SwissWire EDM Emerges As An Industry Leader in Complex EDM Work
Nearly 26 years ago Malcolm Schneer started his career in the machining industry with just three machines under the Swiss Wire EDM banner. Today, the self-described “aging CEO” oversees 16 employees, 23 machines, and over 10,000 sq. ft. of shop space with the same enthusiasm he had on day one. Whether its sitting with Malcolm, or chatting with Operations Manager Daryl Lane, a common theme appears very quickly inside the Swiss Wire EDM building... they thrive on making the impossible job not only possible, but profitable.
 
“The things that are most fascinating to us are the jobs that just simply canʼt be done any other way. Sometimes we look at a model or print and ask, “is that even possible?”, and then we figure out a way.” stated Schneer. “We are always doing things that are either smaller than weʼve ever done before, or bigger than weʼve ever done before. We are always pushing the envelope, and thatʼs what excites us.”
 
Malcolm recently took on one of the most challenging projects in the companyʼs ground- braking history when he landed a contract that involved producing extremely precise LCD technology components with no virtually no room for error. “We just secured a large, long-term production project. The demand for the type of work that we are doing is virtually global, therefore our financial constraints are extremely tight. There was a necessity to run a machine 24/7 with only minor, minor stoppages. If we could not achieve that, we risked actually losing money on this project.” said Schneer.
 
When asked why he was so insistent on running this job on a brand new Mistsubishi EDM Machine, Malcolm had one very short and direct answer, “We had tried jobs on other machines in other areas and found that they were not reliable enough to handle the work. We simply could not afford to scrap a $20,000 part on this project, thatʼs not a gamble we were willing to take. Mitsubishi and Mike Zimmerman came along with a new wire machine, a lot of programming help, and we started running just two weeks ago without a hiccup”.
 
While front office guys like Malcolm are typically focused on the efficient running of the company, its really up to Production Managers like SwissWireʼs Chris XXX to be hands- on with the machine tools at his disposal. With SwissWire being known industry-wide for taking on the most complex jobs out there, it means that Chris needs to know his machines inside and out, even modify them if necessary, to complete many of the jobs that come across his desk. “Iʼd say at least 25% of the work we do here is what is termed “specialized work” which most other EDM shops either canʼt or just wonʼt do.”
 
“One of the most interesting jobs that weʼve been able to pull off is the cutting of a 52” thick piece of solid Tungston steel. That job, for example, we took on just to put the feather in our cap and say we could do it. There was no precedent for how long that job would take, so we were forced to quote it not knowing if we were going to be able to make any money. It took about 500 hours for one cut, and the Mitsubishi FX machine ran uninterrupted for the entire project. It was quite an accomplishment for both us and the equipment.”
 
Chris was quick to point out some of the challenges that SwissWire faces being located the middle of one of the most expensive manufacturing locales in the nation and how its forced them to create a business model which allows them to stay competitive in the industry. “Weʼre in Orange County, Ca which inherently means that we face more overhead costs than most other shops before our machine ever even touches a part. We stay competitive by knowing our machines inside and out which allows us to be faster, better, and cheaper than the next guy. Our business model is built around the idea of efficiency, and the quality of our machines are essential in achieving that.... Its everything.”
 
With experience working with many different machine brands and styles over his eight year tenure with SwissWire, Chris was quick to note the reliability that his Mitsubishi EDM has afforded him saying, “Iʼve never had to scrap a job because of a machine breakdown.”
 
“Mitsubishi has always been the standard in the EDM industry, its always been the work-horse. If you check the hour meters on every one of our machines at the end of the year, its always the “Mits” that will have carried the load. Thereʼs always been a Mitsubishi machine in our shop over the past 25 years, and I just donʼt see that ever changing. Initial cost, ease of operation, cost of ownership, cost of maintenance, availability of operators... Mitsubishi is really the only choice, and thatʼs it.
 
To find out more about SwissWire EDMʼs aerospace, medical, and commercial manufacturing capabilities visit their website at www.swedm.com or give them a call at 714.557.9336. They are the without a doubt the industry leader in complex prototype & large component machining.