Page 42 - Fall 2023 EDM Today

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the United States. Seibu is working to make the U.S. a top
KM: In general, our R&D is working in two areas. One, we
priority and investing in this market to ensure that
are working in the area of Ultra-Precision EDM. As end
this happens. In the long term, we think that some
users require ever better tolerances, we believe that the
manufacturing will shift from China to India and
market for Ultra-Precision EDM will increase signifi cantly.
Also, we are working to develop features that give our
Indonesia. However, we also believe that China will
controls the intelligence to function autonomously and
shift its manufacturing to more technologically sophis-
can be easily used by less experienced operators. We are
ticated areas, such as semiconductor and EV. This will
also working to close the gap between workability and
offset the manufacturing that is lost and create growth
Ultra-Precision.
and opportunity in the high-tech area.
EDT: One of the major impacts of COVID has been supply
EDT: In closing, for those of our readers who are
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considering purchasing a Seibu EDM, what would you
chain disruptions. We hear that lead-times are up on all
like them to know about Seibu equipment and the
types of equipment. Surely Seibu has been impacted as
well. When do you think we will see some easing of the
Seibu corporation?
supply chain impact that we still see affecting the world?
KM: I would like them to know that they would be
KM: I think we are already seeing some easing. In Japan,
purchasing an EDM machine that is made of the highest
quality components and will provide very reliable
we have much better availability of components that were
hit hard, particularly semiconductor. For Seibu, our lead-
operation. I would also like them to know that we consid-
time challenges are mainly due to new orders coming
in at a rate that is stretching our production capabilities.
or electrical failure. We consider reliability to include
We have, therefore, invested in the construction of a new
things such as reliability in automatic wire threading.
factory for Wire EDM production. We believe this new er reliability to be more than just a lack of mechanical
They will also see that they can achieve high levels of
plant will enter production sometime in the third quarter
accuracy with surprisingly few passes. If they are like
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most companies that buy Seibu equipment, once they
of 2024. This will give us a fi fty per cent increase in pro-
duction capability and will reduce lead times. We are also
buy one, they will stay with Seibu.
working to improve production effi ciencies and taking
EDM Today would like to thank Mr. Kazuhiro Matsushita for his
other steps to provide faster deliveries to our customers.
time and perspective. We also hope that our readers have found
this new feature to be interesting. We hope to bring you many
EDT: Without giving away any secrets, can you tell us
more interviews with other people who can speak
what Seibu is doing now in terms of R&D?
to developments impacting our industry.
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