Shrewsbury College’s engineering workshop is a large, modern and impressive facility replete with, amongst many other technologies, a range of high-performance CNC and manual machine tools and equipment.

In 2021 the College significantly upgraded the machining capacity and capabilities of its workshop by acquiring 10 manual milling machines, 10 lathes and one pedestal drill from MACH Machine Tools. 

The college subsequently followed up this main investment in 2022 and in 2023 respectively, with the acquisition of a second pedestal drill and two more manual milling machines.

The acquisition of 24 new MACH machines, in total, in such a relatively short time frame is proof positive that Shrewsbury College is committed to continuous improvement, and that its stated intention to build and maintain a world-class engineering resource for students, apprentices, local and regional employers and the wider community, remains a primary focus and is ongoing.

The machines, comprising 12 x MACH VS-1 (Classic) manual turret-type milling machines, 10 x MACH L-1340 manual lathes and 2 x MACH SB 30 pedestal drills were delivered and installed at Shrewsbury College’s modern and spacious workshop facility in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, with the main bulk of the machines (21 in total) being supplied in 2021 following MACH Machine Tools’ successful tender submission.

Shrewsbury College’s engineering provision

Shrewsbury College, which has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ grade by Ofsted, is a progressive FE/HE provider that offers a comprehensive range of full-time, part-time, apprenticeships and higher education vocational engineering courses at its London Road Campus facility.

These courses include an introductory Level 2 Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering, a (Craft) Level 3 City & Guilds Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering and a new, two-year T Level Mechanical Engineering, through to HNC/HTQ’s in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering as well as short, bespoke introductory and skills development courses aimed primarily at adult learners. 

Students and apprentices on these courses need access to the latest, advanced machine tool technologies in order to:

1. gain experience on machines and equipment that are being used by industry, and,
2. develop a range of specific, practical and transferable skills required by local and regional employers to help them secure employment, facilitate career progression and realise their true potential. 

Since 2016, Shrewsbury College has been on an investment mission, improving and upgrading its engineering, manufacturing and machining resources to ‘better meet’ local and regional employers’ training and recruitment needs and requirements.

Recent investments, facilitated in part from sizeable grants the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) combined with funding from the college itself and from other partners, has seen Shrewsbury College radically transform its engineering workshop. 

This facility now includes a state-of-the-art CAD and design suite with advanced 2D/3D modelling software and additive manufacturing (AM), CMM equipment, a Festo FMS Industry 4.0 ‘Smart Factory’ mechatronics suite, electronics suites, robotics, PLCs and a range of CNC and manual machines as well as MIG, TIG and MMA welding bays, plasma and laser cutters, a CNC press brake and a robotic welder too.

Says Andrew Lee, Shrewsbury College’s Director of Apprenticeships & Employer Partnerships, and Curriculum Director for Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical/Electronic & Automotive Engineering:

“2016/17 was an important watershed moment for the college and the investments made in new advanced technologies, at that time, helped elevate our profile and increase and enrich our engineering provision.” 

This landmark investment, although clearly being a milestone, was never intended to be a one-off. 

Shrewsbury College is constantly improving and expanding its engineering curriculum to keep pace with technological developments, help combat employers’ ongoing skills shortages and prepare students and trainees for the changing world of work. Upgrading the capacity and capabilities of its workshop is therefore crucial in making sure it can meet these objectives. 

Manual machine tools overview

Manual machine tools (i.e., lathes and milling machines etc.), whilst perhaps not being as illustrious as their CNC counterparts, are essential pieces of equipment and are used by Shrewsbury College to teach students and trainees the fundamental ‘building blocks’ (i.e., milling and turning principles and methodologies, skills, safety protocols etc.), of engineering, and specifically, machining.

Manual machine tool provision at the College

Prior to 2016, the college provided a relatively narrow range of mechanical engineering courses and supported a ‘traditional’ number of employer apprenticeship programmes with the practical machining skills element being taught on older ‘legacy’ machines acquired back in the 1970’s. 

So far, so good.

However, to enable the College to better meet employers’ recruitment needs and requirements, now and in the future, the College is constantly in the process of evaluating, and re-evaluating, its engineering provision to ensure its relevance and credibility with employers.

