Following extensive market research, intensive R&D efforts and comprehensive field testing, Picanol is introducing the new airjet weaving platform as a solution for manufacturers of basic woven fabrics.

Positioned alongside the established OmniPlus-i Connect, AirOne extends the company's product range into a market segment that places particular emphasis on productivity, operating costs and reliability.

The new machine incorporates a range of proven Picanol innovations and patented technologies. Like other Picanol weaving machines, AirOne has been developed around four design principles: Smart performance, Sustainability inside, Driven by data and Intuitive control.

Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving Machines at Picanol, explains: “AirOne represents a special launch for Picanol. I am particularly pleased to see that this new machine platform brings together all the strengths that define Picanol today: from high performance and low energy consumption to digital capabilities and ease of operation. At the same time, it empowers us to enter a new market segment. Our Sales and Service team is looking forward to making Picanol technology accessible to an even broader group of weaving mills in the near future.”

Three weaving machines in operation

At Booth F01 in Hall 3, Picanol will demonstrate three weaving machines covering different applications.

The new AirOne-4-E 190 will produce poplin fabric, illustrating the capabilities of the new platform for basic woven fabrics.

The OmniPlus-i Connect-6-R 220 will demonstrate the production of ladieswear fabrics, highlighting the machine's performance and flexibility in filament weaving.

The Supermax-4-R 250 will be shown weaving denim, demonstrating the capabilities of Picanol's rapier weaving technology.

In addition to the machines, Picanol will present the latest developments within PicConnect, its centralised digital ecosystem that integrates digital tools and services into a single environment.

New AI-powered applications are among the highlights, supporting weaving mills in optimising machine performance, operational efficiency and production-related decision-making.

Supermax machines at partner booths

Picanol will also be represented by five additional Supermax weaving machines at partner booths throughout the exhibition.

These machines will demonstrate the versatility of the Supermax platform in applications including saree, denim, shoe fabrics and labels.

The additional installations underline the machine's suitability for different weaving requirements and Picanol's strategy of addressing a broad range of textile markets.

Machines and technologies on display

The AirOne-4-E 190, which will be demonstrated weaving poplin fabric, represents Picanol's new generation of airjet weaving machines for basic woven fabrics. Equipped with a newly developed crank shedding motion, the machine combines technologies such as AirStream, EcoBoost and EcoWeft to optimise weaving performance and energy consumption. Additional features include automatic central lubrication of the crank mechanism, adjustable shed angles, WeavePilot and Twinjet. The BlueBox electronic platform, BlueTouch display and SUMO drive concept provide the foundation for digital machine control, while PicConnect connectivity enables integration into the weaving mill's digital environment.

The OmniPlus-i Connect-6-R 220 will demonstrate the production of ladieswear fabrics using different polyester and elastane yarn combinations. Designed for high-speed filament weaving, the machine features the Adaptive Relay Valve Drive (ARVD II Plus), fully electronic pressure settings and the AirMaster system for monitoring and optimising compressed air consumption. Its digital functions include production monitoring, access control, OptiStyle and raw material tracking. Together with the SUMO drive concept and PicConnect connectivity, these technologies support efficient operation and consistent fabric quality.

The Supermax-4-R 250 will be presented weaving denim. The rapier weaving machine incorporates the Guided Gripper (GC) system, a mechanical weft cutter, the QuickStep weft presenter and a Dobby S3018 shedding system. It is also equipped with the BlueBox electronic platform, BlueTouch display and SUMO drive concept. Designed to process a wide range of yarns, including recycled materials, the Supermax combines flexible fabric production with digital process monitoring and PicConnect connectivity.

Alongside the weaving machines, Picanol will demonstrate the latest developments in PicConnect, its centralised digital platform for weaving mills. The system integrates industrial IoT applications, production monitoring, machine optimisation and service-related functions. New AI-powered applications will also be presented, offering additional possibilities for improving operational efficiency and supporting production decisions.

Five additional Supermax weaving machines will be operating at partner booths throughout the exhibition. These include a Supermax-12-J 380 for saree production at JKD (Hall 3, Booth B06), a Supermax-8-J 230 weaving denim at S&S (Hall 3, Booth B09), and two machines at Tongxiang (Hall 3, Booth D16): a Supermax-8-J 240 for shoe fabrics and a Supermax-12-J 240 for labels. A further Supermax-8-J 240 for label and shoe fabric production will be demonstrated at Jinjiang Xinlilai (Hall 3, Booth C19).