Itema Exhibited Its Two Best-Selling High-End Rapier Weaving Machines at SITEX 2026
Following the opening of its new Surat Service Center in November, Itema participated in SITEX at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) from February 21 to 23. Surat has long been considered one of Itema’s most strategic markets, and the newly opened service center further strengthened this position.
Equipped with an advanced electronic repair center, a weaving machine behavior simulator and a local spare parts warehouse, the new facility strengthens Itema’s presence in the region while bringing the company even closer to its Customers.
Sameer Kulkarni, Managing Director of Itema Weaving India, commented: “Since 2021, Itema has registered unprecedented growth in Surat, with a remarkable number of Itema weaving machines installed in the region’s textile mills. We are proud to contribute to the creation of some of the most beautiful fabrics in India and to support the talent of Surat’s weavers with our advanced weaving technology.”
“Itema’s weaving technology is one-of-a-kind in the weaving machinery landscape due to our patented rapier weft insertion system and to our unique shed geometry. These technological weaving solutions were originally designed to ensure the best possible treatment of yarns by reducing stress on warp and weft yarns, thus leading to a double advantage: superior fabric hand-feel and minimized stop marks. The Itema success in the Surat market demonstrates how Itema’s unique features are not just a choice, but a necessity for those weavers who want to weave specific fabrics with defined performance and quality standards, and this is the case with the precious fabrics for Sarees produced in Surat” added Matteo Mutti, Itema Group Chief Sales and Service Officer.
At SITEX 2026, Itema showcased two weaving machines equipped with different rapier weft transfer systems, demonstrating how its weaving technology can effectively meet the diverse textile and production requirements of this specific fabric segment.
Displayed at our partner booth, the Itema Rapier R9500EVO in 3800 mm weaving width is equipped with the Stäubli Jacquard LX PRO with more than 12,000 hooks. The machine configuration is designed to achieve the highest textile performances, thanks to the Itema FPA EVO Free Positive Approach Weft Transfer, featuring a race board with no guiding elements in the shed, and to the Itema MiCUT Motorized Weft Cutter.
Over the past years, the Itema Rapier Galileo-RX has established itself as a market success, earning the trust of Surat weavers thanks to its reliability and excellenct price-quality ratio.
