The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) team prides itself on providing affordable access to technology not found in the region. Now, a huge addition in South Charleston promises to be a game-changer for manufacturers.
MAMC just installed a Mitsubishi MV4800-ST Wire EDM (electrical discharge machining) system in its Advanced Manufacturing Center located on the South Charleston campus of Marshall University. The 11-foot-tall, 14,800-lb. behemoth uses electrical impulses to cut and shape metal, and with a working envelope of 32 in. x 23.6 in. x 31.89 in., it’s one of the largest EDMs in the Eastern United States.
MAMC also operates a smaller Mitsubishi EDM at its Advanced Manufacturing Center in Huntington. While it’s one of the most heavily used pieces of technology there, that machine cannot handle larger jobs, which means some manufacturers that serve industries such as mining, defense, power generation and the like have had to ship larger parts out of state, generally to Wisconsin, to have the work performed. Shipping and production time can take weeks, which adds significantly to project costs. Money leaves the state.
The Mitsubishi MV4800-ST is changing all that. Mountain State manufacturers already are taking advantage of the new precision cutter, reaping time and cost savings.
“This is expensive technology that’s beyond the reach of most smaller manufacturers,” said Eddie Webb, MAMC Director of Manufacturing Services. “Now these West Virginia companies can lease time on our equipment at an affordable rate, cutting lead time from weeks to a day or two, and reaping big savings by eliminating the out-of-state middleman.”
In addition to its size, the MV4800-ST offers the advantage of intricate cuts with tight tolerances, and it’s faster than many traditional wire EDMs.
The addition of the larger Mitsubishi is an integral component of MAMC’s South Charleston expansion that includes more than 5,000 additional square feet of manufacturing space and several pieces of new equipment – equipment that state manufacturers have indicated they need to innovate, grow their businesses and boost profitability.
The expansion project is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to boost regional manufacturing as well as through funding from the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. MAMC staff members estimate the expansion will lead to the creation and retention of 110 jobs and leverage more than $31,400,000 in private investment.
To learn more about the Mitsubishi MV4800-ST Wire EDM or any of MAMC’s array of innovative manufacturing technologies and services, contact Webb at or 304-720-7738.
July 28, 2025
