Now, it’s time for choosing the most important component of the business: the commercial embroidery machines. These advanced mechanisms are designed and equipped with various features, so the work will be faster, and the result way more professional.
You might not want to hear this, but you need to know some serious facts about the commercial embroidery machines, or the industrial ones, before purchasing any.
Types, differences, buying guide, PROS, and CONS, and best commercial embroidery machines on the market, all these topics are covered down below.
So let’s get it started!
Table of Contents
Best Commercial Embroidery Machines- A Comparison Chart to Help You Choose
Before talking about each embroidery machine, I created a quick comparison chart of all the reviewed products. The reason I did this is to help people that don’t have time to browse the whole article to choose and read the exact commercial embroidery machine they feel it’s suitable. So let’s check it out!
Top 10 Best Commercial Embroidery machines with PROS, and CONS
This chapter is probably the most important part of the article. It contains detailed reviews for the best 10 commercial embroidery machines available on the market.
Not only I will describe each one separately and present its features and capabilities, but also I will give you their pros and cons and my personal opinion regarding each and every one of them. Find yourself a comfy spot and let’s find out what advantages and disadvantages these products have.
1. Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 Embroidery and Sewing Machine
(Best for Small Businesses)
Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is a commercial embroidery machine produced by the Janome company. One of its best characteristics is its capacity to connect to a laptop or a PC. This way you can see even the smallest details and easily do any changes that you seem fit. The AcuFeed Flex feeding system stops the fabric’s bottom layer and this is very useful when quilting.
Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000’s needle plates are very easy to use. Also, it has many stitch designs that are highly appreciated by the people who like to work with zig-zag patterns.
Even though Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is not recommended for big busy businesses is an amazing product for small companies due to the stitch composer that enables producers to create own designs.
Features:
- 425 built-in stitches;
- 338 built-in embroidery designs;
- 10 fonts;
- 10 LED lamps;
- 13 one-step buttonholes;
- LCD touchscreen;
- 400 – 1,000 spm sewing speed;
- 4 MB memory storage.
Pros
- Very easy to use;
- Computer compatibility.
Cons
- Can be considered expensive;
- The size of the biggest hoop is modest compared with other products.
Personal Experience:
My experience with Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 was great. What I liked the most about it is its touchscreen and how easy it is to use. However, before you invest in one, you should read the instructions manual and check out a video tutorial to see if it fits your needs or not.
2. CAMFive EMB HT1501 Single Head Commercial Embroidery Machine
(Best for Working with Multiple Materials)
Produced by CAMFive EMB, the CAMFive EMB HT1501 Single Head Commercial Embroidery Machine is great for embroidering on different materials such as blankets, towels, cotton, hats or synthetic fibers.
Even though it looks and offers features of a pro embroidery machine, this product can be also used by small business.
CAMFive EMB HT1501 Single Head Commercial Embroidery Machine has an amazing storing capacity – 100 million stitches. Its maximum speed is 1200 spm, but the producer recommends to use it at 1000 spm for best results. This device provides an 8-inch LCD touchscreen that eases the process of scrolling for designs and adjusting its settings.
Another great thing that it offers is the Instant Punch alphabetic system. So, if you have to make fast embroideries, you just need to type it into the Multi-Lingual Color touchscreen control panel and start your work.
Features:
- Preview function;
- A memory capacity of 100 Million stitches;
- 15 colors;
- 8-inch LCD touchscreen.
Pros
- Easy to use;
- Can work on many materials;
- Very big memory capacity;
- Can work 24h a day.
Cons
- It is expensive;
- It is heavy.
Personal experience:
I don’t know what I like most about this product, but it is an amazing embroidery machine. However, the top characteristics that won me are its preview function that helps you do a test of the embroidery before commencing a new design, without wasting any threads or material and the USB compatibility that allows you to import previously created designs from your computer.
Yes, it is an expensive machine. However, before you actually purchase it, you should check an online video to convince yourself.
3. SINGER Futura XL-580 Embroidery and Sewing Machine
(Best Value for Money)
Singer Futura XL-580 is a product produced by the Singer company. The machine comes with 20 fonts, 250 designs but also 215 built-in stitches. Another great characteristic of the Singer Futura XL-580 is that it has 50 unlimited circles and patterns that aid you to create border designs on garments such as the table material.
With a sewing speed of 600 spm, the Singer Futura XL-580 also permits PC and USB connection. It has a self-adjusting tension system that allows you to pick your preferred stitch with just a shift of a dial. Also, you can automatically select stitches in order to save time.
Last but not least, the commercial embroidery machine has a multi-hoop capability that lets you create embroidery design layouts four times bigger than the largest hoop.
