Opinions on the other brands of embroidery machines

[Shanarchy]

When I was at the AC ISS I wanted to take some time to look at embroidery machines. I really want to get a single head at the shop so we can get our feet wet with embroidery (and contract out the larger jobs for now). ZSK, Tajima(Toyota), and Barudan seem to hands down have the best rep from everyone.

What about the other brands, my gut says I've never heard of them for a reason. But I still feel compelled to ask as this is still very foreign to me.

Avance' - now being sold by Col Desi (swf east) along with SWF.

SWF - Are they out of business? I read a little while back they were in trouble and didn't see anything from them at the ISS show.

Melco - looks like they have a new version of the Amaya, the EMT16. I do like the idea of linkable machines.

Ultramatic - a broker in my state (Thornton) is now selling them. $7900 for a single head.

Ricoma
Highland
Happy
Brother

[tonyt79]

I have wondered the same thing. I do know that brother no longer makes one that is not considered a hobby machine. When I was looking for my first one it was very hard to look past the cheaper ones like happy but I went with a zsk.

[JBLUE]

Hands down Barudan first. Tajima Second. Everything else is like shopping at Harbor Freight. I personally own a couple of Barudans both less than two years old and I will put the sew quality up against anything. Worth every penny that was spent.

[BorisB]

I know few happy Happy owners.

Ricoma: our technician is Ricoma contract technician. But he is unhappy with this deal, because he gets no repair calls. He says Ricomas are loud, not very fast, but they don't break.

[Denis Kolar]

Look used. You can find some good used Tajimas, Toyotas and Barudans.
I would stay away from everything else. Not saying that everything else would break right away, but proven is proven.

[Denis Kolar]

Also, ZSK is pretty good. I believe they were out from an US market for a while, but now it seems they are coming back with a bang.

[bimmridder]

My experience with ZSK was, it was a great machine. I felt it did flats much better than head wear. Distribution and support was shaky at best. This was almost ten years ago though. Very solid machine. A tank like Tajima.

[GraphicDisorder]

Barudan and Tajima first easily. 

SWF has always had a rocky support system and supply chain is starting to crumble some.  But good machines. NOT GREAT though. There is a difference.

Happy, mostly nothing terrible ive heard but sew outs are something less than Barudan/Tajima.

ZSK ive never seen any sew outs other than at a trade show and they looked good.

We've covered the single head/multi head talk a 100 times on this board so search for those chats, but I would certainly try whatever you can to get into Barudan or Tajima.

[mk162]

yup, barudan and tajima first.  i don't know if you can say one is amazingly better than the other...we went with barudan.  Tajima folks seem to think tajima is better.

never seen a ZSK

we've owned Melco and SWF, both were OK.

[Gilligan]

As I've mentioned before my tech LOVES Amaya's... They certainly are ridiculously fast.

I don't think you can compare them 1:1 with the other guys... They seem to be made for a different market than they are.  If you don't desire to be an embroidery factory with 100+ heads then they may be the right for for you.

[GraphicDisorder]

yup, barudan and tajima first.  i don't know if you can say one is amazingly better than the other...we went with barudan.  Tajima folks seem to think tajima is better.

never seen a ZSK

we've owned Melco and SWF, both were OK.

I think its pretty much a draw on Tajima and Barudan other than small text, almost everyone will tell you a Barudan will do that better.  I would go Barudan just based on who sells them.

[Doug B]

  I have run Tajima and Barudan at the same time. Tajima won. I have also run Tajima and
Happy at the same time. Tajima won again. Tells you something when (in confidentiality of course)
a Happy tech tells you that your older Tajima sitting right next to the Happy is always going to sew
better quality on fine detail and small lettering!