PECO builds on 20 years of Sodick performance with continued investment in EDM

As PECO celebrates its 80th anniversary, a new video explores how Sodick EDM technology and support from Sodi-Tech UK help its in-house toolroom deliver the precision behind its model railway products.

A model railway might be miniature, but the manufacturing challenge behind it is substantial. At PECO in East Devon, detailed track systems, buildings, wagons and accessories depend on accurately manufactured tooling and carefully controlled production processes.

In our latest customer video, PECO’s Steve Woods and Sodi-Tech UK Technical Sales Manager Conor Plaskitt explain how a relationship dating back to 2005 has developed through successive investments in Sodick technology.

Crucially, those investments have added capability and capacity. As Conor explains, PECO has continued adding machines rather than replacing its existing Sodick equipment.

Precision begins in the toolroom

PECO retains extensive manufacturing capability in-house, including the design and manufacture of mould tools, press tools, jigs, fixtures and special-purpose machinery.

Steve describes a tooling inventory of more than 300 mould tools and approximately 125 press tools. Some mould tools incorporate at least 100 shut-offs, making accuracy and surface finish essential to their performance.

Press tooling presents its own challenges. Working with thin nickel-silver strip requires closely controlled punch-to-die clearances, while minimising burrs is important for the components subsequently handled and assembled by operators.

These requirements make the toolroom central to the quality of PECO’s finished products.

From manual grinding to wire EDM

Before bringing wire EDM in-house, PECO relied on labour-intensive methods to manufacture many of its press-tool dies and punches.

Steve recalls spending weeks grinding components and producing their forms manually. The company also used subcontract wire EDM, but wanted greater control over the accuracy and surface finishes being achieved.

Investment in Sodick wire EDM gave the team a different approach. Components could be programmed and machined with less manual intervention, helping PECO produce accurate tooling more quickly and repeat work when required.

A hole drilling machine was purchased alongside the first wire EDM to produce start holes, strengthening the company’s in-house process.

An AQ35 still delivering after two decades

PECO’s first Sodick investment was an AQ35 die-sinker, purchased in 2005 to improve mould-tool surface finishes and provide dependable machining performance.

More than 20 years later, that machine remains part of the operation.

In the video, Conor describes its continued accuracy and ability to produce quality components, highlighting both the machine’s build quality and Sodick’s linear motor technology.

For PECO, the value of the original investment has extended well beyond installation. The machine continues to support production alongside newer additions to the toolroom.

Adding capacity with iGroove technology

PECO’s more recent investment in a Sodick ALC wire EDM responded to demand for additional machining capacity.

Our team worked with PECO through test cuts, time studies and application assessment to identify a machine that would complement its existing equipment.

The investment also introduced iGroove wire rotation technology. Steve explains how presenting a fresh wire surface to the workpiece helps support accuracy and reduce wire consumption.

Conor discusses the potential to achieve the required results with fewer cuts, shorter machining times and lower costs compared with the older process. For PECO, the new machine therefore represented an opportunity to improve efficiency while expanding capacity.

Support that continues throughout the machine’s working life

Steve is equally positive about the relationship behind the equipment.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the whole team,” he says, referring to Sodi-Tech’s sales, applications and service support.

He describes being able to telephone the team, work through an issue and identify the part required. In his experience, replacement parts have arrived the following day, helping the business return to production promptly.

At Sodi-Tech UK, we’re proud to support PECO’s continued investment and to see both its established and newer Sodick machines contributing to the business.

Watch the full video with Steve Woods and Conor Plaskitt to discover how Sodick EDM supports the tooling behind PECO’s model railway products. To discuss your own tooling or EDM requirements, contact Sodi-Tech UK.