Whitehouse Machine Tools has been appointed exclusive UK and Ireland sales and service agent for Mitsubishi Electric’s wire-cut and die-sink electrical discharge machining equipment.
The agreement expands Whitehouse’s machine tool portfolio beyond its existing Brother, Spinner, and Biglia machining centres and CNC lathes, adding a specialist non-conventional machining technology used across aerospace, automotive, medical device manufacturing, toolmaking, and precision subcontract production.
Scott Elsmere and Dean Barnes have joined Whitehouse as part of the move, bringing long-standing Mitsubishi Electric EDM technical sales and applications experience. The first demonstration machine, an MV2400S wire-cut model capable of machining components weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, is due to arrive at Whitehouse’s Kenilworth showroom and technical centre.
Mitsubishi Electric has supplied EDM machines globally for more than half a century, with its wire-cut and die-sink systems used where material hardness, part geometry, tolerance requirements, or surface finish demands limit conventional machining. Modern EDM systems also carry energy saving features, automation options, and process control functions aimed at improving productivity and reducing operating cost.
The appointment gives Whitehouse a stronger position across precision engineering processes. Its existing machine tool portfolio already supports milling, turning, and multitasking applications, while EDM adds capability for difficult forms, hard materials, fine features, and toolmaking work. The combination allows the company to support a broader range of production requirements from a single UK base.
EDM continues to hold an important place in advanced manufacturing because many high value parts cannot be cut efficiently using conventional methods alone. Aerospace brackets, mould tools, turbine-related components, medical device features, and precision dies often include internal profiles, sharp corners, deep cavities, small slots, or hardened materials that require erosion processes. Wire EDM and die-sink EDM give manufacturers access to those geometries while maintaining accuracy and repeatability.
The process also carries operational complexity. Performance depends on programming, wire choice, dielectric condition, flushing, fixturing, electrode design, spark control, operator skill, maintenance, and process development. A machine tool agency therefore depends heavily on applications knowledge and service support, especially for manufacturers using EDM on components where scrap costs are high.
Whitehouse said it has invested in a dedicated, manufacturer trained service division covering its machine tool brands across the UK and Ireland. The company is emphasising rapid response, local spare parts availability, and applications support, all of which will be central to converting the Mitsubishi Electric portfolio into production value.
The wider engineering context is moving in the same direction. At Advanced Engineering 2026, a new manufacturing and defence pavilion will bring together companies working across machining, materials, automation, inspection, and high value supply chains. EDM sits naturally within that mix, particularly where aerospace, defence, medical, and automotive customers require precision processes backed by qualified support.
For subcontract manufacturers, EDM can also broaden the range of customer work available. A business with strong milling and turning capacity may already serve general engineering markets, but EDM can open routes into tooling, mouldmaking, difficult materials, small features, and high precision components. The ability to trial work on a demonstration machine in Kenilworth should help companies assess that opportunity before committing to equipment investment.
The agency gives Mitsubishi Electric a dedicated UK and Ireland route to market for EDM and gives Whitehouse a deeper technical offer across precision production. As manufacturers review process flexibility, energy use, labour availability, and high value machining capacity, supported EDM capability is likely to remain an important part of the engineering equipment mix.
