Clemson University weaves ceremonial ribbon on Picanol Ultimax weaving machine for opening of new complex

Clemson University, South Carolina (United States) recently invested in a Picanol Ultimax rapier weaving machine, and one of the first showcase projects using the machine was the production of the fabric for the ceremonial ribbon used during the official opening of the university’s new Advanced Materials Innovation Complex (AMIC).

The ribbon was woven by Clemson Textiles, part of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), highlighting not only the symbolic value of the project but also the department’s strong expertise in advanced textile development. Rather than sourcing a standard ribbon for the ceremony, the university chose to design and produce a custom-woven version in-house. 

High-tech weaving technology meets academic excellence

One of the reasons to choose the Picanol Ultimax rapier weaving machine is its flexibility in handling a wide range of technical and creative applications. This ensures that Clemson’s MSE department can collaborate with various industry partners, combining academic research with real-world applications, supported by in-house capabilities such as fiber extrusion.

The fabric itself represented a real technical challenge: a complex mix of yarns, including a fine multifilament zero-twist filling yarn, unsized Supima cotton, and even optical fibers. This underlines the fact that Clemson’s MSE department now has the right equipment to combine not only high-speed premium textile production but also technical and highly complex weaving applications.

For Clemson University, the Ultimax serves as a powerful platform for hands-on education, prototyping, and applied research, enabling both students and researchers to explore innovative textile solutions by using industry-relevant technology.

At Picanol, we are proud to see our Ultimax technology further empowering such leading educational institutions as Clemson University, where future engineers and researchers are able to gain hands-on experience with advanced weaving technology while pushing the boundaries of textile innovation.

Credits photos: Clemson University