Picanol to Unveil New AirOne Airjet Weaving Machine at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 in Shanghai

The company will showcase three weaving machines in operation, demonstrate its PicConnect digital ecosystem and present five additional Supermax machines at partner booths during the November exhibition.

Picanol will exhibit at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 in Shanghai from 20 to 24 November 2026, where it will present the world premiere of its new AirOne generation of airjet weaving machines. Developed for the basic woven fabric production segment, AirOne combines a new crank shedding motion with Picanol's weaving technology, focusing on performance, energy consumption, digitalisation and ease of operation.

The launch marks an expansion of Picanol's airjet weaving machine portfolio into the basic fabrics market. Following market research, research and development activities, and field testing, the company is introducing AirOne alongside its established OmniPlus-i Connect range.

AirOne Extends Picanol's Airjet Weaving Portfolio

AirOne has been developed in response to changing requirements in basic woven fabric production. The machine incorporates a crank shedding motion and a range of Picanol's existing innovations and patented technologies.

The company has designed the machine around four principles: Smart performance, Sustainability inside, Driven by data, and Intuitive control. Its features are intended to support production performance, energy efficiency, digital capabilities and ease of use.

“AirOne represents a special launch for Picanol,” explains Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving Machines at 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 to Operate at the Picanol Booth

At Booth F01 in Hall 3, visitors will be able to see three weaving machines operating during the exhibition:

• AirOne: Weaving poplin fabric.
• OmniPlus-i Connect: Weaving ladieswear fabrics.
• Supermax: Weaving denim.

Picanol will also present developments in PicConnect, its centralised digital ecosystem that brings together digital tools and services in one environment. New AI-powered applications will be among the highlights, with a focus on helping weaving mills optimise performance, efficiency and decision-making.

The booth will feature demonstrations of PicConnect functionalities, covering industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications and service-related tools designed to support machine optimisation and weave-room management.

Specifications of the Machines on Display

1. AirOne-4-E 190 Poplin

The AirOne crank configuration is designed to deliver high performance, energy efficiency and a competitive cost per pick.

Warp specifications

• Yarn: Co Nm 54/1
• Density: 48 ends/cm
• Drawing-in width: 176 cm

Weft specifications

• Yarn: Pes 156f40 dtex
• Density: 31.5 picks/cm

Highlighted features

• Crank shed angle adjustment system
• AirStream
• EcoBoost
• EcoWeft
• Crank automatic central lubrication system
• WeavePilot
• Twinjet

Standard equipment

• AirStream
• EcoBoost
• EcoWeft
• WeavePilot
• Climate monitoring
• Adaptive Relay Valve Drive (ARVD II Plus)
• BlueBox electronic platform
• BlueTouch display
• SUMO drive concept
• PicConnect enabled

2. OmniPlus-i Connect-6-R 220 Ladieswear

The OmniPlus-i Connect is designed to weave filament fabrics while maintaining speed, flexibility and fabric quality.

Warp specifications

• Yarn: Pes 56 dtex + 111 dtex + 167 dtex
• Density: 54 ends/cm
• Drawing-in width: 208 cm

Weft specifications

• Yarn: Pes/El 167/44 dtex + 111/44 dtex + Pes/Cv/El Nm 51/44 dtex
• Density: 29 picks/cm

Highlighted features

• SUMO drive concept
• Adaptive Relay Valve Drive (ARVD II Plus)
• BlueBox electronic platform
• Blue prewinders
• BlueTouch display
• AirMaster
• Fully electronic pressure settings

Standard equipment

• BlueBox electronic platform
• BlueTouch display
• SUMO drive concept
• Climate monitoring
• PicConnect enabled

Monitor package

• Access control
• OptiStyle
• Raw material use

Smart savings package

• Power monitoring
• AirMaster with integrated air consumption meter
• Adaptive Relay Valve Drive (ARVD II Plus)

3. Supermax-4-R 250 Denim

The Supermax range incorporates digital technology and design features intended to support weaving performance and sustainability.

Warp specifications

• Yarn: Co Nm 22/1
• Density: 31.9 ends/cm
• Drawing-in width: 231 cm

Weft specifications

• Yarn: Co/El Nm 27/1 + 78 dtex
• Density: 19.3 picks/cm

Highlighted features

• Recycled yarn ready
• Guided Gripper (GC)
• Mechanical weft cutter
• Dobby S3018
• QuickStep weft presenter
• BlueBox electronic platform

Standard equipment

• BlueBox electronic platform
• BlueTouch display
• SUMO drive concept
• Climate monitoring
• Shed calculation
• PicConnect enabled

Five Additional Supermax Machines at Partner Booths

Beyond its main stand, Picanol will showcase five additional Supermax weaving machines at partner booths across the exhibition. The machines will demonstrate applications in saree, denim, shoe and label fabric production.

The additional displays highlight the Supermax's applications across different weaving segments and reflect Picanol's focus on serving a broad range of textile markets.

PicConnect Demonstrations to Highlight Digital Weaving Tools

Visitors to the Picanol booth will also be able to experience live demonstrations of PicConnect. The platform brings together digital tools and services, from industrial IoT applications to service-related functions, to help manufacturers optimise weaving machines and manage their production operations.

The new AI-powered applications will demonstrate how digital tools can support performance monitoring, operational efficiency and decision-making in weaving mills.

With the AirOne launch, its established weaving machine portfolio and the PicConnect ecosystem, Picanol will present its latest developments for textile manufacturers at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026.