Healthy investment strategy in place at Oracle Precision

Oracle Precision, a precision engineering subcontractor and part of the Kaleidex Group, has invested in three new DN Solutions five-axis machining centres with integrated workpiece pallet-change systems from Mills CNC. Oracle specialises in the manufacture and supply of high-accuracy, performance-critical machined components to a number of highly regulated manufacturing sectors.

The machines, all FANUC-controlled DVF 5000Mk II models with either eight or 28 workpiece pallet changers, were ordered earlier in the year, with order confirmation occurring on Mills CNC’s stand at the MACH 2026 show in April.

A phased delivery schedule agreed between Oracle Precision and Mills CNC saw the first machine installed at the company’s manufacturing facility in Rotherham in May 2026, with the two other machines slated for installation in September and December respectively.

The investment in three new multi-axis machines tools with integrated automation is significant. It follows the acquisition of Oracle Precision, in April 2025, by the Kaleidex Group, a fast-growing contract manufacturing organisation specialising in the design, development, production and supply of high-precision medical devices.

Backed by Ansor LLP, an entrepreneurial private equity firm, the primary business focus of Kaleidex is on acquiring and developing market-leading and complementary medical manufacturing SMEs and integrating them to create a unique, world-class contract manufacturing network of specialist companies committed to collaboration, innovation and thought leadership.

In addition to Oracle Precision, the group has also recently acquired Kirkstall Precision (Leeds) in July 2024, OxDevice (Oxfordshire) in June 2025 and Serrations (Chesterfield) in December 2025.

Oracle Precision background

Oracle Precision, established in 2011, manufactures and supplies high-quality CNC machined components to a growing number of customers across sectors that include aerospace, defence, space, marine, rail, oil and gas, renewables and more. The company’s extensive experience in the medical sector, combined with its established medical customer base and value-driven business approach put it on Kaleidex’s radar as an appealing proposition.

Oracle Precision is committed to continuous improvement and, to maintain and strengthen its supply chain position with customers, the company regularly invests in people, plant and equipment. It holds a number of internationally recognised industry accreditations that include ISO 13485 (medical devices), AS9100 (aerospace) and ISO 9001 (quality management). These certifications verify that the company has the systems, processes and technologies in place to produce ‘right first time’ high-performance and safety-critical components.

Oracle Precision – machining legacy

To ensure consistently high part accuracies and process efficiencies, Oracle Precision has a history of investing in advanced multi-axis and multi-tasking machine tools, as well as automation systems.

A significant number of these machines have been acquired from Mills CNC. Since 2014, when Oracle Precision’s relationship with Mills CNC began, the company has invested in: a large-capacity, heavy-duty Mynx 5400/50 vertical machining centre; two compact Lynx 220 lathes with driven tooling; a Puma 2600SY (sub-spindle, Y-axis) lathe; and a TT2100SYYB twin-turret/twin-spindle turning centre with dual Y-axis capabilities.

Shaun Palmer, Oracle Precision’s director and co-founder states: “The Doosan machine tools we’ve acquired from Mills CNC have performed well and can be relied upon to deliver the fast processing speeds and high accuracies we require. In addition to the machines’ performance, we’ve also been impressed with Mills’ proactive and professional pre- and after-sales support which, when we’ve had cause to use them, have helped maintain machine uptime and limit disruptions to our production schedules.”

New machine tool investment rationale

With demand for its high-precision medical devices growing, and to meet customers’ often stringent delivery deadlines, Oracle Precision and Kaleidex made the decision to increase the production capacity and capabilities of its machine shop.

This planned revamp, focused on milling operations in the first instance, involved replacing of a number of older, long-serving machining centres with three new five-axis machines featuring integrated automation ‘ring-fenced’ for medical device manufacture – specifically surgical instrumentation – such as introducers, impactors and retractors – and their individual components.

Made from stainless steel, steel, polymers, exotic alloys and other materials, the parts are machined to tight geometrical tolerances (down to a couple of microns on selected features) and exacting surface finishes, and will be typically processed in low- to medium-sized batches. Cycle times vary, depending on the individual part, but can involve up to 20+ hours machining to achieve the intricate features accuracy and finish required.

Shaun continues: “Our ambition to build a world-class medical manufacturing operation can only be achieved by having access to advanced multi-axis machine tools. Our older machines, while still performing satisfactorily, could not be relied upon to meet the new objectives.”

Having previously invested in five-axis machine tool technology, the company was already well aware of the significant productivity and process efficiency advantages the technology can deliver, namely: machining complex precision parts with intricate features, tight tolerances and stringent surface finishes in one set up; and reducing part cycle times, increasing throughput and output, and achieving faster turnaround times.

To optimise its future five-axis machine tool investment further, Oracle Precision made the decision to specify its five-axis machines with in-built automation.

“Achieving 24/7 lights-out unattended operations is the goal,” comments Shaun.

Placing the business with Mills CNC

Having previously invested in a number of (Doosan) machines from Mills CNC, it was no surprise that Oracle Precision approached Mills, as well as a number of other machine tool suppliers, with its new machine tool investment plans and requirements.

Remarks Shaun: “Mills’ response was positive and proactive, and it was clear they wanted the business. The DN Solutions DVF 5000Mk II machines have a good reputation for their high-precision cutting capabilities, machining flexibility and reliability. Furthermore, the footprint of the machines, their working envelopes, powerful spindle technology, generous-sized tool changers, impressive rapid rates and integrated workpiece pallet change options, made them the ideal choice.”

Having agreed the technical specifications of the machines and integrated automation systems, their cost and their availability, Oracle Precision placed the order for the three machines with Mills CNC and planned a phased delivery schedule.

DVF 5000Mk II machines in action

Since installation – and following operator and programmer training undertaken by Mills CNC – the first DVF 5000Mk II machine is being put through its paces machining a range of customised fixtures and work holding devices to enable the precise machining of multiple parts in a single set up.

Time has also been spent on ensuring that the company’s operators and programmers both know and understand the DVF 5000Mk II machine and AWC system inside-out prior to giving the ‘green light’ to machine prototypes, pre-production parts and batch series.

“We’re ensuring that nothing gets left to chance,” declares Shaun . “Taking the time at the start to develop robust and secure machining, inspection and verification processes – and for machine operators to become totally familiar with the new machine and the automation system – will stand us in good stead.”

DVF 5000Mk II machines – a closer look

The three DVF 5000Mk II machines being supplied to Oracle Precision have almost identical technical specifications. All are equipped with the latest FANUC 31iB5 control with the new CUFOS front-end interface. They also feature 120-tool magazine automatic tool changers, linear scales (X and Y axes), laser tool and radio-frequency workpiece probing systems, mist extraction units, and 70 bar ‘switchable’ coolant systems.

The first DVF 5000Mk II machine installed in May features a 15,000 rpm direct-drive spindle, whereas the machines awaiting installation both have 20,000 rpm built-in spindles.

What’s more, the first machine has been supplied with a 28-pallet, multi-level automatic workpiece pallet changer, while the other two are equipped with eight-pallet systems.

Summary

Oracle Precision’s investment in three new DVF 5000Mk II five-axis machines with integrated automation from Mills CNC is a critical step in helping the company create a world-class medical device ‘Factory of the Future’. This contract manufacturing service focuses on machining and supplying high-quality ‘right first time, every time’ surgical instrumentation to customers.

With the continued financial and commercial backing of the Kaleidex Group – combined with Oracle Precision’s strong leadership, skilled workforce and well-resourced manufacturing facility – the future of company and the group is bright.