Barudan Pro3 vs. Tajima TMEZ-SC

Feature	Barudan Pro3	Tajima TMEZ-SC
Machine type	Single-head, bridge-style commercial embroidery machine	Single-head cylinder-type commercial embroidery machine
Needles	15	9, 12, or 15
Maximum speed	1,300 spm on flats; 1,000 spm on caps	1,200 rpm maximum; up to 1,000 rpm on caps
Large embroidery field	360 × 500 mm in Barudan's Pro3 brochure*	360 × 500 mm with border frame
Thread management	Adjustable tensioner system	i-TM automatic upper-thread management
Material handling technology	Positive needle drive	i-TM and DCP
Control panel	8.4-inch LCD touchscreen	12.1-inch touchscreen
Machine weight	96 kg / 211 lb	95 kg / about 209 lb
Notable workflow features	MK8 trimmer, USB/LAN, Barudan networking support	Picker-free trimming, design-position correction, connected workflow options

Barudan's brochure lists 15 needles, a 360 × 500 mm maximum sewing field, speeds of 1,300 spm on flats and 1,000 spm on caps, and a machine weight of 96 kg.

Tajima offers the TMEZ-SC in 9-, 12-, and 15-needle configurations. Its published specifications include a 360 × 500 mm border-frame field, a maximum speed of 1,200 rpm, and a machine weight of 95 kg.

*Barudan's current Pro3 webpage gives two different figures for the maximum sewing field. The product description says 360 × 500 mm, while the specifications section says 380 × 500 mm. The official Pro3 brochure used for this comparison lists 360 × 500 mm. Confirm the current specification with your dealer before ordering.

1. Embroidery area and access to finished goods

The two machines offer nearly identical large-format capacity on paper. Barudan's Pro3 brochure lists a maximum sewing field of 360 × 500 mm, and Tajima lists a 360 × 500 mm border-frame field for the TMEZ-SC.

The bigger practical difference is how each machine gives the operator access to awkward embroidery locations.

Barudan's Pro3 has an open bridge-style chassis and a small-diameter cylinder arm. Barudan promotes this setup for larger finished items such as duffel bags, tote bags, and jacket backs, along with confined areas such as pockets, socks, and sleeves.

The TMEZ-SC also has a slim cylinder bed for tubular products. It works with border, tubular, cap, pocket, sock, and clamp frames. Tajima markets the machine for uniforms, hats, socks, bags, and in-store personalization.

If your shop handles a wide range of finished products, look beyond the maximum field size. The available frames and the machine's ability to reach the actual placement area may have a greater effect on daily production.

2. Speed and production style

The Pro3 has the higher published maximum speed for flat embroidery: 1,300 stitches per minute, compared with the TMEZ-SC's maximum of 1,200 rpm. Both manufacturers list cap speeds of up to 1,000.

Maximum sewing speed is only part of the throughput calculation, though. Setup, trims, color changes, thread breaks, and operator adjustments all add time to a job.

Tajima says the TMEZ-SC can maintain its maximum RPM on stitches up to 4 mm and avoid excessive slowing across the 3–7 mm range. The company also emphasizes shorter setup times and less trial sewing.

In simple terms, the Pro3 has the higher published speed for flat goods. The TMEZ-SC is built to save time elsewhere by reducing setup and adjustment work.

Actual production time will still vary with the design, stitch length, material, thread, number of trims, color changes, and operator workflow.

3. Thread and material control

Thread and material handling are where the machines differ most.

The Pro3 uses Barudan's updated tensioner system and positive needle drive. According to Barudan, the tensioner improves thread control and thread-break detection. The positive needle drive is intended to maintain stitch quality on demanding jobs, including thick karate belts and 3D foam embroidery on caps.

The TMEZ-SC combines i-TM with DCP. DCP measures fabric thickness as the machine sews, while i-TM adjusts the amount of upper thread supplied according to the material and stitch type. Tajima says this reduces the need for the upper-thread tension adjustments normally made by experienced operators.

The two systems are not direct equivalents. Barudan gives the operator a conventional tensioning system paired with controlled needle penetration. Tajima automates more of the thread supply and presser-foot response.

That distinction matters most in shops that move frequently between polos, caps, hoodies, bags, leather, foam, and other materials. A business running long batches of similar products may value the difference less than one handling short, varied orders throughout the day.

4. Cap embroidery and specialty work

Both machines are built for commercial cap embroidery.

The Pro3 runs at up to 1,000 spm on caps. Barudan lists a maximum cap area of approximately 3 × 14 inches, depending on the cap, and its Advantage EX cap system allows tool-free switching between caps and flat goods.

Tajima lists a 75 × 360 mm (2.9 × 14.1 in.) wide cap frame and speeds of up to 1,000 rpm. Its cap system locks the drive ring and cap frame at three points. Tajima says this improves stability while helping to reduce needle breaks and design misalignment.

The published cap specifications are close, so a sample run will tell you more than the numbers. Test the machines with the structured caps, side placements, 3D puff designs, and hooping methods your shop uses. Pay attention to both stitch quality and changeover time.

5. Operator experience and workflow

The Pro3 has an 8.4-inch LCD touchscreen and can store up to 70 million stitches across 100 designs. Barudan's literature also lists USB ports, LAN connectivity, the MK8 trimmer, and support for the company's machine-networking system.

The TMEZ-SC has a larger 12.1-inch touchscreen. A design-position adjustment function lets operators correct some framing misalignment from the control panel. The machine also uses a picker-free thread-trimming system, which is intended to simplify bobbin replacement and improve trimming consistency.

