Embroidery at the moment seems to be in pretty good condition. With the advances over the past few years in software and machinery, it seems that we can handle almost anything that is thrown at us. But when things are ‘good’ there is a major hidden danger – complacency.

Being the age I am and don’t get me wrong I am not ancient, just experienced, I can remember the last time that the embroidery industry felt that things were ‘good’. In fact, things were so good then that the dreaded hidden danger mentioned above materialised into a malevolent entity that nearly buried the industry. It certainly marked the end of some previously successful businesses.

In those days, and we are talking about the mid 80s, things were so good that machines sales people were more akin to order takers and, for the embroiderers, orders walked through the door day after day. One day however, business slowed to something not far short of a stop and the complacency issue suddenly took centre stage.

Nobody had looked to the future and little was in place should the good times roll right out of the door. I’m not saying that research and development was non-existent, it just wasn’t flavour of the month and therefore there was no alternative route to travel. However, that was a piece of industrial history that was learnt from and embroidery set about making sure that it was never put in that position again. Whether this was done consciously or by instinct nobody knows but at least it happened.

Over the following years machine builders in particular made great advances, making previously difficult jobs easier and impossible ones plausible if not immediately achievable. Embroiderers and their customers also made an important contribution by becoming more demanding, no longer happy to accept that “it couldn’t be done”. The combined efforts served the industry well and have kept it in good order right up to the present day so, why the concern? Complacency, that is why.

As mentioned earlier, embroidery is indeed in good condition so we need to be aware of the past to avoid a repeat performance. Fortunately, the machine manufacturers have not rested on their success. All of the major machine builders have made sure that their products have advanced beyond an immediate need. A good example of this is the single head machine. The early models, due to the limits of technology, were large by today’s standards and very much a ‘factory’ machine. As the industry changed and sort of regressed to something more akin to a cottage industry, the machines became smaller until Koreanbased manufacturer SWF introduced the compact style machine – a more acceptable style more suited to the small business or shop environment.

Following this, other manufacturers looked at ways to reduce size (and cost). SWF responded and recently introduced a small single head that, whilst being price conscious, retained all of the expected, and needed, industrial attributes. Other advances include things such as smaller arms, larger and more flexible embroidery areas and, of course, probably the biggest advance of them all, the dual function machine.

Although this has been discussed (at length) in previous editions of this publication, it really is worth a repeat visit as it represents one of the most important developments in recent times. The first of these machines was seen in the UK at the ITMA exhibition held at the Birmingham NEC in 2004 but it was a model clearly aimed at bulk production facilities. Many units of that model (the 12-head flat table) were installed in companies in the Asian bowl countries but following this success, SWF set about making the technology available to all so that, today, embroidery companies of all sizes can benefit from the advantages of dual function flexibility.

Software companies have also made advances. Developers such as the Greece based company Wings‚ has revolutionised the industry with its Modular system, where the customers simply buys what they need, and its cooperation with imaging software giants Corel, to produce Corel DraWings.

Whatever has been done, however, will come to nothing unless the industry at large not only embraces what has been created but also encourages further development.

We must remember that research and development departments are expensive to run and the only way that companies recoup their investment is by the industry uptake of the technology. As long as this is positive then those same companies will re-invest and develop more improvements and new markets. So, in a way, the future of your industry depends very much on you. Your reaction to new techniques, machinery, software etc. will determine your future.

We shouldn’t make the same mistake as our sister industry of garment manufacturing where new, more productive machinery was continually being developed. Unfortunately, many of our ‘local’ factories restricted investment, preferring to maintain their existing plant. The machine manufacturers therefore shifted their point of focus to overseas markets making them stronger and more competitive.

Our market benefits from companies such as Your Embroidery Services, which constantly push their suppliers to develop new and better technology. Without the support from embroidery companies though, their arguments and encouragement will go unheard.

“Where do we go from here?” Wherever YOU want to take us.”

Tony Whitmore at Your Embroidery Services Ltd can be contacted on 01623 863343 or by e-mail at tony@yesltd.co.uk

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