Meet the APQS Craftsmen

Senior Engineer - Mike Moore

Longarm quilting changed forever in December of 1999 when APQS introduced the Millennium, with the first perfected automatic stitch regulator. It produced stitches of uniform length, regardless of changes in the speed or direction of the hand-controlled quilting head.

Developed by Mike Moore, an electrical engineer who specializes in robotics and process control, it is a testament to his passion for technological innovation.

The idea for a stitch regulated longarm came to Mike Moore one evening 12 years ago. "What if you incorporated electronics," he wondered, "to evenly control the distribution of stitches, regardless of quilting speed?" That question triggered mountains of research that eventually revolutionized how longarms operate, making them much more accepted and effective.

The APQS stitch regulator has no lag time when freehand quilting. Its sensors and encoders detect extremely minute changes along the 'Y' and 'X' axis. Digital signals are then transmitted to the circuit boards, which in turn are processed to adjust stitch speed instantly. The quilter gets far greater control and perfect stitches every time.

"It's an elegant solution," he notes, "combining the best of both the digital and analog worlds. And the electronics have far greater immunity from electrical surges and interference."

The stitch regulator technology is just one of the many breakthroughs to come out of Mike Moore's R & D lab at the APQS factory in Carroll, Iowa. Moore, a self-professed fanatic for technology and innovation, is so creative and so astonishingly prolific that it's hard to imagine what fun and exciting things he is cooking up for the future. Whatever it is, it is bound to have a major impact in the longarm industry over the decades to come.

Craftsman - Denny Paup

Denny Paup and his employees share a special bond. They've crafted APQS long-arm quilting machines - the world's finest - for the past 25 years. That takes a lasting commitment to the finest materials, attention to detail and the patience to finish every part without compromise. "Most other machines have their frames formed from castings," Denny explains. "We handcraft APQS frames from welded aircraft-grade aluminum." The APQS machine tips the scales at between 37 to 52 pounds.

That gives quilters greater hand control of the quilting head. It's much less tiring for those who spend many hours finishing quilts every week. Production technology is another big difference. APQS parts are CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machined. "Computers do the work, so we can reduce labor costs. That enables more to be spent on quality materials," Denny adds. CNC also makes parts with far greater precision, with tolerances of only one-ten thousandths of an inch. The finish on APQS machines is another plus. "We spend a lot of time preparing them for painting and we use acrylic enamel. You can see the difference." The craftsmen who work with Denny are handpicked. "They're the best of the best and we never have to advertise for employees," he explains. They take pride in working for the best.