Features:
- LED options;
- 250 designs;
- 20 fonts;
- 600 spm speed;
- PC and USB connection.
Pros
- A large number of embroidery designs;
- Autopunch software;
- Drop and sew bobbin system;
- Great price;
- Allows creating personal designs.
Cons
- The bobbin thread can loop;
- Tricky to control the tension in the stitches.
Personal experience:
The thing I like most about this machine is its size. You don’t need big space for it and you can also take it with you when traveling.
I noticed some minuses regarding it such as the looping of the bobbin thread from time to time, but I still think it is a great value for money. The 25 years warranty is also a great plus.
You can check online tutorials before buying to see if it is what you need for your work. Also, if you buy it and you don’t work well with it.
4. Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine
(Winner of Women’s Choice Award in 2018)
Produced by the Brother company, the Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine is easy to use and comes at a more than fair price. The machine comes with 136 built-in designs, 6 lettering fonts, 184 built-in stitches but also 12 border styles and 10 built-in frame shapes.
The Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine has a built-in memory and lets you import designs by using a USB drive. Moreso, it comes with an embroidery card slot.
Another great characteristic of this product is its auto thread trimmer that permits you to cut upper and lower threads by simply pressing a button.
Features:
- Automatic needle threader;
- Auto thread trimmer;
- Jam Resistant Quick-Set Top-Load Drop-in Bobbin;
- 10 Buttonholes;
- 136 Built-in Embroidery Designs;
- 184 Sewing Stitches;
- 5″x7″ embroidery area;
- 6 Built-in Embroidery Lettering Fonts;
- Variable Speed Control and Start / Stop Button.
Pros
- Great price;
- Small size;
- Speed control;
- Computer connectivity;
- Large work area.
Cons
- The screen can be considered small;
- Imports only one design at a time;
- Difficult to change the tension of stitches.
Personal Experience:
I said it before and I will say it again. I am a very big fan of the Brother company. In my opinion, they offer the best quality in all their products. Being able to carry the embroidery machine with me is an extra plus and the Brother PE770 Embroidery Machine doesn’t fail at this aspect.
Another plus for me was given by the big amount of designs. From classic quilt patterns to elaborate flowers, this machine offers everything that a person might need. However, don’t buy it just because I praise it. Check out an online tutorial first.
5. Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine
(Best for Advanced Users)
Janome is one of the biggest producers when it comes to commercial embroidery machines and they don’t disappoint when it comes to the Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine. The product comes with 160 built-in embroidery designs and 6 fonts for monogramming but also allows you to import other designs through a USB drive.
With a maximum embroidery size of 7.9” x 7.9”, Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine offers also four additional hoop sizes.
The computerized screen is wide enough so choosing the right settings should not be difficult. This screen allows you to edit designs using functions like drag and drop, rotate, flip, copy/paste, zoom-in/zoom-out, or grouping. Its maximum speed is 860 spm making your work to finish faster.
Features:
- 9” x 7.9” embroidery area;
- 160 built-in designs;
- USB port;
- 860 spm speed;
- LCD touchscreen;
- Rotating Hook Bobbin;
- Automatic threader and thread cutter.
Pros
- Small size;
- USB connectivity;
- Large work area;
- Great LCD screen.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a foot pressure adjustment;
- Pricey;
- Automatic threader can be considered tricky to use for beginners.
Personal Experience:
There are many great things that caught my eyes when using the Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine but one that really stood out for me was the programmable jump thread trimming. I was very happy with its ability to jump to the desired stitch point and then to automatically return back to the thread break post.
However, I think that if this is the first contact I would have with a commercial embroidery machine, I would have found it difficult to use the automatic threader.
So, if you are at the start of your journey you should check a video tutorial to see how the machine works.
6. Bernina Bernette Chicago 7 Computerized Sewing & Embroidery Machine
(Best Variety of Accessories)
Just like everything made by the Swiss’, the Bernina Bernette Chicago 7 Computerized Sewing & Embroidery Machine is also a very high-quality product.
This product was designed to satisfy the needs of both sewers and embroidery creators. It comes with 180 different stitches and a few alphabets, so even if are very picky you will still find what you desire.
One of the most amazing parts of the machine is given by the accessories that come with it:
- Nine snap-on presser feet;
- Scissors;
- All-purpose foot;
- Blind hem foot;
- Button sewing foot;
- Satin stitch foot;
- Simple embroidery foot;
- Buttonhole foot;
- Overcasting foot;
- Zipper foot;
- Darning/Embroidery foot;
- Needle set;
- Lint brush/seam ripper;
- Extra bobbins;
- L-shaped screwdriver;
- Screwdriver;
- Spool pin felt;
- Long spool pin long;
- Spool net;
- Two Spool holders;
- Dust cover;
- Embroidery hoop.
