Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: Agie Charmilles | Subject: Progress' wire EDM machines
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 November 2007
Flood damaged wire EDMs replaced quickly
Areas of the UK suffered severe flooding in 2007 and a badly-hit EDM subcontractor had to replace its machines very quickly, aided by the UK subsidiary of a Swiss wire EDM machine builder.
Though hit hard by the 2007 summer floods, precision engineering subcontractor Pro-Spark was able to get back into business quickly through the purchase of two new GF AgieCharmilles' Progress' wire EDM machines Established in 2000 Pro-Spark is a high-precision complex part/component manufacturer with a reputation built on quality, speed and responsiveness and cost competitiveness
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Managing director at Pro-Spark, Paul Turner, recalled: "Within a couple of hours we were submerged under 5 foot (1.5m) of water - it was scary stuff".
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For many companies such a set-back would have meant closure - but for Pro-Spark it was a challenge.
Meetings were held with loss adjusters and building companies while customers were informed.
Turner said: "We spent a lot of time sorting out work-in-progress with our customers to make sure that their business wasn't affected by what had happened to us.
Fortunately we have developed good relationships with many of our customers and they were extremely sympathetic and understanding - but we also worked all hours to ensure that their business was not disrupted".
He continued: "In addition to dealing with existing customers we also spent considerable resources and energies looking to the future and in particular to replacing our machines and equipment that had been rendered useless by the floods".
About replacing the machines Turner said: "We went to all the main players but were particularly pleased with the approach taken by Agie Charmilles.
Although we were not a machine tool customer of Agie Charmilles at that time - we appreciated the calm, non-pressurised and pragmatic way they assessed our needs and requirements, and the way they bent over backwards to help us through a difficult time." It included providing applications and technical support, undertaking test cuts, and so on.
* EDM machine selection - Pro-Spark invested in two high-performance Progress V3 wire EDM machines.
These machines, equipped with new IPG - V generators and AGIEVISION 5 control systems are fast, flexible and powerful.
The machines have a cutting speed of 500mm2/min and can achieve surface finishes of 0.2 micron Ra (> 0.1 micron when the Super Fine Finishing module is used).
Turner continued: "We have 2 new Progress machines - and they are doing the work of the four wire EDM machines we had before the flood.
The Progress machines are really versatile; they have high capacity on the Z-axis (426mm) to accommodate the machining of taller workpieces and their simple wire change and wire threading capability means that we can ensure high productivity".
Other Progress V3 performance benefits welcomed by Pro-Spark include the following.
* eCut technology efficiency - reduces consumable consumption (filters, resins, wire, etc).
* Teccut - selects the best cutting technology according to workpiece characteristics (height, form, material, accuracy and finish required, etc), and then optimises all machining operations (full cuts/trim cuts, etc).
* Agievision 5 control - ensures greater manufacturing flexibility and higher productivity.
Concluded Turner: "Every cloud has a silver lining.
We had a difficult time earlier this year - but not only are we over it - we've come out of the other side stronger than what we were before.
The investment we have made in the two Progress wire EDM machines is really paying off.
We are faster, more flexible and more competitive as a result.".
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