When to buy a multi head machine?

By Earl Smith on Jun. 04, 2009

I have a small shop on a busy main through road. Open now for 1 year. Trade has slowly built up to the point where my single head machine is working for about 6 hours every day. (In the summer). I can see a point next year where I cannot cope with the summer work on a one head machine. I also work on my own and all my trade come in off the street.
My question is; when is a 4 head machine viable? First of all it will cost between 20 and 35 thousand (Euros). Bought with leasing that is about 800€ monthly. Then I will need some help, either in the shop or out looking for work for the machine. All in all with extra wages and leasing costs etc 3000€ a month extra.
Is it worth it or is it better to just stay with the one head and work like a crazy fool?
Thoughts please.
Earl

Submitted by Eric on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 12:03

As the expression goes ... You just asked the million dollar question.

Rather than thinking of the work as a whole, think of it as an individual job. What I mean by that is, what quantities are you doing? Are you doing 6 or more copies of the same design, or is it a bunch one 1's and 2's?

Reason being is, a 4 head does 4 of the same design (obviously) do you always have at least 4? If not, then you are not maximizing your machines potential. If you are doing a lot of the 1 here 2 there with the occasional 5 or 6+ thrown in, perhaps purchasing another single or even two singles could be more beneficial.

Also, if you are worried about money, its a good way to add a little at a time. Rather than spend all your money at once, you can add one or two heads for now, then one or two more later. I don't know what kind of machines you use, but the last machine that I bought was a tajima, and 4 singles were about the same price as a 4 head.

Just something for you to think about.

Submitted by Earl Smith on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 12:56

Thanks Eric.
Most of my work is around 6 to 10 pieces of a design. Football (kick it, not run with it football) clubs here have teams of 11 with 3 substitutes, most of this work is printed. 30 pieces max. So no big jobs there. Embroidery tends to be small quanities but many jobs. At this moment I am doing a job of 30 polos, taking me 2 days to complete. A 4 head would be great for this. The other jobs waiting in the queue are under 10 pieces each. I also get many, many repeats of one or two pieces.
I guess you are right, go for another single head or maybe a two head machine. A 2 head would cost the same as one and a half single heads. I use Barudan by the way. Tajima I know are very good but the sales man is no where near as good as Barudans. Their support and backup are better than I could have wished for and as we see from many other posts on here is worth its weight in gold.
Thanks for your comments.
Earl

Submitted by Eric on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 20:02

Done ... Hallelujah!

Do me a favor ... Slap me the next time I tell someone I can do 7,500 puff foam caps with 2 weeks notice.

Submitted by Eric on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 21:45

twok4hd wrote:
7500 on a single head??? WOW, You are Superman.

Oh Heck no !!!
I'd be here till next year ... I had my 30 head running it.

Submitted by Eric on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 11:08

When running caps with that many heads at a time, generally 3 people. 2 people just hoop, and the 3rd does soom hooping but mainly cleaning and load and unload. I was helping too cause not many of my girls are familliar with sewing foam, its a total pain!

Submitted by Eric on Sun, 06/07/2009 - 03:31

Im not a fan of them either ... I don't think ANYONE likes doing caps, if they weren't such a huge money maker I'm sure most would never do them.

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