ELITE XLII-BEVT-S901CAII

Barudan America Inc.; Solon, OH; (800) 627-4776; www.barudanamerica.com

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: The Elite XLII-BEVT-S901CAII is a compact, single-head, nine-needle, network-ready embroidery machine that features a 250mm x 400mm sewing field and stitches 1,200 spm on flats and 1,000 spm on caps. It’s portable at 154 lbs.

What’s new:

• SmartHead sewing head for higher performance, easier maintenance and increased durability
• Servo Motors for increased production, more power and accurate stitching
• Open frame design for easier embroidering of bags and heavy items
• Improved access to lubrication points

Buyer’s note: This machine is designed for sewing pre-production samples or small-quantity runs. It’s a good option for a variety of company sizes, from home-based businesses to large shops, with multiple single-heads in a sophisticated network order-entry system.

ENTREPRENEUR PRO PR1000E

Brother International Corp.; Bridgewater, NJ; 800-4-A-BROTHER; www.brothersews.com

Cost: $14,499.95; optional Upgrade Software Kit: $449.95

What it is: This is a 10-needle, single-head machine for home embroiderers with a large 14” x 8” embroidery area; three USB ports for importing designs; and an extra-large worktable for larger projects. The machine uses peripherals and downloads updates from www.brother.com.

What’s new:

• InnovaChrome LED thread color system: LED lights under spools indicate closest thread color and correlate to colors on LCD screen
• Advanced Super View HD LCD touch-screen display by Sharp with 16.7-million-plus possible colors with little or no color shifting and an enhanced viewing angle of 176˚
• Upgrade software includes: Scanning feature that allows a user to scan the embroidery field and see the real-time scan on the LCD display; a color-shuffling function for changing design color palette; and on-screen auto-density adjustment so that when designs are resized, design stitch count is automatically recalculated to 100% so resized design looks like the original

Key features:

• InnovEye Technology and Snowman Embroidery Positioning Marker: built-in camera above needle for precise positioning
• Eyelet Threading System for virtually perfect thread tension
• Built-in automatic needle-threading system for threading each needle in seconds

SWF E1501C

ColDesi Inc.; Tampa, FL; (877) 793-3278; www.swfeast.com; www.coldesi.com

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.
What it is: The SWF E1501C is a 15-needle, single-head embroidery machine that’s compact (2.5’ x 2.5’ footprint) enough to fit a home office, but capable of powering your embroidery business. It features ColDesi’s new, patented Quick Change Cap System that allows the user to go from flats to caps in less than a minute. The machine stores up to 199 designs or 4 million stitches.

What’s new: Large 6.4” LCD control panel

Key features:

• Laser tracing allows user to avoid hitting the hoop
• Automatic oiling system for easier maintenance
• General repetition allows user to repeat designs up to 99 times
• USB port for design storage and input
• Free training and support from ColDesi

SWF E1501T

ColDesi Inc.; Tampa, FL; (877) 793-3278; www.swfeast.com; www.coldesi.com

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: This single-head embroidery machine is designed to embroider heavy and/or large items. This 15-needle machine has all the features of the smaller 1501C, but comes with a large adjustable table area that makes it easy to embroider onto drapery, work jackets and more. It features ColDesi’s new, patented Quick Change Cap System that allows the user to go from flats to caps in less than a minute. The machine stores up to 199 designs or 4 million stitches.

What’s new: Large 6.4” LCD control panel

Key features:

• Laser tracing allows user to avoid hitting the hoop
• Automatic oiling system for easier maintenance
• General repetition allows user to repeat designs up to 99 times
• USB port for design storage and input
• Free training and support from ColDesi

SUMO NEO PLUS-WIDE TWMX-C1501

Hirsch International (asi/14982); Hauppauge, NY; (800) 394-4426, www.hic.us

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: The Sumo has an extra-large sewing field (23” x 23” hoop with 23” x 21” sewing field) for embroidering much larger garments without taking them off the machine.

What’s new:

• 32 bit controller runs at 300MHz and uses Windows CE operating system
• Full-color 6.5” Thin Film Transistor LCD MicroSmart screen shows design and needle location, X and Y coordinates, machine codes and more at any point in the sewing process
• LAN-enabled for plug-and-play connectivity and barcode-ready, instantly sending designs to the machine

Key features:

• Heavy-duty stand for greater stability, often necessary with larger substrates; also includes a table for use with border frame sash, for team banners, flags, etc.
• Rotary tension device (patent pending) automatically detects and indicates thread breakage, immediately stopping the machine and preventing missed stitches

Buyer’s note: This machine sews on oversized jackets, jerseys and fleece with giant designs or appliqué. It’s a good choice for embroidering team uniforms, spiritwear or fashion/streetwear incorporating “to-the-edge” designs. It offers the freedom to do production-friendly larger designs and unique placements.