It also is very lightweight and it has an 800 spm speed making it perfect for beginners.
Features:
- Six Needle Positions;
- Start/Stop Button;
- Needle Thread and Bobbin Monitoring;
- LCD Screen;
- USB connectivity;
- Needle Threader and Thread Cutter.
Pros
- Great quality;
- Easy to travel with;
- Easy to use.
Cons
- It’s slow compared to others.
Personal Experience:
I love this commercial embroidery machine. From the first moment I put my hand on it, I felt that it cannot disappoint. It’s very easy to use and I think every beginner should consider working with it. More advanced users might find it too slow but I can’t find it any other issue.
If you are undecided, you should look at online tutorials.
7. Janome Memory Craft 14000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
(Editor’s Choice)
The Janome Memory Craft 14000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine was designed for big businesses, but that doesn’t mean that smaller ones should not use it.
The commercial embroidery machine comes with 400 built-in stitches and 350 built-in embroidery designs. It has a 1000 smp speed and an amazing 7.7” x 4.7” LCD color touchscreen that will make your work very easy.
It comes with a very big pack of accessories such as an AcuView Magnifier Holder with 20x Lens, a Buttonhole Stabilizer Plate, a Darning Foot and a Knee Lifter but also with 4 types of hoops: GR: 9.1” x 11.8”, SQ23: 9.1” x 9.1”, SQ14: 5.5” x 5.5”, Free Arm FA10: 3.9” x 1.6” .
Last but not least, it has a Real-Time PC association with Horizon Link Suite.
Features:
- 13 one-step buttonholes;
- 400 built-in stitches;
- 350 built-in embroidery designs;
- 11 fonts for monogramming;
- 4 MB storage;
- Maximum embroidery area: 9.1” x 11.8”.
Pros
- A great number of stitches and designs;
- Very nice LCD screen;
- A big number of accessories.
Cons
- It is expensive.
Personal Experience:
I don’t have a single bad thing to say about the Janome Memory Craft 14000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, rather than its price, which I consider to be fair. The machine works amazing and this is why it is my personal favorite.
8. Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine
(Best Commercial Embroidery Machine for Home Use)
Everything that is great about the Janome’s products was quadrupled and Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine. Just as its name suggests, the machine has 4 needles but also 8 spools of thread, allowing you to jump from a project to another really fast.
With its almost industrial look, the Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine is the best commercial embroidery machine for home use that money can buy.
It comes with 50 built-in designs, 2 and 3 letter monogramming, 10 fonts for monogramming and it has an 800 spm speed. Another great part is that it has 4 white LED lamps over the needle area.
With a maximum embroidery area or 9.4″ x 7.9″, Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine comes with 3 different hoops that you can play with as you seem fit:
- M1: 9.46” x 7.88”;
- M2: 5” x 4.3”;
- M3: 50mm x 50mm.
Features:
- Dedicated Bobbin Winding Motor – it winds new bobbins also when it stitches a design;
- On Board Storage – it has a 3 MB of memory that can store 1,500,000 stitches or 100 designs;
- 4-needle;
- Automatic Needle Threader – it automatically cuts jump threads even when between letters helping you to save time.
Pros
- Beautiful design;
- Great Features;
- Big number of built-in designs;
- Professional results.
Cons
- It is expensive;
- Can be considered tricky by beginners.
Personal Experience:
I must confess that the first thing that caught my eye on Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine was its incredible appearance. From the minute I saw it, I wanted to see how it looks in my working room. Luckily for me, I actually managed to also test it and I want to say that it works as good as it looks.
The only real inconvenience I could find regarding it is its price. If you are on a budget, then you might want to look elsewhere. Also, if you are a real beginner you might find it overwhelming at first. However, the last part can be solved with online tutorials.
9. Compact Embroidery Machine with Single Head and 15 Needles
(Best for Leather Embroidery)
Produced by the guys from Wonyo, Compact Embroidery Machine with Single Head and 15 Needles is something different when it comes to embroideries. It is heavy and has an industrial look and is perfect for working with hard materials such as leather.
This commercial embroidery machine has 15 needles, a 1200 spm speed, and a Panasonic servo motor. It can store up to 20,000,000 stitches and 200 patterns, has 12 available languages and it has a power consumption of 150 W.
The Compact Embroidery Machine with Single Head and 15 Needles allows you to do flat embroidery, tubular and cap but also lettering with the help of its built-in software.
