The 7 Best Industrial Sewing Machines

So you have started sewing, and your skills have improved so much that people are taking notice of your work and have started to place orders. But your regular sewing machine just cannot keep up with the demand, or you want to decrease your production time to manage other important work. A solution for this is an industrial sewing machine made for dealing with large projects quickly, and for continuous operation, these machines will never let you down in your time of need.

Industrial sewing machines can help you finish your large projects faster and with a more professional finish. After all, they are made to handle all the professional needs.

Choosing an industrial sewing machine with all the features you are looking for is not an easy feat, especially if you are just starting out. There are some significant differences between a standard machine and an industrial one. Let’s first look at the differences to better understand what value it brings to you.

Standard sewing machines operate at a comfortable speed, but commercial ones give you the maximum speed possible to accelerate the production output.

Heavier threads are used in industrial sewing machines, and these machines go through mountains of fabrics each day; therefore require regular maintenance for best performance.

Most sewing machines come with multiple stitches, but industrial sewing machines come with a single stitch to reduce tear and wear on the unit.

An industrial sewing machine produces consistent results, unlike a standard one where you will have to adjust every time you change a thread or the material, or else it will create low-quality stitches.

In this list, we have compiled seven of the best industrial sewing machines currently available on the market. Now the pricing is as per the day this list was posted, so it may vary slightly if you are reading it at a later date.

1. JUKI DDL-8700

The first entry on this list is the JUKI DDL-8700 from the well-known Japanese brand Juki. The company has been around for over 80 years in the sewing industry; they know how to make a reliable machine that means business.

This model is impressive as it has a stitch speed of 5500 SPM, which is five times that of a standard sewing machine. This kind of speed is achievable only because of its powerful servo motor great for commercial as well as household uses.

This machine weighs about 30 pounds with dimensions measuring 48 x 20 x 48 inches. Compared to other machines, it is very light and portable up to an extent.

One of the critical features that compel people to buy this machine is the combination of insane speed and the quiet servo motor. This model is silent for an industrial machine and will not wake up your neighbors or be a nuisance to anyone in your house. This machine is a high shank meaning it measures approximately 1 1/4″ from the screw to the bottom of the foot. A low shank machine measures about 3/4″ from the screw to the bottom of the foot.

This is a single needle machine with a stitch width of 5 mm implementing a straight stitching process, which is specially designed for lightweight and intermediate materials. So you won’t get a good result if you start using it on hard materials like leather or flannel. And due to its high speed and silent operation, the machine does vibrate a lot on unsecured sure faces.

2. Consew 206RB-5

The Consew 206RB-5 is the big brother of the Consew 206RB, which is portable then this model. Still, the newer Consew 206RB-5 is more massive, larger, and very well equipped to handle heavier tasks like upholstery, camping tents, and even sails. It’s also suitable for making coats with thick material. Here you can check Consew 206RB review.

This model is a full-fledged version of the old one; it comes with a ton of features that the previous one didn’t have; the Consew 206RB-5 is a full-sized table-mounted machine.

The Consew 206RB-5 comes with an onboard ruler and lamp as well as a cone thread stand that is designed to hold two extra-large cones of thread at the same time.

The model has a separate bobbin storage compartment on the right side and a bobbin winder for easy access on which extra large bobbin can be fitted.

The Consew 206RB-5 is larger, heavier, and, therefore, designed to handle more challenging tasks, such as auto, boat, and furniture upholstery; tents; tarpaulins; sails; camping and sports equipment; awnings; umbrellas; shoes; purses; luggage and the like. It is also a good option for sewing apparel and coats for men, women, and children.

This model also comes with a servo motor, but this has been reduced to 3300 SPM and the 50 x 45 x 20″ dimensions make it a well-balanced machine. The stitch length is 10 mm; there is some vibration but not enough to affect your stitching or the finished products. This machine can handle a wide array of materials like upholstery, canvas, faux fur, leather, and all types of vinyl and laminated fabrics.

light to heavyweight fabric, leather, and suede of all thicknesses and weights, upholstery fabric, canvas, twill and sailcloth, faux fur, all weights of vinyl and laminated materials of all thicknesses.

