The Picanol Group

The Picanol Group is among the top manufacturers of weaving machines in the world. In addition, the company specializes in various other areas, such as cast iron parts for building machines. The head quarters of this international company, that employs 2,000 people, is in Ypres, Belgium. The Picanol Group also has production facilities in Asia and Europe. Van Leeuwen Belgium, as a regular supplier, delivers pipes for the chassis of the weaving machines, as well as pipes that serve as guide rollers in these
machines. In total this involves 700 to 800 tons of pipes per year in five dimensions, often with special tolerances. Wauters is also supplier of the Picanol Group, and supplies bar steel that is used in the production of several parts for the weaving machines. 

Picanol’s motto is ‘Let’s grow together’. Geert Tanghe, Manufacturing Manager at Picanol: ‘This is why, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, we are at the service of our customers throughout the world. To achieve this, we require suppliers such as Van Leeuwen, who also provide a very high level of service.’

‘We have been working with Van Leeuwen Belgium for some 65 years. It is impossible for a weaving machine to function without pipes and in Belgium pipes are synonymous with Van Leeuwen. It is therefore logical that both firms have been successfully working together for such a long time. You can compare our cooperation after all of these years to a diamond wedding anniversary: we support one another loyally on good days and on bad days. During all these years both firms have been confronted at different times with economic cycles, strong price fluctuations, changes in points of contact and changes in ERP systems. And every time again, both firms have supported one another whenever necessary.’

For the Picanol Group, delivery punctuality and quality are an absolute must, Tanghe emphasizes. ‘Each business day, the Picanol Group ships dozens of high-quality machines, each consisting of more than two thousand parts. To be able to achieve this, excellent coordination is demanded. The steel producers and pipe and tube mills do not offer the kind of flexibility we demand from Van Leeuwen. This is why we agree on a production program with Van Leeuwen months in advance. We agree to buy these volumes and Van Leeuwen ensures that the partial orders are produced on time and that they are of the right quality. Approximately two weeks prior to delivery we pass on the specifications concerning the orders. Van Leeuwen then has to bundle the required pipes, cut them as necessary and deliver them to us on a weekly basis.’