AMAYA XTS

Melco; Denver; (800) 799-8313; www.melco.com

Cost: Contact distributor for price.

What it is: This single-head, 16-needle machine includes automatic thread tensioning controlled by the AMAYA operating system. It sews up to 1,500 spm.

What’s new: DesignShop V9 Lite is now included with AMAYA OS 10, giving users additional lettering and editing capabilities.

Key features:

• Acti-Feed system feeds the thread smoothly, automatically adjusting thread tensions
• Automatically switches to backup needle and continues to sew if there’s a thread break; color backup system can be configured for multi- and single-head production
• Features a small cylindrical lower arm, providing the largest cap stitch field available

Buyer’s note: This industrial machine is meant for high-speed commercial production. It’s a good choice for users looking to start an embroidery business or take their embroidery hobby to the next level.

HIGHLAND HM/D-1501C

MESA Distributors Inc.; Fort Worth, TX; (800) 456-3727; www.mesamachines.com

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: This single-head machine runs at 1,200 spm, and includes the Quick Change Cap and Hooping System, which allows the user to change from flats to caps in seconds. The machine has built-in energy-saving fluorescent workspace lights and built-in noise reduction technology. All Highland machines include a five-year warranty.

What’s new:

• Control Panel features a 7” touchscreen color LCD display
• Built-in memory holds 16 million stitches and up to 400 designs
• Machine easily shifts among tasks like design input, preparation for the next design and changing design parameters while the machine is working

Key features:

• Automatic thread trimmer, color change and thread-break detection
• Linear pantograph movement; laser light for design tracing; and one-touch design trace.

GS1501

Pantograms Mfg. Co. Inc.; Tampa, FL; (800) 872-1555; www.pantograms.com 

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: This single-head, 15-needle, commercial, networkable embroidery machine has a 350mm x 550mm (22” x 14”) sewing field, sews at 1,200 spm and comes with a five-year warranty.

What’s new:

• Extended table-top border frame expands sewing field to 48” x 14”
• True Trace for tracing design’s actual outline
• Color LCD control panel display

Key features:

• 270˚ Quick Change Cap driver for sewing a 14” x 2.9” field; changes from flats to caps in under two minutes
• Integrated power supply and heavy-duty workstation with lockable wheels

User review: Bryce Murphy is the sales/marketing manager at 4ever Aloha LLC, which offers embroidery, digitizing and T-shirt printing. “I was stunned at how easy the machine was to set up and use the day it arrived,” he says. After five months of using a single GS1501, the team moved to Hawaii to open shop. “We ordered three more,” Murphy says. “We haven’t had one problem with them to date. We run it at 1,200 spm for hours. It’s a very smooth-running machine and extremely easy to use.”

RiCOMA 1501TS-H

RiCOMA International Corp.; Miami; (888) 292-6282; www.ricoma.us

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: This compact embroidery machine sews up to 1,200 spm and comes with a 270° wide cap system; a 10.5” touchscreen with no complicated menus; and the 8GB hard drive allows users to store unlimited designs and stitches. The standard sewing area is 22” x 14” and is expandable up to 48” x 14”. The machine has a user-friendly touchscreen PC control system with Multi-Touch Technology, and comes with built-in digitizing, lettering and editing software.

What’s new:

• Pre-set hoops, cap frames and special hoops; operators will never hit the frame again
• Auto-centering of designs and one-step tracing
• Universal power supply, 110-240V self-adaptable worldwide
• Built-in online support with Team Viewer for instant support

Buyer’s note: This compact embroidery machine is an excellent choice for startup embroiderers who want to keep investment costs down; gift shops looking to expand into monogramming and customization; uniform companies that require personalization for products; and sampling or short runs for embroidery companies.

HAPPY HCH-701 JOURNEY

Texmac Inc.; Charlotte, NC; (877) 335-5206; www.happyemb.com

Cost: Contact Texmac for price.