The quality of stitching is, without a doubt, excellent. Then again, this is a single stitch machine.

The triple feed can handle thick materials very well, and to make the maintenance easy, a centralized lubrication system is implemented. It takes less time and reduces the delay caused by maintenance.

In terms of accessories, the package contains extra bobbins, extra needles, an oil dispenser,3 screwdrivers (1 large, 1 medium, 1 small), two double-head wrenches (1 large, 1 small), a spool pin,2 Hex keys (1 medium, 1 small), extra screws, knee lifter and of course the owner’s manual and the parts manual.

3. JUKI MO-6714S

Another model from Juki and this one is faster, the stitching speed is 7000 SPM, which will finish any large or bulky projects effortlessly. This machine is intended for heavy production use, you would think that due to the high speed, the noise must be unbearable, but on the contrary, the servo motor once again saves the day with a perfect combination of speed and noise cancellation design.

This machine is one of the best sergers available. The JUKI MO-6714S has a two-needle four-thread design along with a fast, durable servo motor, makes it a productivity machine with the best finish imaginable.

There is a stitch indicator located on the front panel of the stitch control box that allows easy access for adjustments. The stitch width can be adjusted between 3.2mm, 4mm, and 4.8 mm; the stitch length can also be varied from 0.8 mm to 4 mm.

All that said, the machine weighs about 60 lbs and  48 x 36 x 48 inches, so keep that in mind while buying.

The model is also made for heavy workloads and long working periods. There is an oil filter and cooling fan to keep that monstrous 7000 SPM servo motor cool and in good working condition.

This machine can easily switch from lightweight to heavy materials without affecting thread tension because of the needle-thread take-up mechanism and a looper thread take-up mechanism. The machine comes with both lower and upper bar bushings of the needle air unit to add to its list of features.

Among the list of features, the unique dual tension control system automatically adjusts the tension of the threads according to the material you are working with. The dog feeds can also be adjusted according to your preference; the back latching function along with the 7000 SPM creates perfect stitching using any material in a short amount of time. At this price, you get a heavy-duty metal work table, a stand, light, and all other mechanical components with the machine.

4. Yamata FY8700

The Yamata FY8700 is affordable yet comes with a host of features that will give you a good value for money product. The most notable feature is the automatic lubrication system, which will ease your mind in the long term.

The machine is fitted with a noise-canceling system along with its powerful 1.5 hp clutch motor, which stitches at 5500 SPM. The machine’s dimensions are 48 x 20 x 48, also weighing less, this machine is a good pick if you are looking for a portable industrial machine.

The machine comes disassembled with a sewing machine table, a clutch motor, tools, belts, 1725 RPM, and a 110 volt supply, so either you would have to put it together or hire a professional to set it up for sewing. As for accessories, the package includes a thread stand, bobbin winder, oil pan/knee lifter, 5 extra bobbins, 10 extra needles, instruction manual, and machine oil.

Talking about machine oil, the automated lubrication system works wonders when you want to start sewing immediately without checking all parts and oil it differently, like with a typical sewing machine.

The table included for this machine measures 48 x 20 inches with heavy-duty legs, which keeps the vibrations to a minimum. You can also adjust the motor speed with the help of a knot, and the Motor is also very quiet.

The FY-8700 model has a large hook to maximize the width to make space for a wide variety of sewing materials. The single needle machine has a 13-foot lift to sewing thick multiple layered thin to medium weight fabrics with ease but keep in mind that it does not feature a walking foot, so quilting is kind of out of the question.

The stitch length is 5 mm, which along with 5500 SPM, gives the finished product a clean finish.

This is the best budget industrial sewing machine for advanced users that you can get on the market if you are not planning on using it for quilting.

5. Juki MO-6716

The next machine is from Juki, the Juki MO-6716 is a two-needle five thread high speed overclock industrial serger with a 3450 RPM clutch motor. The two-needle five thread feature ensures high-quality strong, flexible stitches.

