Earlier this month (Sept 10th), Melco introduced the new Summit embroidery machine to a bit of fanfare at Printing United Expo in Las Vegas (https://info.melco.com/SUMMIT). This is an interesting release, but not unexpected if you followed Bernina's release of the E16 Pro back in late 2023. Why is this special and why bring up Bernina when I'm trying to talk about Melco? Well, Melco makes the one multi-needle embroidery machine in Bernina's lineup. In fact, that is how I discovered Melco as a brand. So, why are the E16 Pro and the Summit special? They now come with their own computerized touch panel controller that incorporates a few of their features. But, almost all commercial embroidery machines have a touchscreen and integrated computer, right? Well, yes, but until recently, Melco did not. They opted for a more software-defined approach with having their controller software installed on a Windows PC and networked via wired Ethernet networking to the machine(s). This was introduced with their first Amaya 16-needle machine back in 2002. This setup and control method has a distinct advantage - it allows you to connect and control multiple machines as one big multi-head machine. In fact, the original AMAYA name stands for As Many As You Need (editorial note: I'm not sure if that was the original acronym or if it was a backronym, developed later).
This approach has a pretty big benefit for shops - you don't need to find a big contiguous space for a big multi-head machine. Almost all other commercial embroidery machine manufacturers make these big machines where all the heads are on the same cabinet. Great for those that have big workshops with plenty of contiguous floor space. Not so great for those adding embroidery to their existing businesses and shop spaces. Melco's multi-head approach also means that you have the flexibility to break up that multi-head machine into separate machines for different jobs as the apparel customization industry is increasingly moving to on-demand custom one-offs over big stock runs. This also means that smaller business can gradually and incrementally grow without a big upfront investment.
Now, there are a few significant downsides to this approach. These machines turn into a giant brick if you lose the computer that controls them or the license key. There are no functions that the machine will perform without being connected to its controller software (AMAYA OS, or currently Melco OS). This makes selling these units more difficult on the used market because it takes someone who knows what they're getting into and what to look for to buy them. This also makes for more complicated setups for semi-pro, home, and technically unsavvy people. The biggest complaint in the Bernina and Melco Facebook groups comes from people that have no background in computer networking having difficulty in getting the Melco OS to connect to the machine. These machines also make you dependent on a computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system. This isn't inherently bad, but it adds risk to your network if you're not on top of patching and security updates. This also makes buying older Melco machines harder because unless you buy the latest Melco OS, you may end up stuck with an out-of-date Windows installation that you can no longer get security updates for. That's not to say that a Tajima or Barudan controller wouldn't pose a security risk to your network if left unpatched; however, those machines don't necessarily need to be connected to the network to function nor do they need Internet access like a Windows-based PC does with modern software licensing. This is sometimes the curse of having an Information Technology background - I can't ignore unpatched software/OSs as I've experienced, first-hand, how devastating exploited vulnerabilities can be.
That brings me back to the Melco Summit and Bernina E16 Pro. For small shops and home installations, these are a simple, self-contained setup that you can quickly unpack and start working. If you never need a multi-head setup, these models are a great option. They will also help the secondary market, making these easier to sell when it's time to upgrade or change directions. The Bernina E16 Pro is based off the Melco BRAVO machine and is limited to only being self-contained. It also has a slightly different thread trimming system and a slower stitch speed (1000 Stitches per minute, SPM). This, and the Melco Bravo, is clearly aimed more for the prosumer and enthusiast/hobbyist market. This can be the first machine a lot of hobby businesses start with. The Melco Summit is based off their EMT-16X model and, outside of the touchscreen, has all the same mechanical features - an upgraded trimming system, a maximum speed of 1500 SPM (limited to 1000 SPM for caps), etc. The Summit does have a software limitation of only being a single-head machine. At this time, there is no capability for one to cluster multiple Summits together or add a Summit to an existing EMT-16X cluster. Not the end of the world with the direction the industry is going, but it's important to know that detail when planning your shop floor. Melco stops just short of saying that the Summit will never have that capability like they do with the BRAVO line. So, who knows what the future holds for this new model.