It comes with multiple hoops such as Garment, Broad Frame or Cap. Its hoops have sized between 3.5 inches (the smallest) and 19.7 x 13.8 inches (the largest).
Features:
- Emergency stop;
- Auto bobbin winder;
- Auto trimming;
- Back stitches;
- Preview/skip stitches;
- On-board lettering.
Pros
- It has many features;
- Can work on hard materials.
Cons
- Pricey;
- Not the best value for money;
- Most beginners find it hard to work with.
Personal Experience:
I heard many contradictory things about this commercial embroidery machine and I wanted to test it to make my own opinion about it. I must say that my feelings are somewhere in the middle. What I liked about it, it’s its capacity to work with hard materials such as leather. I managed to create beautiful embroidery on a leather bag and some leather shoes. What I didn’t like about it is that it is very big and not so easy to use.
In this case, I strongly recommend you to not only look at online tutorials but also try and test it before buying it. It can either be the commercial embroidery machine of your dreams or it can be your worst nightmare.
10. Janome MB-7 Embroidery Machine
(Best LCD Touchscreen)
The Janome MB-7 Embroidery Machine was designed to serve all people who love to do embroidery regardless of their skills. So, even though, it has an industrial look and features that will serve great for a big embroidery business, its petite size makes it is also great for home use.
Probably one of its great characteristics is given by its remote computer screen, which gives you a visual representation of the built-in designs.
It comes with 50 built-in embroidery designs but also 10 fonts for monogramming and it has a speed of 800 spm.
Janome MB-7 Embroidery Machine comes with some standard accessories such as 3 embroidery hoops:
- 50mm x 50mm;
- 126mm x 110mm;
- 240mm x 200mm.
However, there are other optional accessories you can order:
- Bobbin Cases (multi-needle embroidery);
- Anna Maria Horner Embroidery Kit;
- Jumbo Bobbin;
- MB-4 Support Table;
- Hat Hoop for Multi-Needle;
- Seam Ripper;
- Needles (embroidery);
- Spool stand;
- CD-Rom Drive;
- Lettering Hoop Holder Unit;
- Needle Threader;
- Sock Hoop Kit.
Features:
- 6 white LED lamps;
- Auto return post thread break;
- Adjustable hoop positioning;
- 7″ Remote Computer Screen;
- Jumbo bobbin;
- Independent bobbin winder;
- Maximum embroidery area of 9.4″ x 7.9″;
- Stitch-out time indicator;
- Programmable jump thread trimming.
Pros
- LCD screen;
- Great performance;
- Great quality;
- Good speed;
- Very easy to read manual.
Cons
- It is pricey;
- At the beginning can be a little overwhelming to use.
Personal Experience:
The Janome MB-7 Embroidery Machine looks great and works great. It is not heavy and it doesn’t make a lot of noise.
The only tricky thing about this machine is to manage to correctly insert the new open bobbin case, but this is something that if you follow the instructions can easily be managed.
However, if you are considering to invest in a Janome MB-7 Embroidery Machine, you should check online tutorials and also try to test one before actually spending money (it is not cheap).
Differences Between Embroidery Machines and Commercial Embroidery Machines
First thing first, in order to appreciate the work of commercial embroidery machines, let’s see how they are improving the work of a basic embroidery machine.
Well, the former ones couldn’t handle a great amount of heavy workload. This is why commercial embroidery machines come with various heads and multiple needles. Actually, a commercial embroidery machine is designed for continuous operation and also maybe a three-shift production schedule. This means a lot of working hours, which a consumer machine couldn’t handle.
Then, the two categories meet different demands. While the consumer embroidery machine is used some hours per week, the commercial machine provides larger sewing fields, flexible framing alternatives, and faster speeds. This way, you can do a wider range of products.
All in all, what you need to remember, is that the basic embroidery machines are short in the features mentioned above. And most importantly, they are not meant to beefed-up components to face heavy production.
Wait! So How Can Commercial Embroidery Machines Enhance Your Business?
Whether you are at the very beginning of an embroidery start-up or just want to upgrade your work, it is important to look for the top commercial embroidery machines. These mechanisms will not only make your business flourish but will add a great work-flow to the embroidery routine.
Let’s take an example to let definitions behind. For instance, you are a fashion operator, that provides personalization to different clothing brands. If there is a great retailer, that needs a large number of clothing items to be personalized, it is crystal clear that you will need a commercial embroidery machine. A customer one will not be able to handle the great amount of work and won’t embroider professionally.
