1. Wire-Cut EDM (slow wire) – 3 800 machines, USD 1.4 billion
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| Brand (Group) | 2024 China units | Share (units) | Share (value) | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Electric | 1 030 | 28 % | 26 % | PA-M, MV series |
| Sodick | 880 | 24 % | 23 % | VL/UL series |
| GF Machining (AgieCharmilles) | 520 | 14 % | 18 % | CUT series |
| Makino | 410 | 11 % | 13 % | U series |
| Seibu | 260 | 7 % | 8 % | Ultra MMBS |
| CHMER (Taiwan) | 240 | 6 % | 4 % | RV series |
| Others (local + small JP) | 450 | 10 % | 8 % | Sanguang, Ande, etc. |
Take-away: The top-3 Japanese brands still own two-thirds of the floor space, but Taiwanese and mainland OEMs are edging past 10 % for the first time thanks to 0.5 µm scales and auto-threaders that finally work.
2. Sinker EDM – 2 200 machines, USD 0.6 billion
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| Brand | Units | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodick | 720 | 32 % | AG series dominates phone molds |
| Mitsubishi | 600 | 27 % | EA-V series, price competitive |
| GF Machining | 350 | 16 % | FORM P for micro-fluidic |
| Makino | 220 | 10 % | EDA deep-rib |
| FANUC Robo-EDM | 130 | 6 % | Robot cell for 24-h lights-out |
| Seibu / ONA / Local | 190 | 9 % | — |
Trend: Micro-fluidic and medical hot-runner cavities are pushing “zero-copper” power-supply adoption; GF and Makino gain share when surface finish <Ra 0.2 µm is written in the spec.
3. High-Speed CNC (5-axis & graphite) – 2 650 machines, USD 1.1 billion
(only mold-making grade, >30 000 rpm or 5-axis simultaneous)Table
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| Brand | Units | Share | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makino | 480 | 18 % | iQ graphite mill is default for phone electrode shops |
| Sodick | 420 | 16 % | HS / UH series, linear-motor drives |
| GF Mikron | 350 | 13 % | Mill S 400 U for hard-metal lens cavities |
| FANUC | 320 | 12 % | ROBODRILL α-DiB, 1.4 s chip-to-chip |
| Seibu | 90 | 3 % | Micro-hole graphite specialty |
| Others (local + EU) | 990 | 38 % | Beijing Jingdiao, Kede, Shenyang rising |
Observation: Local brands (Jingdiao, Kede) grabbed 38 % of unit sales by selling 5-axis <USD 180 k, but average selling price is still half of a Mikron or Makino—hence only 25 % of revenue.
4. Import vs. local assembly (2024 snapshot)
- Wire-cut: 72 % fully imported (Japan 78 %, Taiwan 14 %, Switzerland 8 %)
- Sinker: 65 % imported, 35 % built or kit-assembled in China
- High-speed mills: 60 % imported; Makino, GF and FANUC all running local plants in Kunshan, Ningbo and Shanghai to shorten lead-times
Result: delivery of a Japanese-branded machine drops from 5–6 months to 8–10 weeks if you pick “China-made”—and the price tag is 8-12 % lower.
5. Price tags (average 2024 ex-works, no tax)
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| Machine type | Price window (USD) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Wire-cut 400-600 mm | 180 – 300 k | Premium Japanese +25-30 % |
| Sinker 30-60 A | 65 – 130 k | Local assembly saves ~30 % |
| 5-axis high-speed 500 mm | 260 – 500 k | Graphite version +15 % |
6. What happens next? (2025-2027 radar)
- Servo twin-wire (Sodick, Mitsubishi) forecast to jump from 12 % → 35 % penetration, riding titanium phone-frame demand.
- Domestic share in wire-cut expected to double from 10 % → 20 % as CHMER and Sanguang close the 0.5 µm feedback loop.
- Green EDM: GF and Makino promote “zero-electrolysis” generators, cutting cobalt leach by 90 %—already a check-box for Apple suppliers.
- Capacity localisation: Makino Kunshan Phase II (2026) will add 600 units/year; GF Ningbo plant rolls out first machines Q4-2025, targeting 400 units/year.
Bottom line
- Wire-cut: Mitsubishi + Sodick still own half the unit count; GF + Makino take 30 % of the value.
- Sinker: Sodick stays king; GF gains on micro-fluidic/medical; local brands hang on to 35 % through price.
- High-speed/graphite: Makino’s graphite mill is the default, FANUC ROBODRILL rules 3C volume, while home-grown 5-axis brands move up from 38 % unit share to >45 % by 2027.
China’s mould shops no longer ask “Can we buy one?”—they ask “Which one pays itself off fastest?” The brand that can cut price without cutting specs will own the next USD 7 billion replacement market before 2030.
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