Adept advances precision toolmaking with Makino U3i wire EDM

Adept’s toolroom turns customer designs into precision tooling for injection-moulded products, much of it supporting medical manufacturing for international markets. Meeting these customers’ demanding quality requirements calls for accurate machining, consistent results and equipment the team can rely on throughout each mould build.

Adept has invested in Makino technology for more than two decades. Its investment in a Makino U3i wire electrical discharge machining (wire EDM) machine, supplied through Headland Technology, replaced a 20-year-old machine in January 2026. Jason Yalden, Adept’s Toolroom Manager, reports substantially shorter cutting times, improved surface finish and a smooth transition for operators.

About Adept

Industry: Product development, precision toolmaking and plastic injection moulding
People: Approximately 130, including a 12-person toolroom team
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Website: https://www.adept.co.nz/

Based in central Auckland, Adept specialises in product development, precision toolmaking and plastic injection moulding. With integrated in-house design, tooling and manufacturing capabilities, it works with some of New Zealand’s major brands, research institutions, SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs to bring products from concept through to production

Medical manufacturing accounts for most of Adept’s work, including products for its subsidiary, Adept Medical Ltd, and other local and overseas customers. According to Jason, around 95% of Adept’s work ultimately serves international markets, either directly or through its customers. Its design-for-manufacture expertise helps customers develop products that meet demanding international quality and regulatory requirements.

The challenge

Replacing ageing wire EDM equipment meant preserving the accuracy and quality required for injection-mould tooling. Approximately 70% of Adept’s toolroom work is for external customers, alongside internal requirements. For its medical manufacturing customers, meeting demanding quality expectations is fundamental.

Wire EDM is an intermittent part of this workload. The machine can be busy for several weeks and then see little use the following month. Adept needed dependable performance when required, greater machining efficiency and a programming and control environment its operators could learn quickly.

The solution

Adept selected the Makino U3i through Headland Technology, building on a relationship with Makino dating back to its first machine purchase in 1999. Its experience with Makino five-axis CNC machining had reinforced Jason’s confidence in the brand’s quality and long-term reliability.

“The machines do what they say they’re going to do, and they continue to do that for years and years without drama.” Jason Yalden, Toolroom Manager, Adept

Visits to Makino factories in Japan also shaped that confidence. Seeing the care taken in machine construction, including the hand scraping of bedways, reinforced Jason’s view that engineering discipline and craftsmanship underpin dependable performance.

Adept purchased the U3i and its programming software together. This avoided the need to adapt a separate programming system and helped keep implementation straightforward.

The implementation

Adept created a dedicated temperature-controlled room and moved its wire EDM capability out of the main workshop. Its usual approach to introducing new machinery is to select a team member to champion the technology.

Access to Makino expertise was important. Adept specifically requested Makino specialists from Japan for the installation, with Headland facilitating access to that global expertise.

Demonstrations and a visit to another customer helped the team assess the interface before installation. Jason describes the controls as user-friendly and the learning curve as quick. The expectation that an operator could begin machining within a day matched Adept’s experience.

Benefits and impact

“I think the cut time is easily halved with this new machine.” Jason Yalden, Toolroom Manager, Adept

Jason also reports a better surface finish on like-for-like work and improved protection against rust on workpieces. Together, these gains strengthen the wire EDM stage of Adept’s mould-making process through shorter cutting times and better surface quality.

The investment also helps Adept demonstrate its capability to medical manufacturers. For Jason, high-quality machining equipment is part of showing local and overseas customers that the toolroom can meet their demanding standards.

Quality partnership

For Jason, support is an important part of a machinery investment, particularly in New Zealand. Headland’s relationship with Makino gives Adept access to specialist expertise beyond the local market, including the installation support it requested from Japan.

That access complements Adept’s preference for established technology and dependable long-term support. Jason describes the alignment between Adept and Makino through a shared approach to quality:

“Take the time, do it right, do it properly, and everyone wins.” Jason Yalden, Toolroom Manager, Adept

Future outlook

Jason’s advice to other manufacturers is to invest in quality equipment rather than take shortcuts. The Makino U3i upgrade reflects that approach: choose technology that meets the manufacturing requirement, make implementation straightforward and secure the expertise needed to support it.

“Find the money, spend the money on the good quality gear and push forward.” Jason Yalden, Toolroom Manager, Adept

For Adept, that philosophy reflects how the business has approached manufacturing for more than 50 years. With the Makino U3i now part of its toolroom, Adept combines proven expertise with advanced machining capability to continue delivering high-quality precision tooling for medical manufacturing customers in New Zealand and overseas.

Manufacturing for the medical industry

Speak with Headland about Makino wire EDM and CNC machining technology for precision toolmaking and medical manufacturing applications across Australia and New Zealand.