Find, specify and purchase new equipment

MACH 2024 (NEC, Birmingham, 15-19 April) is where production engineers, decision makers and buyers go to find, specify and purchase new machine tools and other manufacturing technologies. This year, the show pledges to be the destination of choice for companies looking to adopt and invest in the digital revolution.

MACH showcases live, digital production systems under one roof, providing a venue where visitors and exhibitors can discuss and complete hundreds of millions of pounds worth of business. Attracting 26,000 visitors and over 600 exhibitors, please see MTI’s MACH exhibition preview further on in this issue. It outlines some of the key technologies to look out for at this year’s event. Further technologies will feature in MTI’s MACH show issue on 8 April.

For further information www.machexhibition.com

A&M EDM secures over £600,000 in grants

Between 2014 and 2022, Smethwick-based A&M EDM, a supplier of precision engineering services, has revealed that it received grants totalling £607,000 from a variety of providers. This funding helped support activities such as investment in machinery, innovation projects and digital marketing, as well as invaluable tailored support from the region’s accredited business advisers.

“My ambition from the outset was to become a sustainable subcontractor offering EDM manufacturing,” says founder Mark Wingfield. “The reduction of the Midlands toolmaking and automotive industries created opportunities to grow the business in other sectors such as aerospace. The advice I’d give to anyone starting today is to add value to every customer and continuously reinvest in equipment and employee training.”

From humble beginnings in 2002 with two employees and one machine, fast-forward to 2024 and A&M EDM has 84 employees, 80 machines and an annual turnover over £8m. The company is an award-winning business and the current Make UK Midlands and East region SME of the year.

By being open-minded to the support on offer from external organisations such as Business Growth West Midlands, Wingfield ensures the business accesses opportunities which serve the values of the company. Among those values is training the next generation of engineers. A&M EDM currently has five apprentices, and nine other employees who have advanced from apprentice level, including two section managers.


Working with Dudley College, the company has delivered an Advanced Engineering Apprenticeship since 2014, focusing on both the technical aspects of the job and soft skills. Apprentices continue to be an integral part of the team and future planning of the company, with a focus on retaining these skilled workers through their careers.

For further information www.amedm.co.uk

Two new apprentices at electrode specialist

Erodex Group, a UK expert in designing and manufacturing graphite electrodes, tooling and fixtures, has recently on-boarded two promising apprentices: Jack Needs and Kane Howl. These young talents joined the company’s cutting-edge graphite machining facility in Wednesbury, West Midlands. Needs is embarking on his apprenticeship journey as a CNC machinist, while Howl has joined the team as an apprentice grinder.

Erodex’s state-of-the-art machining facility boasts over 35 years of expertise, making it well-equipped to transform various graphite grades into intricate components serving a diverse range of industries. Both apprentices are committed to a comprehensive learning plan, combining on-the-job training at Erodex’s machining facility with structured off-site learning at Make UK Apprenticeships and Training in Aston, Birmingham.

Director James Kirk is proud that Erodex provides young, talented individuals with a launch pad for their engineering careers. He emphasises the importance of nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals, especially given the high precision and demanding nature of Erodex’s engineering work.

“As with most engineering firms across the country, we see a shortage of skilled, time-served individuals that fit our profile,” he says. “We therefore accept that it’s our responsibility to develop our own talent. We commit a significant amount of time to training our apprentices on the job and look forward to seeing them progress within the company.”

He add: “There’ll be opportunities for these individuals to grow within the business moving forward as we’ll help them to develop the required skills. Everybody at the Erodex Group wishes them the best moving forward.”

For further information www.erodex.com

ETG sparks interest with EDM workshop

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) recently hosted an EDM workshop for manufacturers with a keen interest in this innovative technology. ETG Ireland kicked off its ‘Decade of Innovation’ workshop series in January with an EDM Applications event hosted by Scott Elsmere, ETG’s product manager and expert on Mitsubishi EDM and OPS-Ingersoll machines.

ETG’s workshop was a huge success with a high turnout of customers from across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Elsmere covered a range of topics with support from live demonstrations on a Mitsubishi MV1200R EDM machine, followed by an interactive Q&A session. From understanding the EDM process and material types, improving part straightness, achieving better taper accuracy, modifications for coated wires, and key parameters in spark erosion – the event was informative and action-packed.

The EDM workshop provided an opportunity for toolmakers and manufacturers from across the country to network and share their knowledge, learn new tips and tricks, and gain a deeper understanding of ETG Ireland and the company’s wide and diverse support services. Many attendees said they would highly recommend the workshop to others. One attendee said: “I’ve been performing wire EDM for over 20 years, and I have learnt new things at the ETG event that I can take back to the workplace.”

ETG Ireland will continue with a Mastercam 2024 workshop scheduled soon. Anyone requiring more information on the upcoming schedule of events should contact ETG Ireland.

For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Sodick EDM replaces two machines at Cranden

A new Sodick ALC400G CNC wire eroder from Sodi-Tech EDM is performing the work of two previous machines at Cranden Diamond Products, a manufacturer of precision diamond and CBN grinding wheels. Cranden Diamond is also enjoying a significant boost in precision with its new Sodick machine, helping this dynamic international business to meet the growing demands of its customers.

Since the pandemic, increasing tensions in various global locations have led to an increase in defence industry work, for both aerospace and marine applications. Some of this work involves challenging composite materials.

“We’re seeing a growing number of military vehicle components made from Kevlar, for example.” reports Stuart Cleary, operations director at Cranden Diamond. “Kevlar is extremely difficult to process after moulding, so it requires grinding to final shape using either diamond or CBN wheels. To manufacture these tools, we electroplate crystal particles to very precise engineering profiles that we generate in the grinding wheel.”

Part of the manufacturing process requires the application of wire EDM. Seeking an increase in precision for this critical process, Cleary researched the market for a new machine to replace one of the company’s two ageing models.

“I shortlisted two potential machines, one of which was the Sodick ALC400G,” he says. “We ultimately opted for the Sodick because Sodi-Tech EDM has an in-house team of service engineers who know the machines back-to-front.”

Installed in July 2023, the original intention was to replace one existing EDM with the new Sodick ALC400G.

“Although we bought the machine to enhance precision, its productivity performance surprised us,” explains Cleary. “We soon found it doing the work of both our previous machines. We’re so impressed that we’re already in discussions about buying another wire EDM and we wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else than Sodi-Tech.”

For further information www.sodi-tech.co.uk