EDM specialist visit Sodick-factory in Thailand

2008-10-10

From 10-14 September a group of 30 EDM is specialists from the Netherlands and Belgium paid a visit to Sodicks main production facility in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

This V.I.P. Trip took place for the second time as a combined initiative of Sodick Europe Ltd and De Ridder BV, representing Sodick in the Benelux-countries.

Framed in an extensive setting of culinary and cultural activities, the trip culminated in visiting the Sodick factory on Friday, witnessing the impressive production of 250 wire and sink erosion machines per month. Having sold 4000 EDM machines in the last fiscal year, Sodick was the world's largest manufacturer of erosion machines.

The participants were all EDM-users somehow facing the choice where to go with future investments and deliberating the role of Sodick in this respect.

Ron Maarschalkerweerd, “group travel leader” and responsible for Sodick Sales at De Ridder Netherlands “How is it possible that in a shrinking market Sodick manages to sell higher numbers and extend its market share over the past 5 years with an average of +43% per year? By visiting “the lions den” we want to show users of non-Sodick-machines the secret of this success.”

Core technologies

The success of Sodick is surely based on some core technologies that Sodick itself develops and produces. Major ones are production and use of linear motors and corresponding controls and electronics, the use of ceramic components and a NC-control based on Windows XP.

According to Jan van Egmond, president of Sodick Europe Ltd and therefore responsible for Sodick Sales throughout Europe, Sodick is the world’s only manufacturer who solely relies on linear motors. Sodick has proven to be right by giving a 10 year warranty since 1998 on the positioning accuracy of linear motors. Since then over 20,000 machines were delivered with linear motors.

While enjoying a guided tour through the factory, the philosophy of having maximum control when making everything yourself, was quite obvious. Nearly all components, including linear motors, all software and electronics are manufactured by Sodick in-house thus ensuring a very reliable and high precision concept.

Also the ceramics being used for vital parts in the machine, are being developed and produced by Sodick itself.

Ceramics

The use of ceramics does not only guarantee a high thermic stability.

“The column for instance is made of ceramics, so it is light and thus can move quicker as usual “ was Jan van Egmonds explanation.

Demo Centre at De Ridder’s

A trip is nice, but what afterwards?

Johan Tanghe, responsible for Sodick Sales in Belgium explains:
“During the visit we were able to make several appointments for doing a test cut in our showroom in Best. In that way a customer sees and experiences what our machine can do and especially how. We have our own application specialist, Hans Wisman, who shows the customer how his workpiece is machined so that the customer sees with his own eyes how his product is EDMed in optima forma and what the advantages of Sodick are. So we do a test erosion in-house.”