Belgian weaving machinery manufacturer Picanol highlighted its latest advancements in energy-efficient and AI-powered weaving technologies at ITM 2026, emphasizing productivity, sustainability, and digitalization as key priorities for modern textile mills.
At the exhibition, Picanol showcased its new OmniPlus i Connect air-jet loom equipped with the EcoBoost system, which reduces electrical energy consumption by 30-40%, helping mills lower operating costs amid increasing utility tariffs.
The company also demonstrated two Ultimax rapier weaving machines producing heavy denim and delicate curtain fabrics, highlighting the platform’s ability to handle a wide range of applications while maintaining high fabric quality.
On the digitalization front, Picanol presented its cloud-based PicConnect platform, which integrates artificial intelligence to analyse machine data, predict maintenance needs, optimize yarn insertion, and reduce weaving stoppages.
Founded nearly 90 years ago, Picanol has grown from a local Belgian engineering workshop into a global leader in weaving machinery, with manufacturing operations across several key industrial regions. The company believes AI-driven automation and energy-efficient technologies will play an increasingly important role in the future of textile manufacturing.
