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

ONA EDM makes strides in decarbonisation

Participating in a project such as MTPRINT arises naturally within ONA’s strategy of commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability. That is why EDM machine builder ONA and other prominent national machine tool companies in Spain, including Zayer, Izadi, IMH and Ibarmia, initiated the project: to bolster their dedication to sustainability.

The primary objective of the project is to develop a special corporate carbon footprint calculation tool tailored explicitly for the machine tool industry, addressing sustainability comprehensively and in alignment with international standards.

At the core of MTPRINT lies the creation of an advanced tool designed to manage the corporate carbon footprint effectively. Exclusively crafted for the machine tool market, this tool will adopt an analytical approach that covers the entire lifecycle of products, from raw material extraction to recycling or final disposal. Its methodology includes in-depth analyses of greenhouse gas emissions at each stage, facilitating a practical and accurate evaluation of the environmental footprint. Notably, the tool distinguishes itself by providing product-specific emission details for each manufactured machine.

This meticulous and scientific approach is pivotal for pinpointing critical emission points and identifying improvement opportunities in manufacturing processes and supply chains. The tool will adhere to major international sustainability standards, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) and ISO 14064.

In collaboration with industry leaders, this project underscores a genuine dedication to environmental responsibility, emphasising that ONA, alongside its partners, is advancing towards decarbonisation.

For further information www.onaedm.com

Cut X wire EDM: One-size fits all

There are many wire EDM machines on the market. Some deliver faster processing speeds, while others are more accurate. Identifying the optimal wire EDM machine solution has, until now, been a trade-off because GF Machining Solutions says there has never really been a machine that does everything well.

According to GFMS, its CUT X series of machines bucks the trend. Developed and manufactured at the company’s Losone factory in Switzerland, these EDMs are available in two sizes: the CUT X 350 (with a maximum workpiece size of 800 x 550 x 250 mm) and the CUT X 500 (1050 x 700 x 250 mm). GFMS says the machines are extremely accurate because of a new thermal management system and optimised mechanics.

The machines maintain consistent thermal conditions via sealed cabinets and doors that ensure cold air containment within the workspace, as well as controlled air flow. By keeping heat sources away from the mechanics, CUT X models perform consistently without the ill effects of temperature fluctuation outside the machine.

Notably, the machine’s CNC collects data from an array of temperature and humidity sensors located inside and outside of the work area as a further contributor to ambient workspace conditions. The data drives an AI algorithm that predicts possible thermal deformations and compensates the positioning of the X, Y, U and V axes. This AI-driven compensation enables high-accuracy results, even with the environmental temperature fluctuations that are common during long cutting cycles.

New additively manufactured upper and lower heads increase the cutting speeds of CUT X machines. The heads reduce the distance between the guides and the part, creating improved accuracies during cut, while also increasing the amount of fluid that pushes through to optimise flushing and cutting speeds.

For further information www.gfms.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