From 50 to 100+ Generator Hours Per Week – How Automation Is Redefining EDM Production

For many EDM manufacturers, the challenge is no longer achieving precision. It's maximising machine utilisation, increasing throughput, and finding ways to do more with the skilled labour available.

One company demonstrating what's possible is EROWA, whose automation technology is helping manufacturers transform the way they approach EDM production.

In this latest video, Gautschi Beat from EROWA AG explains how a fully integrated automation cell featuring two Sodick wire EDM machines and an EROWA robot is delivering a dramatic increase in productivity. By connecting machine tools, automation, and workpiece handling into a single streamlined process, manufacturers can keep production running for extended periods with minimal operator intervention.

The benefits extend far beyond lights-out manufacturing. According to Beat, operators are increasingly moving away from repetitive machine tending tasks and instead managing the overall production system. Work can be prepared offline, jobs can be queued automatically, and machine downtime between operations is significantly reduced.

The impact on productivity is substantial.

Traditional EDM operations may achieve around 40 to 50 generator hours per machine each week. With a fully integrated automation solution, that figure can exceed 100 hours, effectively doubling machine utilisation and unlocking significantly greater production capacity without the need for additional equipment.

For manufacturers facing growing demand, labour shortages, or increasing pressure to improve efficiency, automation offers a clear path forward. By removing manual bottlenecks and creating a seamless flow between setup and machining, companies can achieve more predictable output, higher productivity, and better use of skilled personnel.

The collaboration between Sodick's industry-leading EDM technology and EROWA's automation expertise demonstrates how modern manufacturing cells are evolving. Rather than simply automating individual processes, these solutions create an interconnected production environment capable of delivering consistent performance around the clock.

As more manufacturers look to increase capacity without increasing headcount, automated EDM production is becoming less of a future aspiration and more of a present-day competitive advantage.

Watch the full video to hear Gautschi Beat explain how automation is helping manufacturers unlock the next level of EDM productivity.