The 3450 RPM servo motor produces 7000 SPM at the cost of weighing three times that of a standard portable serger. The stitches can be adjusted in 3-5 overclock at 0.08 mm to 4 mm, and the stitch width 1.6mm to 6.4 mm. The cutting width can be adjusted manually between 1.6 mm and 6.4 mm by merely turning a few screws on the upper and lower knives. For dealing with multi-layered material, the given presser foot is 7mm.

The weight and dimensions are almost the same as the Juki MO-6714S at 60 lbs and

48 x 20 x 48 inches in dimension. This model is meant to be a workhorse that keeps on going no matter the workload at blazing fast speeds. And because of the servo motor, it is also the quietest serger industrial sewing machines on the market.

The features available on this machine are really impressive and gives control over a variety of factors like the adjustable differential feed, which has an internal micro-adjustment function that is controlled by an external knob. This allows you to adjust the feed dogs to any ratios, in turn making the machine versatile, able to handle any material.

As you expect from a five threaded beast of a machine, you have control over the thread tension while in the chain off or stitch mode. The chain off for embroidery gives you even beautiful, consistent stitches. The length of the chain off thread can also be selected by the controls on the front panel as well as the number of stitches. The looper thread and the needle thread take-up mechanism allows for flexible working on light and heavy fabrics alike.

6. Juki TL-2010Q

Now this machine is more oriented towards the budget segment and for home use with critical features enough for intermediate sewers that have heavy workloads. It’s a balance between a home sewing machine and an industrial-grade one. The body is made of high-grade industrial materials that can handle long sections and with a dimension of 17.8 x 8.6 x 13.8 inches and weight about 25.4 lbs which is lightweight compared to the models on this list.

The 1500 SPM stitching speed will finish your project swiftly. Yes, it is slower than others on this list, but it will get your job done.

The JUKI TL-2000QI is the best sewing machine for industrial quilting. It’s also Amazon’s

choice for the best Juki industrial quilting machine. The arm and bed of Juki TL2000Qi are constructed of die-cast aluminum.

The TL-2000Qi has features such as the thread tension scale, which allows you to adjust the tension according to the thread used and the material selected with a precise stitch width of 6 mm.

It is considered as the best quilting machine by the experienced sewers in the current market. The package comes with a few bobbins for those who want to start sewing out of the box and a set of presser foot darning/free motion foot, straight stitch foot, quilting foot, and a walking foot. A knee lever is also included, which is very convenient and ensures a faster pace.

This model boasts a large work area and a wider handling area than conventional sewing machines. Extended arm and sewing bed for easy handling of large quilts, it also comes with a 13-inch extended table for large bulky projects and automatic needle up and down controls. This machine is the superior choice among sewers, coming with a sturdy finish and with a five-year warranty, which is better than the HZL F-600 model. Remember that multi-layered fabric and fabric types like weighted fabric require a powerful motor and good stitching speed for a smooth experience.

7. Yamata FY747A

The Yamata name is not as well known as the other companies on this list, but their machines speak for themselves. It is one of the best serger machines under the budget section but still boasts high-quality build and features.

The sewing machine is powered by a high-powered 3000 RPM servo motor, which gives you a stitch speed of about 7000 SPM, which is definitely the industrial-grade speed and holds its place among other models from companies like Juki or consew.

The Yamata FY747A is a two-needle five thread overlock powerhouse with a 4 mm stitch width, which will give you beautiful stitches on light to medium weight materials. There are two types of stitches that you can utilize, the three thread overclock that uses a single needle and three threads to give to a clean finishing on the edges of medium to heavier materials. The four-thread overclock, which makes use of all five threads and the two needles make your stitches sturdy, commonly used by serger machines to complete high-quality, durable jackets or similar finish.

There is a low tension feature that prevents the threads from breaking or clumping together at high speeds, the finished product will have a neat and clean finish.

Needless to say, by now, you know that servo motors are the quietest motors on the market in relation to power.

To save you the trouble of oiling the machine, it comes with an automatic lubrication system, which is generally seen in more expensive models.

The Yamata FY747A is a great budget buy that comes with all the necessary features of a standard industrial sewing machine.

