At the recently concluded SITEX 2025 exhibition held in Surat, Picanol, the Belgium-based manufacturer
of advanced weaving machinery, introduced its new Supermax Rapier loom. Designed specifically to
meet the needs of saree fabric weavers, the Supermax offers an operating speed of just above 400 RPM,
for a type 340 which is higher than the typical speeds that Surat’s saree fabric weavers run when
operating their Rapier machines. The machine is available in smaller and wider reed widths, from T190
up to T380, making it a perfect fit for the specific demands of saree weaving.
Introduction of the Supermax at SITEX 2025 Exhibition
Mr. Sigurd Blondeel, Area Sales Manager at Picanol, spoke to The Textile Magazine about the
significance of the Supermax loom at the SITEX 2025 exhibition, held in Surat. “We launched the
Supermax at ITMA Asia in Shanghai in October 2024 and we received many customers from Surat at our
stall who could see the Supermax in operation. But we are nowshowing the Supermax for the first time
in India at the SITEX exhibition in Surat. It definitely resulted in an overwhelming response from weavers
for the Supermax at this exhibition,” Mr. Blondeel noted.
Supermax: A Successor to GTMax-i 3.0S Connect
The Supermax Rapier loom is the successor to Picanol’sGTMax-i 3.0S Connect model. With this new
machine, Picanol continues to prove that it is possible to combine superior performance with next-level
user-friendliness, particularly when operated alongside Picanol’s digital platform, PicConnect.
Responding to Weavers’ Shifting Preferences
In 2023, Picanol had launched the Ultimax Rapier weaving machine at ITMA 2023, which is a focused
and razor-sharp machine and runs at speeds of around 410 RPM. “The Ultimax too gave a boost to our
business here in Surat, as this is a Rapier loom-based market. We were able get a positive response from
the market what eventually generated a good number of orders in 2024 as well,” he shared.
As the market dynamics in Surat have evolved, Picanol observed a shift in weaver preferences. Within
Surat weavers, Picanol noticed a trend towards production cost effectiveness. In response to this shift,
Picanol introduced the Supermax in 2024, which is engineered to run at practical speeds between 350
and 400 RPM, perfectly catering to the local market’s needs. Mr Blondeel expects that both, the Ultimax
and Supermax will set the benchmark in Surat.
Wider Widths and Advanced Features for Saree Weaving
One of the defining features of the Supermax is its suitability for weaving saree fabric, which typically
requires a wider loom. As such, the Supermax is available in multiple width options of 340 cms, 360 cms,
and 380 cms. Additionally, the machine can be equipped with a Jacquard, and can be specified for
weaving up to 12 different weft colours. Another important feature is the machine’s Smart Cutter, an
electronically driven weft cutter that allows the weaver to set the cutting timefor each weft channel
individually, A great tool to cope with more versatile styles. As such this feature enhances both the
precision and efficiency of the weaving process, making the Supermax an ideal choice for saree fabric
production.
Surat’s Role in Picanol’s Growth Strategy
Mr. Blondeel shared insights into the changing landscape of the Surat weaving industry, emphasizing the
important role Surat plays in Picanol’s global business strategy. He highlighted how the Surat market is
an example, not only in India but across the world. A region traditionally dominated by shuttle looms,
which is gradually transitioning towards more advanced weaving technologies, including Rapier looms.
Mr. Blondeel explained that the demand for higher-quality woven fabrics and the upgrading of older
shuttle looms presents substantial market potential. The user has a clear advantage with Picanol
machines, as all Picanol machines have been designed with the ‘Intuitive control’ principle in mind,
machines should be as easy to operate as possible, assuring a flawless transition for the weaving mills
staff to more up to date technology.
“I am responsible for the Indian market since the last seven years and we have witnessed a revolution
happening in the Surat weaving industry. Earlier, the weavers used to buy slow-speed Chinese weaving
machines. But now more and more customers are veering towards brands like Picanol with higher-speed
machines in the last five years,” Mr. Blondeel remarked. “For us at Picanol, Surat is one of the most
important markets not only in India but across the world.
Optimism for 2025 and the Impact of Gujarat’s New Textile Policy
Looking ahead to 2025, Mr. Blondeel expressed confidence regarding the future of the Surat weaving
industry. While there was a slowdown in investments in Gujarat in 2023 due to the anticipation of the
new Textile Policy, he noted that the announcement of the policy has provided the necessary incentive
for weavers to invest in new technology. As a result, Picanol has started receiving an increasing number
of inquiries and requests for quotations. Mr. Blondeel is confident that 2025 would be a more successful
year for Picanol in Surat, driven by the positive momentum in the market.
“We are now very hopeful of 2025 and are already seeing signs of activity as we have started receiving
new inquiries or requests for quotations. In the very first week of 2025, we have concluded a few nice
orders too. Looking at the orders we have received, we are hopeful that 2025 will definitely be better
than 2024,” he shared.
Future of the Surat Weaving Industry
Mr. Blondeel concluded with a strong message about the long-term potential of Surat’s weaving
industry. “The Surat weaving industry is still dominated by shuttle weaving machines. In the near future,
all these weavers will need to upgrade their weaving machines to improve the quality of the woven
fabrics. So, the market potential is huge in Surat as we are not talking about hundreds or thousands of
machines, but lakhs of machines,” Mr. Blondeel concluded.