 01, 2026 | By Textile Sphere India
In this exclusive interaction with Textile Sphere India, Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving Machines, Picanol N.V., shares insights into the changing dynamics of the weaving sector and the company’s long-term technology vision.
As global weaving mills adapt to evolving market demands, sustainability goals, and digital transformation, technology providers are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of textile manufacturing. From energy-efficient airjet and rapier weaving solutions to AI-powered digital platforms and Industry 4.0 integration, Picanol continues to focus on productivity, flexibility, and sustainability. Verstraete also highlights the strategic importance of Türkiye and the Eurasian textile market, while outlining how Picanol’s advanced weaving technologies are enabling mills worldwide to achieve smarter, more resource-efficient, and future-ready manufacturing operations.
TSI: Picanol has long been recognized as a global technology leader in weaving machinery. How do you assess the current global outlook for the weaving sector, particularly in view of changing market demands and sustainability expectations?
JV: Our customers are navigating a dynamic market environment, where productivity and cost efficiency are becoming increasingly important alongside energy efficiency and sustainability. At the same time, market requirements are evolving, with greater product variety, shorter delivery times, and higher sustainability expectations across regions.
From our perspective, this is accelerating the shift toward highly efficient, digitally connected and resource‑optimized weaving solutions. Mills are no longer only looking at machine speed; they are evaluating total cost of ownership, energy efficiency, flexibility, and data‑driven mill management.
Sustainability is no longer an add‑on, it is becoming a core purchasing condition, driven both by rising energy costs and by demands from brands and supply chains. As a result, the outlook for the weaving sector is not about volume growth alone, but about smarter, more flexible, and more sustainable production models, supported by technology.
TSI: What are Picanol’s key objectives for participating in ITM 2026, Istanbul, and what major innovations can visitors expect to see from your company at the exhibition?
JV: ITM 2026 is a very important exhibition for Picanol. Our key objective is to demonstrate how our latest weaving technologies help mills meet today’s operational, economic, and sustainability challenges.
Visitors to our booth will see the next‑generation OmniPlus‑i Connect airjet weaving machine, featuring the breakthrough EcoBoost technology, which delivers energy savings of up to 1.5 kW per machine without compromising productivity.
Furthermore, two Ultimax rapier weaving machines, one weaving denim and another weaving delicate voile fabric, clearly showing the machine’s flexibility, speed, and outstanding fabric quality across different applications.
And we will present the latest developments within PicConnect, our centralized digital platform, now enhanced with AI‑powered functionalities to visualize, analyze, and optimize the weaving mill performance.
Together, these innovations reflect our commitment to performance, sustainability, digitalization, and user‑friendliness.
TSI: Automation, digital connectivity, and smart manufacturing are transforming weaving mills worldwide. How is Picanol integrating Industry 4.0 capabilities into its latest weaving solutions?
JV: Industry 4.0 is fully embedded in the way we design our weaving machines. Through PicConnect, we integrate machine data, production insights, energy monitoring, and AI based analysis into one centralized and user-friendly platform. A nice example is the air leakage detection, which helps mills identify inefficiencies automatically and take faster corrective action.
Our machines are fully PicConnect enabled, allowing our customers to easily unleash the full potential of their weaving machines.
In addition, our smart algorithm WeavePilot automatically adjusts the settings of the weaving machine using real-time sensor data, reducing dependence on highly skilled labor. This makes smart manufacturing practical and accessible, not just theoretical.
TSI: Energy efficiency, productivity, and fabric quality remain critical for modern weaving operations. How do Picanol’s current machines address these three priorities simultaneously?
JV: At Picanol, we see energy efficiency, productivity, and fabric quality not as separate objectives, but as closely interconnected elements. Our current weaving machine platforms are designed to balance these three priorities in everyday production conditions.
From an energy efficiency perspective, our Sumo Drive concept remains the most energy-efficient main drive available. It ensures minimal energy use while offering numerous advantages such as full-range speed control and automatic crossing settings. In addition, major progress has been achieved through innovations such as redesigned mechanical components, and intelligent software. Features like improved air insertion systems, EcoWeft, and EcoBoost significantly reduce energy consumption without compromising weaving speed or stability. Lower energy use also means less heat generation, which further reduces climatization costs in the weaving mill.
