A Cut Above: EDMAR brings Waterjet Cutting in-house with WARDJET A-1212
Outsourcing processes can be counterproductive, especially when components arrive late or are poor quality. Birmingham-based Edmar Engineering Company Ltd has taken control of its cutting capabilities, splashing out on a A-1212 waterjet from WARDJET – and the business benefits have proved manifold.
Fourth generation family-run business Edmar Engineering celebrates its 80th birthday next year, but its service provision is cutting-edge as ever, thanks to its latest acquisition – a WARDJET A-1212 waterjet machine.
Edmar was founded in 1945 by former Dunlop foreman, Bill Marklew, and partner Mr Edwards. Having been commandeered by the MoD to enlist skilled, local engineers and toolmakers in the war effort, Bill decided to retain his new-found colleagues after the war and set up his own specialised precision engineering company.
Here and now!
Nearly eight decades on and with Bill’s great granddaughters, Anna Hayton and Jayne Sheppard, at the helm alongside Technical Director, Richard Dale, Edmar is still true to its roots.
The company specialises in small quantity machining, prototypes, one-offs, jigs, fixtures, and special purpose machines. From its original manufacturing base in Birmingham, Edmar offers expert support to all sectors including automotive, aerospace, utilities, food, and pharmaceuticals, working closely with R&D departments on time-sensitive projects that require tight turnarounds.
“It’s a very user-friendly operating system – easy to operate and programme. The dropdown menu of pre-programmed parts is one of the most useful features. If I want a rectangular part, I select ‘rectangle’ from the inventory and the size I want, and the
– Simon Danks – Production Manager, Edmar
software draws it up for me. It couldn’t be simpler.”
“Our engineers love a challenge and creating things for our clients!” enthuses Co-Director Anna Hayton. “To meet their demands and those of the cutting-edge R&D sector, you have to be reactive,” she asserts. “We don’t have a massive order book going forward, because all the work we do is reactive – everybody needs it now!”
“All the training on the new machine was comprehensive and carried out on site. And when we needed extra help with maintenance, WARDJET engineers came out to us to talk us through it. They have a good team of people there. I’m more than happy with the products they’ve supplied and the support we’ve received – I’d recommend WARDJET to anyone.”
– Richard Dale – Technical Director, Edmar
Prior to purchasing the A-1212, Edmar outsourced their waterjet cutting requirements, but this solution was becoming increasingly problematic for the company, as Technical Director Richard Dale explains: “When you subcontract, you can lose control over quality and lead times,” he says. “If you’re relying on parts coming in that have been produced elsewhere, they can arrive late and with a poorer finish than you wanted. Those parts then need reworking, which affects everything from timescale to overall quality. By bringing the waterjet in house, our reactivity to clients is now immediate. If someone wants something quick, we do it quick, and to our high standards. Being able to do that has won us new business.”
The waterjet has also helped speed up Edmar’s milling processes by producing near-net profiles prior to milling.
Time-efficient, cost- effective
The WARDJET A-1212 has not only improved Edmar’s efficiency over the last 12 months; it’s also made the company’s use of materials more cost effective, as Simon’s observed: “We mainly use the waterjet to cut aluminium, and some plastics, which it can do very fast. Previously, we were buying material supplies to cut small pieces out; now we can buy a sheet and cut the pieces ourselves.” “We don’t have to wait for materials to arrive on site any more or wait for them to be cut to size, which has really sped up our processes,” Richard adds. “It also gives us valuable off-cuts, which we’re able to repurpose for other jobs, producing less waste and bringing in more revenue.”
The right machine
WARDJET’s A-series waterjet is available in two sizes: the A-0612 and A-1212. “We opted for the A-1212 for its generous 1200 x 1200 operating window,” explains Richard. “It has industrial capabilities with a compact footprint and is ample for the work we do moving forward.” Edmar’s Production Manager and machine operator, Simon Danks, also had a hand in choosing the new machine, which features drag-and-drop loading and part queuing technology: “It’s a very user-friendly operating system – easy to operate and programme,” he says. “The dropdown menu of pre-programmed parts is one of the most useful features. If I want a rectangular part, I select ‘rectangle’ from the inventory and the size I want, and the
software draws it up for me. It couldn’t be simpler.”
The right partners
After researching the waterjet market, Richard chose Telford-based WARDJET Waterjets from AAG Tailored Cutting Solutions following an impressive hands-on demo experience, where he was able to bring his own CAD files to the WARDJET Demo Room and see the A-1212 go to work on his designs. “We had a good look at the operating system and were able to programme and operate the demo machine ourselves,” he recalls.
Positive endorsements from fellow industry professionals, and WARDJET’s proximity to Edmar’s headquarters, sealed the deal. “Although WARDJET machines are manufactured in the US, the UK Telford based head office is local to us, which means the support and infrastructure is local too.” Richard points out. “All the training on the new machine was comprehensive and carried out on site. And when we needed extra help with maintenance, WARDJET engineers came out to us to talk us through it. They have a good team of people there. I’m more than happy with the products they’ve supplied and the support we’ve received – I’d recommend WARDJET to anyone.”
Anna adds: “As a small company, the waterjet was a big capital investment for us. Birmingham City Council funded part of the purchase through a grant, and because of that, delivery of the machine had to be by a certain date and all the invoicing had to be done in a certain way. WARDJET were really helpful with the business administrative side of the purchase and went out of their way to ensure everything was done within our timescale.”
About WARDJET
WARDJET is a leading manufacturer of waterjet cutting systems. Known in the waterjet industry for quality products and outstanding service/support, WARDJET thrives on designing and building custom waterjets integrated into complex processes. With a vast network of technical support teams around the world, see wardjet.com to learn more about WARDJET’s range of powerful cutting equipment:
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