Why you should prefer an industrial sewing machine

As you probably know there are two kinds of sewing machines, one is the commercial or industrial grade machines which are specially designed to handle enormous workloads and the other the domestic sewing machines which have more convenient features, are easy to use, primarily made with comfort, portability and average workloads in mind.

The difference

A domestic sewing machine can have anywhere from 20 to 300 stitches available for more customization and to handle different styles. If factors such as the thread, material, or the tension is changed, the quality of stitches noticeably drops. The maximum speed offered by these personal sewing machines allows the sewer to pace themselves and makes sure that they don’t get ahead of themselves.

These models are built for convenience; therefore, there is little to no maintained need apart from the occasional services. All kinds of threads can be used to stitch the different fabrics of any weight class. And finally, they start at a few hundred less than an industrial sewing machine.

The industrial sewing machine, on the other hand, is made for one purpose with almost no room for customization. They are built to be durable and work heavy loads for extended amounts of time. Therefore they will have fewer variables, nearly 99% of the industrial sewing machines have a single stitch to prevent the decline of its moving parts.No matter the material; these machines provide consistent, high-quality stitches with the help of heavy denier of threads and tension control features.

The standard industrial sewing machine is four to six times faster than a domestic one. These heavy workhouses require constant maintenance; they have to be oiled before use because they go through mountains of fabric in each section, so to make it easier and faster most are equipped with an automatic lubrication system and sometimes a cooling fan. And the starting price of these bad boys is easily $1000 to $2000 prices increase depending on the features and durability.

Which one for you?

A domestic sewing machine is right for you if you just run a small business at home or for personal use with no specific type of product in mind.

An industrial sewing machine is great if you specialize in a single product like coats, curtains, sails, and if you have large orders to finish with a deadline. In this case, you need a more durable machine that can run all day long without breaking apart. Basically, if you want to change from a home-run business to a large scale production or manufacturing hub, you will need these machines to manage the heavy loads.

Now you know the use case of an industrial sewing machine, but before buying, you still need to look out for essential features and factors that can change according to your use case.

Factors to consider

The Motor

Now, industrial sewing machines come with two types of motors.

The Clutch motor operates continuously for the whole duration of your work, whether your foot is on the pedal or not. They are fixed-speed motors usually rated between 2000 and 3500 RPM. You cannot adjust the speed of your machine in any way. Clutch motors are used because of the raw power they provide.

The adjustable servo motor is much more efficient because it only start operating when you start sewing with your foot on the pedal and turn off when you stop sewing. The main difference between the two is control; you can adjust the speed of the Motor, allowing you to reduce the rate if you are a beginner. They are also lighter and save you a ton of money on electricity.

Now with that out of the way, let’s look at other factors.

Speed and power

The main advantage or selling point of an industrial sewing machine is the speed. The Motor on these machines are massive compared to domestic ones, they are designed for speed and power with high durability.

These factors allow these machines to sew through multiple materials and heavier fabrics with blistering pace. An ordinary sewing machine stitches at 100 to 800 SPM, but these start at 1500 to 7000 SPM. The models with servo motors can adjust their speed as well to match the sewer’s pace. Also, faster doesn’t necessarily mean better; you have to take the stitch quality at those speeds into account.

Keep in mind that these powerful motors can cost you hundreds in electricity bills, so when searching for a home use case industrial machine, keep an eye out for efficiency and Motor.

Threads and Needles

Now commercial machines come with 1 to 5 threads, the number of threads used has a huge impact on the types of stitches you can do. For example, when working with a single thread, you are limited to end to end stitches in a single run. You can stitch hemming, flatlock, elastic, lace, and lingerie with two threads, mainly focusing on edging and seaming.

Now with three threads, you can better sew fabric edges, narrow rolled hems, pintucks with woven fabrics. Four threads provide more strength to stressful areas of the material, allowing more flexibility and movement. Now apparel manufacturing and safety stitches are done with five threads to ensure maximum strength.

Double needles are very helpful for creating decorative details and professional hems, beautiful parallel rows of top stitches, coverstitch them, and in free motion quilting.

