Sixth Dugard Install Supports Growth

Nestled in the South Downs of East Sussex, Dicker Precision Components Ltd has been quietly building a reputation for excellence in precision machining since its founding in 1973. What began as a small CNC workshop in Hailsham has evolved into a thriving machine shop with the support of machine tools from Dugard.

The company's location near Eastbourne proves advantageous for its core market focus. As Director Mark Love explains: "90% of our business is related to the pump industry and 90% of this involves machining stainless steel. The Eastbourne area is renowned for pump manufacture in the UK." This geographical advantage has helped Dicker Precision carve out a specialised niche serving everything from the aerospace and automotive sectors to the defence, medical and offshore sectors. To continually machine stainless, the company has invested in Dugard machines for their rigidity, stability, power and of course, the impeccable levels of service.

The ISO: 9001 certified company has built its reputation on delivering ‘phenomenal quality components’ in both small and large batches to companies worldwide. As the company is enjoying what Mark Love describes as its ‘best year yet,’ Dicker Precision has invested in its sixth machine from Brighton-based Dugard. As Mark says: "It's been a very challenging year, but we've invested and the orders keep coming in thick and fast, which is great."
The latest acquisition, a Dugard 760XP VMC, represents both a strategic capacity increase and a technological upgrade designed to meet growing demand whilst improving productivity. The decision to purchase another Dugard machine was influenced by several practical considerations, with proximity being key. As Mark explains: "Dugard is located in Brighton, just 25 miles away. We've got the support and service. If we ever have a breakdown, they're in quick, or we can go and pick parts up within the hour. We've always had the support from Dugard."

The Dugard 760XP was selected for a number of reasons. Firstly, its compact footprint with a large work envelope was a crucial consideration given space constraints that are a challenge for any subcontract business. As Brandon Love from Dicker Precision says: "One reason we went with the Dugard 760XP is the floor area. Having the ability to squeeze a machine with the capability of the XP in a small area gives us an upgrade on what we've had before."
The ‘XP’ designation refers to the direct drive spindle technology that adds power for the continuous stainless steel work that dominates Dicker Precision's order book. As Brandon Love elaborated: "The direct drive spindle gives us something a bit stronger, addressing the demanding nature of machining stainless steel components for the pump industry, where precision and durability are paramount.”

A significant factor in the machine selection was the Siemens Sinumerik 828D control system, which maintains consistency across Dicker Precision's machine shop. Brandon highlighted the operational benefits: "We run our other machines with Siemens, so it just makes sense for consistency and quick turnaround. If you go into a machine shop and you have 5 or 6 different controls, it's difficult to train up staff and yourself. Its just so much faster to just keep all the CNC control panels the same."

This standardization offers tangible benefits in training efficiency, reduced setup times, and improved operational flexibility. The Siemens control system also enables sophisticated programming capabilities, with Brandon Love noting an important feature: "At the moment, we can go from a one-load to a multi-load set-up where we can do one part or eight - or as many as we want. This suits us as a customer might order a batch of 50 parts and then ramp it up to 500-off, so I can dictate quickly how many parts we are going to run to get the cycle time to maximum efficiency levels."

The Dugard 760XP installation includes probing technology, specifically chosen to enhance both accuracy and setup efficiency. As Brandon explains: "We went with the probing to make things more accurate and also enable faster setting. It makes a big difference." This in-process measurement capability reduces manual intervention, minimises setup times, and ensures consistent quality throughout production runs.

The machine's bed size and capacity have also proven beneficial for handling larger workpieces, expanding the range of work Dicker Precision can undertake. When asked why they would recommend this machine, Brandon responded: "The machine is very cost competitive, and the size of the footprint and the work envelope, you can get some quite decent-sized work on there. And we've been able to take bigger cutters, which is a credit to the rigidity and build quality of the machine. We are delighted with it."
The 760XP represents the latest chapter in Dicker Precision's ongoing relationship with Dugard. Their existing fleet includes a Dugard Eagle 1000 VMC with 4th axis capability, a Dugard 1000Y+ VMC, a Dugard HD1886B BT50 VMC and a Dugard 1100 VMC.

The investment in the 760XP comes at a time when Dicker Precision is experiencing significant growth. Mark Love's optimism about the year ahead reflects both the success of their investment strategy and the additional capacity now available: "We've got the kit to grow now."

Dicker Precision Components' investment in their sixth Dugard machine represents more than just a capacity increase—it demonstrates a strategic approach to growth that balances technological advancement with operational efficiency. The combination of enhanced spindle technology, control system standardisation, advanced measurement capabilities, and local support infrastructure positions the company well for continued success in their specialised market whilst providing flexibility to pursue new opportunities.