ImagesMagUK_Digital-Edition_Nov17

EMBROIDERY

Telling it like it is: single-head embroiderymachines

Six decorators talk to Images about why they chose their single- head embroidery machine and how it’s working out

Murgens Keep T-Shirts: Melco EMT16+/Amaya Sales UK

Mike Cadman, managing director

What are its main advantages? The main advantages are parts’ availability, the ease of use and the excellent support and problem solving, which has been a great safety net for this investment. The machine has embroidered runs of over 400 caps and a huge array of polos, T-shirts, sweats and hoodies, as well as towels, car seat covers, bags, leather jackets and a whole host of products all with relative ease – the only limitation is the user’s confidence. Is there anything you’d like to see in an upgrade or don’t like about it? The only snag we have encountered is the under bobbin does not have any warning when it’s running out, so it’s common sense to check this after several runs and work out how many runs there are per bobbin and remember to change it regularly. It’s more about establishing a routine rather than a flaw. What advice do you have for others starting out in embroidery on a single-head? Using professional digitisers such as David Sharp ensures that the quality of finished items is of the highest standard. By doing so we save on time developing the stitch files: we give a brief of what type of material we are working with and any customer requirements at the time of ordering and send over a .png file. It is very handy when you run a small business because the time it frees up ensures maximum production for those dreaded deadlines – I’ve never had a customer complain of set-up charges for this service.

Tell us a bit about your business I set up our company in 1982, as a silversmith and alternative clothing outlet on the festival scene. Over the years it has evolved into our current printing studio, now based in Walkden. We are on-demand printers and cover a wide range of printing techniques, including old school vinyl, white ink laser printing and DTG. What’s the latest single-head embroidery machine you’ve bought, and why did you choose that model? We were aware of the demand for embroidery and for several years had to subcontract such works, which was not ideal. We researched the variety of single-head machines available in the marketplace and in March 2017 we struck a deal with Amaya UK for a Melco EMT16+ as this machine is a high quality build and expandable, (simple daisychain), future proofing our future machinery demands. learning curve as none of us had ever embroidered in our lives but with the two-day training when the machine was installed and the online training supplied by Amaya UK, we are now a few million stitches wiser. The machine is straightforward enough once you’ve got your head around the software and the set-up of hoops etc. What’s the Melco like to use? We were faced with a very steep

[Above] Mike bought the Melco EMT16+ in March

What are your plans for the future? We envisage expanding the number of machines within 12 months, subject to market trends and future trade, and are very happy with the performance and scope of the EMT16+, which has coped with the challenges of customer requirements. www.murgens-keep.co.uk

62 images NOVEMBER 2017

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