Durability

Durability is a key factor because if you are making that huge investment in an industrial sewing machine, you want it to, at the very least, last you a few years and longer with regular maintenance. As commercial sewing machines are usually bought by companies, it’s hard to get an exact number, but the manufacturer’s website is worth a shot.

Bed Type

There are many types of sewing beds available in the market, but I have condensed it into three main types for ease of understanding.

Flatbed sewing machines are the most common and resemble traditional design. It is mainly used to stitch fabrics together, be it small pieces or larger heavy ones. You could say that this is the baseline design.

Cylinder-bed sewing machines are, as it sounds, sewing machines that have a curved lifted bed instead of a flat one. This bed is specialized for stitching around hard-to-reach areas like the rounded parts of a hat, cap, bags, or even shoes.

The post-bed sewing machine is like a flatbed but with a raised column that meets the needle way above the surface of the machine. These beds are primarily used for doing detailed work such as on the most high-quality products such as bags, boots, automobile upholstery, and tents use this bed to get beautiful stitches in carefully.

Maintenance

The key to consistent production output is maintenance; with regular maintenance of the machinery and the production process, you can find and solve problems beforehand so it won’t become an unforeseen situation later on. The same is right with sewing machines; regular maintenance keeps your machine running at its maximum capability without compromising on quality.

Oiling and lubrication are the bread and butter of maintenance, especially with industrial sewing machines; you have to oil them before every long heavy section. To save time on lubrication, most of the commercial-grade sewing machines come with an automatic central lubrication system that means you just have to refill or change the oil once every five years or so like a car, and it will do the rest.

Walking foot

Industrial sewing machines are made for one specialized purpose, so all of them will not have a walking foot as they are designed for multi-layer stitching like the Yamata FY8700. Check the specifications well before buying.

Warranty

Before buying, it is essential to look over the warranty period and which parts come under it and which are not. Because it’s better to know and plan for it now than finding it down the line as a surprise. These industrial sewing machines are made durable and made of high-grade material, so the warranty provided will reflect that.

Assembling an industrial sewing machine

These steps are to be followed along with the instruction manual of your model.

First building the table

Carefully unpack all the components that came in the package. Find the parts for the table(2 legs, crossbar, rear brace). Then with the help of bolts provided, attach the legs of the table and the crossbar. Place the table face down on a comfortable surface. Then arrange the legs according to the holes on the table and make sure you fix all the bolts tightly. After that, attach the rear brace to the back of the legs.

Attaching the Motor

Open the box, you will find a pulley cover, extra screws, and the mounting hardware, and then the Motor takes it out. Arrange the Motor on the upside-down table with legs pointing up. Speed control faces the front of the machine. Now with the help of the instruction manual mount the Motor and bolt it down, don’t forget to attach the rubber mounts as they reduce vibration. Make sure to align the center of the Motor’s pulley to the belt slot on the table. Don’t overdo it; tighten the bolts until the washers are flat and then some.

Connect the pedal to the Motor

Connect the pedal to the bottom brace of the table. Make sure that it is connected at the center of the bottom brace opposite to where the needle is going to be. Then connect the treadle rod from the pedal to the Motor. Attach the sidebars to put the pedal in a neutral position. Then connect the motor switches to the table, and don’t forget to manage the cable using the given braces.

Put the belt on the pulley and set the pulley guard.

Loosen the belt adjustment nuts on the Motor, which will give the motor freedom of movement to adjust the belt. Put the belt on the pulley and the rest through the slot on the table. Screw the pulley guard, make sure to match all the slots. (Might need a Phillips screwdriver)If the guard is brushing up against the belt, then loosen it and adjust.

Turn the entire table over into an upright position.

Now you have the legs, bottom brace, rear brace, Motor, belt, and pulley guard installed.

Open the box containing the sewing machine, put the mounts, oil, and other parts over to the side.

Attaching the sewing machine.

Attach the hinge pads on the cut-out of the table. You will have to nail it down, the nails are going to be in the packing. On the front side, there are rubber pads that are attached to the corners by nails. Once all of that is done, drop in the oil pan and secure it. Now take the head of the sewing machine and attach the given hinge pins at the back. Set the head down into the hole(oil pan), minding the hinge pads on the table that we attached earlier, and press the hinges into the hinge pads.

