Your small embroidery business has taken off, you need to up production and are contemplating whether to buy a multi-head embroidery machine.

Multi-head embroidery machines can produce double or more of your current production volume. And although it’s a cost-effective choice in the short term (compared to buying another single-head), a multi-head embroidery machine has its upsides and downsides.

Through the years, our experience with embroidery business customers have proven that, although more expensive over the short-term, buying multiple single-head industrial embroidery machines for your embroidery business may be a better choice than buying one multi-head unit. It all depends on where you are in your business.

Here’s why:

• When a multi-head embroidery machine gives an error, or there is a thread breakage, the whole unit stops. And it’s a nervous two days when your machine is being serviced, as you lose two days worth of business. Purchasing more than one single-head will ensure continuous production with your other single heads, while you solve one single-head’s thread breakage or error.
• If you have multiple designs or different products to embroider on, one can load each design or product on a single head, whereas with a multi-head you are restricted with one design and product to embroider on.
• If you’re still working from home or a space with a normal door, it would be a problem to fit the machine through the door. One needs at least a 900mmx1m opening to fit a multi-heads embroidery machine.
• You don’t need as big a space as with multi-head embroidery machines, because you can position the machines where you’d like it.
• You are able to create multiple workstations, providing ease of production.
• Should your workflow decrease for various reasons, it’s easier to sell a single-head embroidery machine, than selling a multi-head in order to buy a smaller multi-head embroidery machine.

That said, the larger your embroidery business, the more you’re required to keep up with volume production, and of course, the cheaper it is in the long-term. For gross production, a multi-head embroidery machine is by far is a better choice.