Page 62 - EDM Today Winter 2025

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EDM PIONEER

Dave Thomas

A Career in Leadership and
Brand Innovation

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Few in our industry can match Dave Thomas’s remark-
able success. As of December 31, 2024, Dave has
retired as Executive Vice President at Sodick, capping a
career in EDM that spans more than 40 years. Retiring
at the pinnacle of his profession, Dave leaves behind
a legacy of leadership and innovation. His career path
is extraordinary, and EDM Today is proud to share his
inspiring story.

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Dave Thomas was born in England in a small community
During the time that Dave ran the Precision Products
outside of London. His father worked as a welder, and
Division, his efforts resulted in FANUC achieving a lead-
ing market share. With confi dence in his abilities and a
his mother stayed at home, raising Dave and his three
siblings. As Dave entered his middle teen years, he had
bit of an entrepreneurial spirit, Dave left the 600 Group
no idea of a career path. At 15 years old, he began as an
and became a partner in a U.K. based EDM job shop.
apprentice toolmaker at his godfather’s mold-making
With his market building success with FANUC, Dave
company. While working as an apprentice, Dave attended became a dealer for Charmilles and Mikron.
Windsor College as time permitted, attending both night
During the early 1990s, the U.K. experienced a challeng-
and day classes.
successful with Charmilles. So much so that in 1992
Dave completed his apprenticeship when he was 22
years old. The company had purchased an EDM, and ing economy. Yet, despite the challenges, Dave was
Charmilles approached Dave to become the Managing
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Dave liked the technology. With his apprenticeship
Director of Charmilles U.K. It was an opportunity that he
behind him, he accepted a position at Agemaspark,
could not pass up.
which at the time was an importer of Wire EDM. Dave
Under Dave’s guidance, between 1992 and 1998, Char-
volunteered to become an Application Engineer. In short
milles went from a small market share to a leading
order, he was Agemaspark’s fi rst Application Engineer to
market share. Perhaps more importantly, they did not
support both Sinker and Wire EDM applications.
get there by slashing prices. They experienced a 350%
Agemaspark received support from the U.K. government
revenue increase.
to develop and produce a domestic Wire EDM machine.
The fi rst Agemaspark machine was produced in 1982.
was highly sought by some of the largest machine tool
Shortly after that, Hurco acquired Agemaspark. At the With his reputation building as a turnaround expert, Dave
companies. In 1998, DMG persuaded Dave to join DMG
same time, another U.K. company, the 600 Group, began as Managing Director of DMG U.K. DMG struggled in the
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importing the FANUC Wire EDM and Elox Sinker lines.
U.K. and had not been operating profi tably. Within two
Although new to EDM at that time, the 600 Group was
years, Dave increased sales and brought the company
a leading machine tool company in the U.K. Dave saw
to profi tability. With his success in such a short time, the
an opportunity to help EDM technology proliferate in the
Chairman of DMG asked Dave to come to the USA and
U.K. and accepted a position at the 600 Group as an
study their business strategies. Dave went to the USA
Application Engineer. At this time, Dave’s skills in
in late 1999 and analyzed their business operations. He
management and marketing were recognized by the
suggested implementing a strategy that would revamp
600 Group. In short order, he was promoted to Division
both marketing and support. In early 2000, Dave relocat-
Manager of Precision Products, responsible for both
ed to the USA and became CEO of DMG America. Within
the FANUC Wire EDMs and the Elox Sinkers.
only nine months, Dave’s strategies were proven correct,
with both market share and profi tability improving.
Dave ran the 600 Group division until 1990. When he
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started in 1982, FANUC had a small market share.
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