After that, install the hand pulley to the sewing machine.

Out of the two screws on the pulley that are tightened vertically. The first screw on the pulley should face the front. Don’t forget to leave a small gap between the machine and the pulley so that the pulley rotates smoothly. Tilt the head with the help of the hinges to attach the belt to the pulley.

Now attach the belt guard, bobbin winder, and the pulley guard.

Lineup the drive wheel on the bobbin with the belt; make sure it’s straight and screw it down. Install the pulley guard and the belt guard.

Install the thread guide

Then install the knee lift (if yours comes with one). Adjust the Motor and tighten the belt.

Oiling the machine

Tilt the head back and pour the oil in according to the manual.

Finally assemble the thread stand

Tips for using an industrial sewing machine

Don’t sew over pins: It might seem like a good idea, and it seems faster to just sew over it, but if the needle hits the pin, it will break your pin. And the pin actually slows you down and distorts the fabric. Instead of using the pin, just use your hands to match your corners before and after sewing.

Sew the seams end to end in one go: Hold down the fabric end to end and only stop sewing if you need to cross any other seam; otherwise, the stitching will be inconsistent.

Follow a routine when making your machine ready for the next section. It will speed up your preparation time, and eventually, the routine will become your second nature.

Cut the required fabric before starting: You should prepare all the pieces that you are going to sew beforehand instead of cutting up the pieces each time before stitching.

Use a dedicated pressing area for your seams: This will save you time, and those dangling fabrics won’t be a problem. You can use an iron table and plywood with muslin to press your seams.

FAQ

Q.How to maintain my sewing machine?

Regular proper maintenance is essential to keep your sewing machine in tip-top shape for years. Clean the bobbin area to avoid lint buildup and grime as the area can easily get dirty over long periods of time. Also, use the provided dust cover to protect your machine from dust when not in use. And oil your machine regularly to reduce wear and tear on the moving parts.

Q.How to change the needle in an industrial sewing machine?

First, check the type and model of the needles used in your machine. Once you found the appropriate needle and made sure that it has no defects. Lift the machine’s needle to its topmost position and loosen the needle clamping, then pull it out. Now you can place the new needle in and tighten the clamping. Now you are ready to go.

Q.Why does the bobbin or the thread break while sewing? 

The bobbin is not correctly wound, or the bobbin case was not correctly fitted. There is also the possibility that there are sharp edges on the bobbin case or spring or looper eyelet. You can solve this by simply polishing the rough edges, check whether the bobbin is of correct size or type, and adjust the bobbin winder alignment.

Q.How to thread a sewing machine?

Ans. It’s not a complicated process once you do it. First, wind the bobbin with thread and place it in the bobbin case. Then pull out 4″ or 5″ of thread and place it on the hook after which feeds that thread through the eyelet bar into the tread holes and the tension discs. Then finally, go through the thread guides and the needle bar thread guide, and you are done. Now you can start stitching.

Conclusion

All of the above-mentioned models have their own set of features that sets it apart from the rest. But no matter which of these models you choose, it will have the essential elements that you will need from an industrial sewing machine.

But the industrial sewing machine that ticks all the boxes with a perfect balance between speed, built quality, and noise is the JUKI DDL-8700.

And the fastest commercial sewing machine on this list is the Juki MO-6716, with 7000 SPM powered by a 3450 RPM clutch motor. And it comes with five threads, which makes it incredibly versatile for almost all use cases; it features a needle-thread take-up mechanism, looper thread take-up mechanism, and automatic lubrication, which makes it very convenient and low maintenance.

The best budget industrial serger pick is the Yamata FY747A; it’s affordable with a stitch speed of 6000 SPM and a 3000 RPM servo motor, which reduces the noise to a reasonable extent. This model also comes with a 1-year motor warranty and 6 months on the head.

The Juki TL-2010Q is suitable for beginners as it treads on the line between home sewing machines and industrial sewing machines. It’s more familiar and comes with a lot of useful features.