The truth is that the easiest way to create greater designs and to expand your work from little to embroider serially is investing in a professional embroidery machine. The new age of these products is so technologically advanced, that they are easy to use, create designs with the help of a computer and can turn a hobby into a designing business.
Here are the main differences between a customer and an industrial embroidery machine:
The Main Features of Commercial Embroidery Machines
How do commercial embroidery machines increase workload and also finish tasks in less time? Well, due to their revolutionary features. Let’s see some of their best parts:
- Available needles: while the consumer ones have from 1 to 4 available needs, the best commercial embroidery machines can have even 16 needles available. And they work like this: only one of the needles can sew, while the others allow you to enjoy multiple color changes. The needles go perfectly on different kinds of fabrics and applications and can change on your disposal anytime;
- The speed: this is one of the best features and determines how quickly the designs finishes when sewing. While the consumer machines can only run to 800 stitches per minute, the commercial embroidery machines can run from 1,250 to 1,500 spm. That’s almost double, so you will produce more units in a single day and become more competitive;
- Great frames: just think that the usual consumer machine has field sizes that can only suit up to 7.8 x 9.5″, while the commercial machines will accommodate up to 15″ x 16″. So now you can do embroidery on larger surfaces, such as jacket backs or bed sheets;
- Machine components: commercial embroidery machines are built with professional sewing heads, electronics, stepper motors, and frame rail systems. If properly cared for, these will resist for years in light to heavy production schedules. The ordinary customer machines are designed in opposition. To save money and with less expensive electronics and components that might break due to heavy production demand.
3 Steps for Buying Commercial Embroidery Machines Close to You
If it’s the first time when investing in professional embroidery machines for your business, you might wonder where you should go for making the purchase.
This surprised me: you can buy commercial machines so close to you. Internet is the key. So here are the 3 steps to make sure you are closer to your purchase than you thought.
a. Research! Do your research first. Look for opinions on forums or specialized sites. Follow your needs and then the brand that best suits your business. What kind of embroidery you will do? Find out about the reputed brands, compare their features, read about the costs and the characteristics;
b. Google the commercial embroidery machine you want. You will find lots of alternatives from the biggest online retailers;
c. Add the product to your cart and you will get it so fast, directly to your house or the business center.
For a wiser purchase, follow the buying guide below and get to know the most important information about buying an industrial embroidery machine.
Buyers Guide- Now, How to Buy The Best Commercial Embroidery Machine?
Before making any purchase, just consider these factors when buying a commercial embroidery machine.
Do Very Good Research
As you may know, there are many brands out there which are selling these kinds of products. But it’s ok because as wider the options, the better for the customer. Find out which brand suits you best, read reviews, compare features and costs. As you may guess, the most important thing is to look for features that can help and enhance your work.
Understand How Commercial Embroidery Machines Work
The advanced commercial tools of today’s commercial embroidery machines are so rich, that come with tutorials and guides for understanding the main purpose of each. It is important for you to read everything about every component and feature and to compare them from brand to brand.
Make an Objective Comparison
After doing the research and knowing exactly how the commercial embroidery machines work, bring down at least the three most liked products. Then, take some time for making a comparison between their features, age, condition, price and the year of making. It’s crazy, but doing this will help you make the right decision.
Try to Choose From The Reputed Dealers
Although it might seem a little superficial, sometimes, huge popular companies deserve people’s trust. Buying from the reputed places somehow guarantees you the right product and also service if needed.
Reputed brands come with improved versions of their products from time to time, so you can choose from the latest models.
Look for Advanced Features
When buying a commercial embroidery machine, you should look for modern technological features. It’s a pity not to choose the best features, as you are making an important purchase. Try to look for multiple needles, multi-headed model, automatic functions, and many more.
Ease of Use
It’s important to choose a developed commercial embroidery machine that suits your needs. Look for the imperative components and decide how they will fulfill your needs.
Commercial Embroidery Machines FAQ
Conclusion: Here is My Personal Suggestion
Now that you know the most important information about the commercial embroidery machines, it’s time to upgrade your work. You already read all the characteristics of each product presented in the article and you probably made an opinion on what would fit your needs best. However, if I was to make one last suggestion, I would say the following:
- The machine I would work any time: Janome Memory Craft 14000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine;
- The machine I would pick if I was on a low budget: SINGER Futura XL-580 Embroidery and Sewing Machine;
- The machine I would pick for its design: Janome MB 4S Commercial 4 Needle Embroidery Machine;
- The machine I would work with only if I had no other choice: Compact Embroidery Machine with Single Head and 15 Needles.
These are all my personal opinions and you might feel different. You can leave a comment about your own experience and business in the embroidery world or just add some aspects I didn’t think about.
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