Its main operator-focused advantage is still the combination of i-TM and DCP. By reducing manual upper-thread adjustments, the TMEZ-SC may be easier to manage in shops that change products often or have several operators with different experience levels.

Tajima also offers connected tools for design management, personalization, and production monitoring. The TMEZ-SC brochure identifies PulselQ as an optional cloud-based service for centralized design management, progress tracking, and machine-status monitoring.

6. Choosing the right machine for your shop

Consider the Barudan Pro3 if…	Consider the Tajima TMEZ-SC if…
High maximum speed on flat goods is a priority	You want to reduce manual thread adjustments
You produce caps, jackets, bags, uniforms, and specialty items	You change products and materials frequently
Your operators prefer direct control over thread setup	Several operators, including less-experienced staff, use the machine
You regularly embroider thick materials or use 3D foam	Automated thread and material adjustment would help your workflow
Barudan's cap system, service network, or other equipment suits your operation	Tajima's personalization and connected-production tools suit your operation

Treat these as starting points, not fixed rules. An experienced operator may prefer the TMEZ-SC, while a first-time embroidery business may be more comfortable with the Pro3.

Dealer support can also outweigh a single specification. Training, accessories, software, local parts availability, and familiarity with an existing machine fleet all affect the long-term value of the purchase.

About Tajima TMEZ-SC

The Tajima TMEZ-SC is a single-head, cylinder-type commercial embroidery machine designed to automate adjustments that often depend on operator experience. It is available with 9, 12 or 15 needles and has a listed maximum speed of 1,200 rpm.

Its i-TM system controls upper-thread delivery, while the Digitally Controlled Presser Foot adjusts to changes in fabric thickness and stitch conditions. The machine can embroider uniforms, caps, socks, bags and other finished products, and its narrow cylinder bed provides access to sleeves, pockets and other tubular or hard-to-reach areas.

Key Features of the Tajima TMEZ-SC

• Available with 9, 12 or 15 needles
• Listed maximum speed of 1,200 rpm
• 360 × 500 mm, or 14.1 × 19.6-inch, border-frame embroidery field
• i-TM automatic upper-thread delivery control
• Digitally Controlled Presser Foot that measures fabric thickness at every stitch
• 12.1-inch touchscreen operation panel
• On-screen design-position adjustment
• Compatible frames and attachments for caps, pockets, socks and tubular products

About Barudan Pro3

About the Barudan Pro3

The Barudan Pro3 (BEKT-S1501CBIII) is a 15-needle, single-head commercial embroidery machine designed to handle a wide range of finished products and larger items. Its open bridge-style chassis and 360 × 500 mm embroidery area provide room for products such as bags and jacket backs, while the smaller-diameter cylinder arm makes it possible to reach narrower areas such as pockets and slippers.

The Pro3 combines a listed maximum speed of 1,300 rpm for flat and finished-product embroidery with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, laser positioning and frame-management functions. It also supports cap embroidery at speeds of up to 1,000 rpm and can be used with dedicated frames for caps, pockets, socks and other finished products.

Key Features of the Barudan Pro3

• 15-needle single-head configuration
• 360 × 500 mm embroidery area
• Listed maximum speed of up to 1,300 rpm with flat and finished-product frames and up to 1,000 rpm with cap frames
• Open bridge-style chassis for working with larger items such as bags and jackets
• Smaller-diameter cylinder arm and redesigned trimmer for embroidery in narrow areas such as pockets
• 8.4-inch touchscreen LCD with memory for up to 100 designs
• Standard laser pointer plus frame-centering and frame-limit functions for design placement
• USB and LAN connectivity, with networking and additional design-transfer options available

The bottom line

Choose the Barudan Pro3 if you place more value on its higher published flat-goods speed, open bridge-style design, slim cylinder arm, positive needle drive, and established cap-production system.

Choose the Tajima TMEZ-SC if you want i-TM and DCP automation, a larger touchscreen, more operator assistance, and fewer manual adjustments when materials or operators change.

Neither machine is the best choice for every shop. The better machine is the one that can run your typical jobs consistently without unnecessary setup, intervention, or downtime.

Before buying, ask both dealers to run your production files on the materials you use. Compare:

• Stitch quality on your usual garments and caps
• Setup and changeover time
• Thread breaks and trimming results
• Performance on 3D foam and difficult materials
• Frame, accessory, software, and subscription costs
• Training, warranty coverage, parts availability, and local service response

A live test with your own designs will give you a much clearer answer than the maximum-speed figure on a specification sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Barudan Pro3 faster than the Tajima TMEZ-SC?

The Pro3 has the higher published maximum speed for flat embroidery at 1,300 spm. The TMEZ-SC has a published maximum of 1,200 rpm. Both are rated for cap embroidery at up to 1,000.

Those figures do not guarantee faster job completion. Production speed also depends on the design, material, stitch length, trims, color changes, machine settings, and operator workflow.

Which machine requires fewer manual thread-tension adjustments?

The TMEZ-SC is specifically designed to reduce manual upper-thread adjustments. Its i-TM system controls upper-thread supply using information from DCP about the material thickness and stitch conditions.

The Pro3 uses Barudan's adjustable tensioner system instead, giving the operator more direct control over thread setup.

What should a business compare besides the purchase price?

Look at the complete operating cost. This includes frames and cap systems, software or cloud-service fees, installation, training, warranty terms, replacement parts, local technical support, and the operator time needed for setup and troubleshooting.

A machine with a lower purchase price may cost more to operate if it requires additional accessories, frequent adjustments, or longer production stops.