Ricoma SWD-1201 (1200 x 500) Embroidery Machine

Every machine in our catalogue up to this point has been a home or boutique-scale single-needle machine. The Ricoma SWD-1201 is a different category entirely — this is commercial embroidery equipment, built for businesses doing embroidery as a service or as part of garment production, not for personal or hobby use.

The defining feature is right there in the name: 12 needles, one head. On every single-needle machine we sell — including our Brother F540E and NV880E — a design with multiple thread colours means stopping the machine and manually rethreading at every colour change. The SWD-1201 pre-threads up to 12 different colours before you start, and the machine automatically switches between needles as the design calls for each colour. For a business running multi-colour logos, monograms, or decorative designs all day, this alone is the difference between a hobby machine and a production machine.

The version we stock comes with the extra-large 1200 x 500mm embroidery table — considerably bigger than the standard 800 x 500mm table on the base SWD-1201. This larger frame is specifically useful for long or wide fabric pieces that don't fit conventional embroidery hoops well: sarees, kurtis, blouse pieces, dupattas, jacket backs, banners, and long yardage. If your business does saree or kurti embroidery work in particular, this table size is the reason to choose this configuration over the standard one.

On speed and reliability, the SWD-1201 stitches at up to 1200 stitches per minute (typical sustained production speeds run closer to 1000 spm), uses a genuine Japanese rotary hook — the industry-preferred hook type for smoother stitching and fewer thread breaks over long production runs — and has adjustable stitch length from 0.2mm to 8mm. An automatic thread trimmer and thread break detector cut down on manual intervention and downtime, both of which matter directly to your output per day.

The machine runs on a 150W servo motor, one of the more power-efficient options in its class, and a DC36V micro-step motor drives the X and Y axis movement for low noise and minimal vibration — worth knowing if the machine will be running for long stretches in a working shop environment. It's also built with a universal power supply (110V/60Hz and 220V/50Hz self-adaptable), so standard Indian power supply works without any special conversion.

Operation is through a touchscreen interface with onboard lettering, easy colour selection, preset hoop settings, and optimised needle path calculation to reduce unnecessary machine travel and speed up production. Physically, it's mounted on a heavy-duty steel stand with wheels, so while it's not a lightweight machine (net weight typically 185–230kg depending on table configuration), it can still be repositioned within your workspace when needed. The design also gives you wide overhead clearance, useful when you're working with bulky finished garments rather than flat fabric.

A few practical, honest notes for a purchase at this level: cap embroidery requires an optional cap frame/driver, which isn't included as standard — let us know if cap work is part of your plans and we'll quote it separately. The standard hoop/frame accessory set (round hoops, square hoops, sash frames) typically included can vary slightly by configuration, so we'll confirm exactly what comes with your unit before delivery. And because this is genuinely heavy commercial equipment, it needs a dedicated, level floor space with standard power access — not something you tuck into a corner of a home sewing room.

It carries a 1-year warranty and comes with free installation at Sri Dhanalakshmi Enterprises — our team sets the machine up on-site, runs a test design, and trains you or your operator on the touchscreen and colour-change workflow before we leave. We also provide ongoing showroom service support here in Hyderabad, which matters more for commercial equipment than almost anything else — downtime on a production machine costs you real money.