Software helps ES to respond to customer demands

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 22, 2005

In 2001 ES purchased an Agie Challenge Wire EDM machine, and decided on PEPS SolidCut Wire EDM from local reseller Produsoft.

ES Tooling, based in Beringen, Belgium is a small precision manufacturing company with large goals.

Founded by a husband and wife team in 1996, ES Tooling has a policy of investing, not only in terms of new equipment purchases, but also in training its staff.

It works with a highly skilled work force that uses machinery that is never more than 5 years old.

This desire for precision and performance won the company the coveted Hermes award for SME Managers in 2004.

In 2001 ES purchased an Agie Challenge Wire EDM machine, and decided on PEPS SolidCut Wire EDM from local reseller Produsoft.

Said Erik Schildermans, Director: "We needed a system that would allow us to respond to customer demands on extremely high precision parts".

"In comparison to two other systems I had the experience that PEPS was the best in its class".

"There was less keying of data as the mouse did all of the work".

Despite the programmer having limited CAM experience, only two days training was required for him to be able to program the machine effectively.

The ongoing support was also minimal.

Commented Schildermans: "There have been relatively few questions about PEPS since it was installed and those we do ask are generally answered immediately".

Continuing the philosophy of expansion and investment, an additional Agie Challenge was purchased in 2001, followed by the Agie Vertex twin wire machine in 2004.

This was the first twin wire machine to be delivered to the Benelux region.

Additional postprocessors were purchased for PEPS, immediately allowing the programmer to drive all three machines through a single, common interface, but without compromising on functionality.

"This machine was a major investment for us as it allowed us to work within very small tolerances".

"We can, for example make a groove of 0.05mm".

Although a machine's capabilities remain unchanged after purchase, software continues to develop, and ES Tooling took full advantage of a maintenance contract.

This allowed it to receive several new releases, each of which provided new functionality and better ease of use.

Features such as the creation and selection of quality targets, clearance and corner and variocut settings dialogues in PEPS deliver ease of use and "familiar feel" as they mirror the information shown on the machine tool controls.

ES Tooling has set itself high targets for the future, with a five-year plan to double turnover by 2008 but without increasing staff.

Automation is therefore paramount, with machines already running 24/7.

The original Agie Challenge was replaced with an Agie Progress in Q1 2005.

Schildermans concludes: "Since 2003 the turnover is already up 22%, and we plan to expand PEPS with the advanced gear module in the future to widen our capabilities".

"Since installation we have never had a problem of not being able to produce a part because of software limitations".

"Precision is our target for everything, and this is the reason that we use PEPS".