At the same time, productivity remains a fundamental requirement. Our machines are engineered to deliver high industrial speeds reliably, even under demanding fabric conditions. Intelligent machine design, combined with self‑setting and guiding software such as WeavePilot, allows operators to reach optimal machine settings more quickly, ensuring high output with minimal waste and downtime.
Fabric quality is ensured through precise control of yarn handling, stable shed geometry, and advanced monitoring systems. By maintaining consistent yarn tension and optimized insertion conditions, our machines are able to produce uniform, high‑quality fabrics, even at high speeds.
Combined with digital tools available through PicConnect, which provide insight into performance, energy usage, and quality‑related parameters, our customers are able to continuously optimize their weaving operations.
TSI: Technical textiles and diversified woven applications are expanding rapidly. How is Picanol positioning its weaving technologies to serve these emerging opportunities?
JV: Picanol weaving machines are a trusted platform for producing even the most demanding technical fabrics, where reliability, consistency, and process control are essential.
Our rapier weaving technology plays a central role in this segment. It offers proven solutions for applications such as heavy canvas, heavy filtration fabrics, conveyor belts, awnings, and airbags. Thanks to our wider‑width executions, we also provide an ideal answer for applications including carpet backing, agro‑textiles, coating fabrics, and related products. Where required, these solutions can be combined with our highly competitive Guided Positive Gripper execution, further extending the application range.
In addition, our Free Flight rapier weaving machines are well suited for handling particularly challenging materials, such as non‑elastic fibers, industrial glass fibers, and para‑aramids, ensuring stable performance and high fabric quality even under demanding conditions.
Alongside rapier technology, our state‑of‑the‑art airjet weaving machines are perfectly positioned for technical fabrics that benefit from extremely high industrial speeds. These include tire cord, car seat fabrics, medical gauze, tape backings, light filament fabrics, and awnings.
By combining a broad machine portfolio with deep application know‑how, Picanol enables customers to diversify their production while maintaining high efficiency, quality, and long‑term reliability.
TSI: Türkiye and the surrounding Eurasian region are important textile manufacturing hubs. How significant is this market for Picanol’s global growth strategy?
JV: Türkiye and the surrounding Eurasian region are strategically very important for Picanol. The region combines strong technical know‑how, a broad fabric application range, and a focus on export markets.
Turkish weaving mills are often early adopters of advanced technology and place strong emphasis on energy efficiency and quality, which aligns perfectly with Picanol’s strengths. ITM in Istanbul is therefore an excellent platform to engage with both local manufacturers and international visitors.
TSI: How do you see investment sentiment evolving among weaving mills globally, especially amid economic uncertainties and shifting sourcing patterns?
JV: From our discussions with customers across different regions, we see that investment sentiment remains careful but clearly strategic. While market conditions such as financing costs and global uncertainties are influencing decision‑making, weaving mills are continuing to invest where they see clear and long‑term value.
Rather than focusing solely on the initial purchase price, customers are increasingly evaluating investments based on total cost of ownership (TCO). Factors such as energy consumption, productivity, machine efficiency, ease of operation, maintenance requirements, and long‑term reliability are playing a much more important role in purchasing decisions.
In this context, technologies that help reduce operating costs, improve resource efficiency, and support consistent production with fewer skilled operators are receiving strong attention. Sustainability and digitalization are therefore not seen as additional costs, but as key contributors to lowering TCO over the lifetime of the machine.
TSI: What message would you like to share with textile manufacturers and technology buyers visiting ITM 2026 regarding the future of weaving technology and Picanol’s long-term vision?
JV: Our message to visitors at ITM 2026 is clear: the future of weaving lies in smart, sustainable, and user‑friendly technology.
Picanol is fully committed to supporting weaving mills on this journey. We will continue investing in energy efficiency, digital intelligence, automation, and ease of use. Always with a strong focus on real‑world production conditions.
We invite textile manufacturers and technology buyers to experience firsthand how Picanol’s weaving technology are not only addressing today’s challenges, but also shaping the future of weaving in a rapidly evolving global textile industry.
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