Projectile Loom
A shuttleless loom that uses small bullet-shaped projectiles to carry the weft yarn across the warp.
A projectile loom, pioneered by Sulzer, uses small bullet-shaped metal grippers to carry the weft yarn across the shed. The projectile grips the yarn at one selvedge, is propelled across by a torsion bar mechanism, releases the yarn at the opposite selvedge, and returns via a conveyor system below the shed to begin another cycle. Multiple projectiles circulate continuously, enabling sustained high-speed operation.
This technology delivers insertion rates of 900–1,500 meters per minute at 250–400 RPM, with reed widths extending to 540 cm—among the widest available in commercial weaving. Projectile looms have earned a reputation for exceptional reliability and durability, producing consistent fabric quality over extended production runs with minimal weft waste.
The projectile mechanism excels with heavy and coarse yarns that challenge other loom types, making these machines the preferred choice for extra-wide home textiles, industrial fabrics, heavy upholstery materials, canvas and tarpaulin, and technical textiles requiring robust construction. The trade-offs include higher initial investment than rapier looms, lower speeds than air jet looms, and noise from the projectile mechanism. The complex projectile return system also requires careful maintenance. For lighter fabrics or tighter budgets, rapier looms offer a more accessible alternative with similar versatility.
Common questions
What is a projectile loom?
- A projectile loom is a shuttleless weaving machine — pioneered by Sulzer — that uses small bullet-shaped metal grippers to carry the weft yarn across the shed. The projectile grips the yarn at one selvedge, is propelled across by a torsion-bar mechanism, releases the yarn at the opposite selvedge, and returns via a conveyor system below the shed for the next pick.
What is the widest reed a projectile loom can weave?
- Modern projectile looms reach reed widths of up to 540 cm — among the widest available in commercial weaving. This is the primary reason the technology survived the rise of faster air-jet and water-jet looms: extra-wide home textiles, technical textiles, tarpaulins, and industrial fabrics that other loom families cannot reach in a single piece.
What is the difference between a projectile loom and a rapier loom?
- Both are mechanical-grip weft-insertion systems, but a projectile carries a small bullet across the shed once per pick and returns empty, while a rapier (rigid or flexible) carries the yarn all the way across on a continuous tape or telescopic rod. Projectile is faster on the wider widths and gentler on coarse yarns; rapier is more versatile for fancy and textured yarns at narrower widths.
What GSM range can projectile looms weave?
- Projectile looms handle the widest GSM range in commercial weaving: from 60 GSM light industrial fabric up to 800+ GSM heavy canvas and tarpaulin. The mechanical grip and torsion-bar propulsion are tolerant of coarse, heavy, or hairy yarns that would defeat an air-jet or water-jet stream.
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