Special Report
The single-head revolution T
From across the pond, Andrea Bommarito, of ZSK Machines in St Louis, USA, provides an interesting insight into how the single-head embroidery machine has evolved over time to what it is today.
he simple definition of a single-head embroidery machine is a machine that produces one embroidery piece per operation. Although this may not seem impressive compared to the large, multi-head equipment, the single-head embroidery machine is one of the most popular models in the US for embroidery embellishment because of its flexibility and versatility.
A brief history
In the history of embroidery equipment, the single-head model did not evolve until the late 1970s and, even then, did not make a significant impact on the market. It was not until the mid to late 1990s that this type of equipment created a huge impression. Most embroidery businesses in the United States operated with several large pieces of multi-head equipment for the mass production. Imagine that during this time, 16- and 20-head machines were standard models, and the four- and six-head machines were considered small units.
The single-head did not exist until the 1980s, and even then, it wasn’t well-received. The cost of a single-head machine was one and a half to two times (or more) the price per head compared to multi- head equipment. Plus, the market norm was producing hundreds to thousands of pieces at a time, so why would a single-head be considered a good investment? The need for smaller orders and sample items started to emerge as mass production went over-seas. The changing economics forged a new embroidery market for the single-head and started a revolution in equipment.
The mighty single-head
The single-head may be the favoured model because of its adaptability. For example, in the large shops, it’s the proof or sample machine used to run designs to ensure quality and efficiency before moving on to production. For the medium shops, it’s for the smaller orders and personalisation to reserve the multi-head equipment for the big orders. For the smaller shops, it's for all the above and more. But, to be fair, these are strong blanket statements that do not ring completely true for all shops. In fact, several large companies
In addition to garments, single-head embroidery machines are go-to pieces of equipment for the home décor and automotive/ aerospace/ yacht interiors markets
| 20 | August 2020
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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