What it is: This is a single-head, seven-needle embroidery machine with a 290mm x 290mm sewing field, 40 million-stitch/250-design memory, speeds up to 1,000 spm, compact dimensions, and a cast-steel frame. It’s the lowest-price HAPPY single head.

What’s new:

• Entry-level machine price-wise, with features similar to 12-needle Voyager
• Includes 100 stock designs, 12 fonts and built-in laser position marker
• Add any hoop into memory for accurate position/fit of design

Key features:

• 7” touch-screen control panel with onboard help and auto error correction
• Vertically mounted laser pointer
• 2.7” x 11.5” cap sewing field for sewing on front and sides in one hooping
• Built-in networking and USB connections for PC
• Networks from one PC with current and previous-generation HAPPY machine models
• Open area around sewing arm for direct sewing on large objects
• Built-in bobbin winder allows operators to wind independently of operation
• Training and support included

Buyer’s note: This machine is a good choice for startup businesses looking for an affordable multi-needle machine made in Japan. It’s also ideal for home hobbyists and sewers who want to take the next step to a multi-needle machine.

HAPPY HCS2-1201
VOYAGER 2

Texmac Inc.; Charlotte, NC; (877) 335-5206; www.happyemb.com

Cost: Contact Texmac for price.

What it is: This single-head, 12-needle embroidery machine with color touch- screen (2014 model) features a 320mm x 290mm sewing field, a 40-million stitch/250-design memory, compact dimensions and cast-steel frame.

What’s new:

• 100 stock designs, 12 built-in fonts and Windows 8 compatibility
• Improved independent-drive cutting system
• Add any hoop into memory for accurate position/fit of design.

Key features:

• 7” touch-screen control panel with onboard help and auto error correction
• 2.7” x 11.5” cap sewing field for sewing on front and sides in one hooping
• Built-in networking and USB connections for PC
• Open area around sewing arm allows for direct sewing on large objects
• Built-in bobbin winder allows operators to wind independently of operation
• Training and support included

User review: Lauren Elizabeth Floyd, owner of Southern Belle Designs in Wilmington, NC, bought her HAPPY HCS2-1201 Voyager 2 in June 2013. “I love my machine,” she says. “It’s very simple to figure out, especially with the appropriate training from Texmac.” Floyd said she owned her machine for about two months before she was able to attend Texmac training, but that the machine was user-friendly enough to start operating quickly. “The point-and-touch capability makes things a breeze,” she says.

HAPPY HCD2-1501

Texmac Inc.; Charlotte, NC; (877) 335-5206; www.happyemb.com

Cost: Contact Texmac for price.

What it is: This single-head, 15-needle machine includes a 520mm x 400mm sewing field, a 4-million stitch/250-design memory and a cast-steel frame.

What’s new:

• 100 stock designs, 12 built-in fonts, and Windows 8 compatibility
• Head accommodates one or two HAPPY motor-driven sequin sewing devices
• Add any hoop into memory for accurate position/fit of design.

Key features:

• 7” touch-screen control panel with onboard help and auto error correction
• 3” x 14” cap sewing field for sewing on front and sides of cap in one hooping
• Built-in networking and USB connections for PC
• Dual set of hoops included with each unit, including cap sewing system
• Reporting functions display histories of production and error codes.
• Networks with current HAPPY machine models; manage multiple machines from one PC
• Training and support included

Buyer’s note: This machine is a good choice for small production shops that want the maximum production and sewing field from a single-head machine; embroiderers who want both large production capability and the flexibility of networked single heads; and large shops that need a single-head sample machine and/or a wide field machine (HCD2-1501 comes standard with a wider field than standard HAPPY multi heads).

SPRINT 5/SPRINT 5 XL

ZSK USA Inc.; Franklin, NH; (800) 525-2366; www.zskusa.com

Cost: Contact manufacturer for price.

What it is: This lightweight single-head, 12-needle machine, which is made in Germany, is compact and all-purpose. It sews up to 1,200 spm; comes with an embroidery field length up to 1,200mm; has a T8/2 control terminal; and is network-ready on a Windows system.

What’s new:

• Positioning with cross-hair laser-pointer
• Loading of designs over a network and/or via a barcode scanner

Key features:

• Tubular, cap and border frame operation modes
• Error analysis and contour tracing
• Automatic thread cutter and reverse embroidering function

Buyer’s note: The SPRINT 5 is a good choice for small orders and personalizing many types of fabrics and items. With its low noise, it’s optimal for use in retail shops and boutiques.

Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.