Cowie Engineering invests in new wire EDM from Sodi-Tech

The move has seen the replacement of an existing Sodick machine that had reached the end of its useful working life. Since installation, Cowie Engineering says that the VL600Q has not only simplified programming and set-up, but boosted cutting speed by approximately 20%.

Cowie Engineering was established in 1999 by Rodger Cowie with little more than a manual milling machine and lathe. Since then business has positively thrived – the company doubled the size of its factory in 2006, and again in 2011.

Cowie Engineering, which is ISO9001 accredited, credits much of this success to its longstanding ethos of being a quality engineering company that delivers first-class precision manufacturing services.

In support of this statement, the company invests heavily in the latest CNC manufacturing technologies. In the past year alone Cowie Engineering has installed new turning, milling and CMM technology, a trend that was recently extended to the company’s EDM section.

“Although our previous Sodick EDM had given excellent service, we knew the time had come to seek a replacement,” explains company director Ross Cowie. “However, due to the reliable nature of the machine and our familiarity with the technology, we opted to look no further than Sodick for the new investment.”

After discussions with Sodi-Tech EDM, the Sodick VL600Q was recommended, based largely on its size capacity and price point.

“We wanted to effectively double the size capacity of our previous EDM, so the VL600Q made perfect sense with its axis travels of 600 x 400 x 270 mm,” Mr Cowie says.

The VL600Q wire EDM features Sodick’s Linear Motor Technology. As an advanced line of performance wire EDMs, the VL series builds on the technologies of the SL series. The large VL600Q is well suited to a wide range of machining applications, making it ideal for a subcontract specialist such as Cowie Engineering which can never be certain what will come through the door tomorrow.

Currently, work at Cowie is focused on a number of key sectors. For instance, the company reports that the oil and gas sector has shown particular signs of strength. Here, Cowie makes parts for wireline pressure control equipment, deployment systems, downhole tools and exploration well testing gauges, often from materials such as Inconel, CA104 aluminium bronze, and 4140 and 4145 alloy steel.

The bottling industry is another key segment for Cowie Engineering, which for many years has supplied components for container handling equipment, largely from materials like stainless steel, aluminium and engineering plastics/composites.

Further industries served by the company include robotics, defence and electrical. In addition, Cowie Engineering reports that it has just secured a contract for a new sector, motorsport, and parts required for this customer are among those currently being produced by the new Sodick VL600Q.

“The machine is kept busy producing a number of different components and features,” explains Mr Cowie. “Typical operations include the creation of keyways, squares and splines for customers in the bottling, motorsport and oil and gas sectors.

“As well as providing around 20% faster cutting speed, we’ve found that the Sodick VL600Q offers far easier programming and set-up than our previous machine. The on-board Heart NC software is really effective, which is probably why we only needed two days of training at Sodi-Tech EDM to pick things up.”

As a result of the increased cutting speed and ease of programming, the company has comfortably consumed its existing wire EDM requirements and currently has capacity to fill on the new VL600Q. However, Mr Cowie expects this situation to change shortly as relatively few subcontract precision engineering firms in Scotland offer wire EDM.

“Along with our overall package and responsiveness, machines such as the VL600Q definitely differentiate our business from others,” he states. “In fact, we have already undertaken subcontract wire EDM work for a few competitor companies. Machines like this support our ethos of supplying quality components.”

Cowie Engineering, which currently has 25 employees and growing, specialises in manufacturing critical precision components to exacting quality standards. Quality is considered at all times throughout the manufacturing process, from enquiry right through to delivery.

“Investing in the latest CNC machine tools underpins our quality commitment to customers,” concludes Mr Cowie. “The Sodick machine has not missed a beat since it was installed, while the support from Sodi-Tech EDM has been equally good.”

Sodi-Tech EDM www.sodi-techedm.co.uk