Excelling with Sodick EDM technology

Excel Precision Group has established itself as one of the UK’s leading specialists in EDM with a growing fleet of Sodick machines from Sodi-Tech Europe forming the cornerstone of its advanced manufacturing capabilities. The company’s relationship with Sodick has enabled it to meet the increasingly stringent demands of the aerospace, defence, and oil and gas sectors whilst achieving remarkable growth.

Operating from facilities in Gloucester and Birmingham, Excel Precision Group runs a comprehensive suite of wire and spark erosion equipment.

Gary Taylor, Group Managing Director, explains the company’s positioning: “We’re one of the leading suppliers of subcontract wire and spark erosion across the UK and have a division that sells EDM consumables.”

The company’s customer base spans some of the most demanding industrial sectors.

“We predominantly work in aerospace, defence and oil and gas. However, we also serve Formula 1 and medical customers,” he says. “This diverse portfolio is underpinned by rigorous quality accreditations, with both ourGloucester and Birmingham facilities holding Nadcap AC7116/3 Rev B and AS:9100 Rev D certifications.”

Excel Precision’s relationship with Sodick represents a long-standing commitment to cutting-edge EDM technology. The company has invested heavily in Sodick equipment, with the latest additions including three AG60L die-sink EDM machines. The fleet also encompasses an ALC400G, an ALC600G and an AL60G, creating a versatile production capability across the group’s three sites.

“Our relationship with Sodick is based on many years trusted partnership,” says Gary. “We work closely with Sodick to meet our customers’ demands and we’re always looking to innovate and keep up with latest technology. Our equipment must offer trusted, reliable, unmanned running within our facility. It must instil confidence that we can deliver the quality and capacity levels that customers are looking to achieve.”

Technical advantages driving performance

The technical capabilities of Sodick’s machines have delivered tangible benefits across Excel Precision’s operations. The ALC600G wire EDM, in particular, has transformed the company’s production of complex titanium defence components. Where previous equipment achieved a 90% pass rate on angled faces with 5 µm tolerances, the Sodick machine delivers 100% conformance, a critical improvement for high-value aerospace applications.

Cycle time reductions have been equally impressive. Complex titanium defence parts that previously required 65 minutes can now be completed in just 35 minutes on the ALC600G – a 46% improvement in productivity. Furthermore, parts that previously required processing on two separate machines can now be completed in their entirety on a single Sodick unit, streamlining workflow and reducing handling.

The Sodick AG60L die-sink EDM has proven particularly effective for producing stainless steel actuator components and other aerospace parts. Its surface finish capability addresses a common challenge in spark erosion: maintaining consistent surface quality on bottom faces where debris accumulation can be problematic. The AG60L’s advanced flushing systems and precision control overcome this issue, delivering uniform surface finishes across all part faces.

Beyond individual part performance, the Sodick machines offer significant operational advantages that include a compact footprint, energy efficiency improvements of more than 50% compared with legacy equipment and enhanced reliability.

Supporting critical sectors

The enhanced capabilities provided by Sodick technology have been essential in supporting Excel Precision’s key markets.

Gary highlights the aerospace sector’s particular requirements: “If we look at the landscape, there are many different things going on in aerospace and indeed defence, where requirements are becoming a lot more stringent. However, the demand isvery much there, due to different conflicts across the globe.”

Operational excellence and customer service

Excel Precision’s investment in Sodick technology supports a broader commitment to excellence.

Gary emphasises the importance of responsiveness: “We have machinery on site, like the Sodick ALC600G, which can obviously offer tight tolerances, repeatability and a quick turnaround on parts. Our facilities are available outside of normal hours, which enables us to turn parts around very quickly. More recently, we’re expanding into other areas across the country and indeed Europe, where companies are looking for this quick turnaround service on typically complex, difficult parts.”

He concludes: “The future is very bright. We’re in a very strong position and we’re looking to grow with our customers. We also want to expand into potential new sectors.”

The partnership between Excel Precision Group and Sodick exemplifies how strategic investment in advanced EDM technology can transform business fortunes. By combining cutting-edge EDM equipment with rigorous quality systems and operational excellence, Excel Precision has positioned itself to meet the evolving demands of the UK’s most critical industrial sectors—whilst delivering the reliability, precision and rapid turnaround that modern aerospace and defence applications demand.