Excelling with Sodick 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 operates a comprehensive suite of wire and spark erosion equipment. Gary Taylor, Group Managing Director, explains the company's positioning: "We are one of the leading suppliers of subcontract wire and spark erosion across the UK and we have a division that sells EDM consumables. So that's everything from wire, filters and anything you need, from a consumable spare part point of view."

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 do work in Formula One and the medical sector as well, which is growing," Taylor notes. This diverse portfolio is underpinned by rigorous quality accreditations, with both the Gloucester 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, with the most recent arriving last autumn. The fleet also encompasses an ALC400G, an ALC600G, and an AL60G, creating a versatile production capability across the group's three sites.

Taylor emphasises the importance of this technological partnership: "We have a relationship with Sodick that's based on many years trusted partnership. We have a range of wire and sinking machines across both facilities. We work closely with Sodick to obviously meet our customers' demanding needs, and we're always looking to innovate and keep up with latest technology."

The investment strategy reflects Excel Precision's philosophy of continuous improvement. "We invest in the latest equipment that can offer that trusted, reliable, unmanned running within our facility that enables us to be confident that we can deliver the quality parts and capacity levels that customers are looking to achieve," Taylor explains.

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 5µm 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 superior 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 to 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. Taylor 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, but the demands are very much there, obviously with all the different conflicts across the globe."

The company's expertise extends beyond aerospace. Taylor notes: "We have all the accreditations from NADCAP to AS:9100 and we have the experience and equipment to deal with the demands and the requirements of these sectors, whether it's tolerances, part complexity or the exotic materials that these companies are looking for us to machine."

Operational Excellence and Customer Service
Excel Precision's investment in Sodick technology supports a broader commitment to excellence. Taylor emphasises the importance of responsiveness: "We have machinery on site, like the Sodick ALC600G, that 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," Taylor confirms.

Taylor remains optimistic about future prospects: "The future is very bright. We're in a very strong position and we're looking to grow. We want to grow with our customers, and we're looking to grow into potential new sectors as well."

The partnership between Excel Precision Group and Sodick exemplifies how strategic investment in advanced EDM technology can transform a 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.