About
APQS designs and builds longarm quilting machines at its factory in Carroll, Iowa. Originally named American Professional Quilting Systems, the company was founded in 1982 and has produced longarm machines in Iowa for more than 40 years. Its current lineup includes the Millie, Millie30, Freddie, Lucey, Lenni, Ellie and Tilly longarm models, along with Quilt Path, a computerized system for automated pattern stitching.
APQS machines serve both home quilters and people who run quilting businesses, and the company publishes resources for buyers who plan to quilt for paying customers. The machines combine aircraft-grade aluminum construction with electronic controls, and the company labels them as handmade in the USA, although with some imported components. Certified technicians, technical support staff, and educators work at the Carroll factory. The machines are sold through a network of independent retailers. In January 2023, LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm, made an investment in APQS.
