Over the years, maintaining the system itself has become a form of expertise. The original manufacturer no longer exists. Spare parts are not available and must be reconstructed or newly manufactured based on historical templates. Together with specialized partners, components are created that enable the continued operation of the system. Even weaving shuttles, weaving rods, and other wear parts are now sometimes reproduced specifically.
Machine 21 thus exemplifies a different approach to industrial production. The focus is not on the regular replacement of technology, but on the long-term care of a tool that has proven its performance over decades. The machine is preserved not because it is old, but because its results still impress today.
Tahiti and Porta from Ruckstuhl are still produced on this loom. It combines industrial manufacturing with artisanal control and makes it clear that innovation does not always lie in replacement. Sometimes it shows itself in the conscious continuation of what has proven itself over generations.
