🎧Taking tradition to high-tech precision

Established in 1967 by Reginald Newnham and now under third-generation family leadership, Newnham Engineering Limited has undergone a remarkable transformation from traditional machining to cutting-edge 5-axis manufacturing. Through investments in DMG MORI machine tools, this West Sussex-based company has acquired a DMU 75 monoBLOCK, DMU 100 FD duoBLOCK, and a CMX 70 U.
Operating from their modern facility on Lancing Business Park, Newnham serves demanding sectors including oil and gas, surveillance, F1, and specialised industrial applications. What distinguishes them in today’s competitive landscape is their commitment to ‘machining excellence’, backed by technology investments that have fundamentally reshaped their capabilities and market positioning.

The Technology Foundation
The DMU 75 monoBLOCK serves as the cornerstone of Newnham’s 5-axis capabilities. This machine handles workpieces up to 840mm in diameter, 500mm in height, and 600kg. Its 20,000rpm spindle capability and monoBLOCK construction provide the precision and versatility essential for complex aluminium components that dominate Newnham’s production.
“It was quite a smooth transition into our latest 5-axis machine, the Monoblock 75,” Lawrence Newnham explains. “Like all the pain we come through with learning how to use the new CAM system, how to use full 5-axis, how to use zero pointing, and using all of that efficiently as well. Going onto the Monoblock 75 it was so smooth.”

The DMU 100 FD duoBLOCK is capacity expansion with the ability to handle workpieces weighing up to 2,200kg. This 4th generation duoBLOCK machine delivers 30% more precision, performance and efficiency compared to previous generations through FEM-optimised structure and enhanced components. The dramatic capabilities become evident when Lawrence describes processing large aluminium billets: “Currently, the part on the machine is one ton. We’ll shy of that, and it finishes up about 250kg. So, a 75% material reduction there. We can fill a bin up in probably 45 minutes – that’s how quickly we can remove material.”
Completing the trio, the CMX 70 U brings 5-axis precision to smaller applications with its C-frame design and mineral cast bed construction. The machine features 750 by 600 by 520mm travels, handles components up to 350kg, and operates with a 12,000rpm spindle delivering 13kW power and 83Nm torque.

Business Transformation Through Strategic Partnership
Newnham’s evolution illustrates the challenge many manufacturers face transitioning from indexed 5-axis machining (3+2) to full simultaneous 5-axis operations. “We started with three plus two, and then we took this big jump to a DMG MORI DMU 100 FD duoBLOCK, it’s a hell of a machine,” Lawrence noted.
This technological leap required significant investment in CAM programming expertise, and setup procedures. However, the learning curve ultimately positioned Newnham with capabilities that differentiate it from competitors. Phil Newnham reflected on the transformation: “The components we do these days are night and day in technology compared with what we used to do. It’s just really exciting.”
The partnership with DMG MORI extends beyond equipment supply to comprehensive support. Philip Clapp from DMG MORI described the collaborative approach: “Lawrence and Phil turned to me one day and said, ‘can you come and see us?’ We’ve got an absolutely great job, a big part, and we want your help and your partnership to develop the process and make sure we get the right machine for this customer.”
This partnership model encompasses application engineering to match machine specifications with customer requirements, process development for optimising cutting parameters and tooling strategies, comprehensive training ensuring operators maximise machine capabilities, and technology road mapping for future investments aligned with market evolution.

The DMG MORI investments have fundamentally expanded Newnham’s addressable market and strengthened customer relationships. Perhaps most significantly, the technology has enabled them to solve previously intractable manufacturing challenges. “We’ve got this customer up the road to us that has had these large components made throughout the world, and they’ve never been made right,” Lawrence explained. “So, we ended up getting this DMG MORI machine, and now we have the capability to make the parts, and to make them correctly to the customer specification.”
The company now confidently supplies oil and gas applications requiring complex valve bodies and pressure vessel components with tight tolerances, surveillance systems needing precision housings and mounting systems, Formula 1 projects where lightweight aluminium components must meet exacting standards, and specialised industrial equipment including high-precision parts for milking machines.

Technical Excellence and Advanced Features
The three machines provide comprehensive capabilities through advanced technical features such as high-pressure cooling systems that are crucial for machining aluminium components, improving chip evacuation, extending tool life, and maintaining dimensional accuracy during extended cycles. The larger machines utilise HSK 100 tooling systems, providing superior rigidity and repeatability compared to traditional tapered spindles.

A Model for Manufacturing Evolution
Newnham Engineering’s transformation demonstrates how manufacturers can navigate the transition to advanced manufacturing through strategic technology.
The partnership between Newnham and DMG MORI illustrates that success in today’s competitive manufacturing environment requires more than advanced equipment. From a family business founded to a technology-enabled precision manufacturer serving Formula 1 and other demanding industries, Newnham’s journey provides a roadmap for manufacturers seeking to advance their capabilities in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.