Making the most of medically sound investments

Oracle Precision, a precision engineering subcontractor and part of Kaleidex Group, has recently invested in three new DN Solutions’ simultaneous 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 (AWCs), were ordered earlier in the year, with order confirmation occurring on Mills’ 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 being slated for installation later in the year, in September and December respectively.

The investment in three new state-of-the-art multi-axis machines tools with integrated automation is sizeable and significant. This investment follows Oracle Precision being acquired, in April 2025, by 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, Kaleidex’s primary business focus 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 in focus
Oracle Precision, established in 2011, manufactures and supplies high-quality CNC machined components to a growing number of customers across a range of highly-regulated industries and market sectors such as aerospace, defence, space, marine, rail, oil and gas, and renewables.

The company’s extensive knowledge of the medical sector and its medical component manufacturing expertise, combined with Oracle Precision’s established medical customer base and value-driven business approach put the company 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, it regularly invests in its people, plant and equipment and systems and processes.

Oracle Precision follows strict manufacturing protocols and holds a number of internationally-recognised industry accreditations that include ISO 13485 (Medical Devices), AS9100 (Aerospace), and ISO 9001 (Quality Management).

These accreditations verify that the company has the systems, processes and technologies in place to produce high-performance and safety-critical components.

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

A significant number of these machines have been acquired from Mills CNC and, since 2014, when Oracle Precision’s relationship with Mills CNC first 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 says: “The Doosan machine tools we have acquired from Mills CNC in the past have performed well and can be relied upon to deliver the fast processing speeds and high accuracies and repeatability’s we require to machine high-quality, safety-critical components.

“In addition to the machines’ performance, we have also been impressed with Mills’ proactive and professional pre- and after-sales services and support which, when we have had cause to use them, have helped maintain machine uptime and limit disruptions to our production schedules.”

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

This planned revamp, focused on its milling operations in the first instance, involved replacing of a number of older, long-serving machining centres with three new five-axis machines with integrated automation ring-fenced for medical device manufacture – specifically surgical instrumentation (i.e. introducers, impactors, retractors etc.), and the individual components that go into them.

Made from stainless steels, steels, polymers, and exotic alloys, these 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.

Mr Palmer continued: “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, whilst 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 including machining complex precision parts in one set up and reducing part cycle times.

To optimise its future 5-axis machine tool investment further, ensuring that the three machines would be able to work around the clock, Oracle Precision also made the decision to specify its five-axis machines with in-built automation.

“Achieving 24/7 lights-out unattended operations was, and is, the goal,” says Mr Palmer.

Opting for Mills CNC
Having previously invested in a number of Doosan machines from Mills CNC it was no surprise that Oracle Precision approached the company again with its new machine tool investment plans and requirements.

Mr Palmer said: “Mills’ response was positive and proactive. The DN Solutions’ DVF 5000Mk II machines they presented to us have a good reputation in the market for their high-precision cutting capabilities, machining flexibility and reliability.

“Furthermore, the footprint of the machines and 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, Oracle placed the order for the three machines with Mills CNC and planned a phased delivery and installation schedule.

The DVF 5000Mk II in action
Since being installed and following operator and programmer training undertaken by Mills CNC service engineers, the first DVF 5000Mk II machine is being put through its paces machining a range of customised fixtures and work holding devices such as multi-sided clamping blocks, Sputnik blocks, and tombstones 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,” said Mr Palmer. “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.”

The three DVF 5000Mk II machines being supplied to Oracle have almost identical technical specifications.

All machines are equipped with the latest Fanuc 31iB5 control with the new CUFOS front-end interface. They also feature 120-tool magazine Automatic Tool Changers (ATCs), linear scales (X- and Y-axis), laser tool and radio-frequency workpiece probing systems, mist extraction units and 70bar ‘switchable’ coolant systems.

The first DVF 5000Mk II machine installed in May features a 15,000rev/min direct drive spindle, whereas the machines being installed later in the year both have 20,000rev/min built-in spindles.
The first machine has also been supplied with a 28-pallet, multi-level AWC, whereas the other two machines are equipped with 8-pallet AWCs.

A step up
Oracle Precision’s investment in three new DVF 5000Mk II simultaneous 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 contract manufacturing service focused on machining and supplying high-quality right-first-time surgical instrumentation to customers.

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