It does not do this isolation.

“We regularly meet up with local and regional employers, collectively and individually, to better understand their needs,” says Andrew Lee. “These discussions provide us with accurate market intelligence that we can then use to help shape and direct our provision.”

It was, in part, as a result of this intelligence gathering and employer feedback that led the college, back in 2021, to audit and benchmark its existing manual machine tool capacity and capabilities. 

Explains Andrew Lee:

“The review revealed that our manual machine tool provision needed to be expanded and upgraded to ensure the skills we developed with our students and apprentices, met the needs of industry and also allowed us to increase our capacity. 

“The increase in engineering courses and apprenticeship programmes on offer combined with larger numbers of students/apprentices and our intention to enable all to learn new skills and put them into practice using a machine by themselves, rather than in ‘pairs’, was putting pressure on our existing manual machine resource.

“We established that we needed to more than double the number of manual mills and lathes in the workshop to ensure the quality and relevancy of the practical and skill-based content of our engineering courses. We also decided that we needed to acquire an additional standalone manual drill to handle routine drilling and tapping operations.”

The investment (tender) process

To acquire the new machines a detailed open tender inviting potential machine tool companies to submit comprehensive proposals to supply of a range of manual machines (10 x lathes, 10 x mills and one drill), was prepared and advertised.

Tender success

As part of the college’s robust procurement procedures, an extensive evaluation process was undertaken following the tender’s closing date, with every submission reviewed against the published evaluation criteria and weightings, to determine which tender proposal was the most economically advantageous and offered the best-value.

MACH Machine Tools, with its extensive manual machine tool line-up combined with its knowledge and experience of the FE and HE sectors and its range of customised and augmented services for educational organisations, was able to score highly with its tender submission, and was shortlisted.

Following a visit by Shrewsbury College representatives to MACH Machine Tools facility in Bristol, and a secondary visit to Neath and Port Talbot College who had recently invested in similar MACH manual machines, the company was awarded the contract.

MACH Machine Tools’ tender response was successful for a number of reasons which included the following:

• The technical quality, price and availability of the machine tools recommended.
• The level of service and support, including delivery, installation and training provided.
• The scope, scale and value of ‘social’ support provided (i.e., sponsorship, promotions and advertising, Master Classes etc.).

Says Andrew Lee:

“MACH Machine Tools submitted a competitive tender that represented real value.

“We hadn’t dealt with MACH Machine Tools previously, but the quality, build and specification of the machine tools they recommended in their tender, in addition to their price point and the company’s after-sales service and support, put them in the box seat.”

The manual machines – a closer look

The acquisition of 10 MACH VS-1 (Classic) manual turret-type milling machines, 10 MACH L-1340 lathes and a MACH SB 30 pedestal drill have, has intended, helped transform Shrewsbury College’s engineering workshop.

MACH manual machines are built to last and include many technology features supplied as standard that on many competitor machines are only available as optional extras.

MACH VS-1 (Classic) mills

MACH VS-1 Classic manual mills are proven and popular and are a staple machining solution for many UK component manufacturers and tool makers.

The machines have a rigid design and build and are equipped with large worktables (1219mm x 229mm ), powerful (variable-speed) 5000rpm spindles and 2-axis DROs.

MACH L-1340 lathes

MACH L-1340 lathes are compact machines equipped with quick-change tool posts and tailstocks, and feature anti-vibration and stress relieved beds, backlash eliminators and 2-axis DROs.

MACH SB 30 pedestal drills

MACH SB 30 pedestal drills are powerful and reliable and are a valuable machine shop/workshop asset.

The machines are supplied with 405mm x 505mm tables, 1.5HP motors and a 75 – 3140rpm spindle capable of drilling a range of materials.

Concludes Andrew Lee:

“The MACH machines are great performers. They are accurate, flexible and reliable, and their acquisition has strengthened our manual machining capacity and capabilities enabling us to provide students and trainees with relevant, practical and transferable skills.

The machines are in constant use -  six hours a day, five days a week for 45 weeks in the year and have to be reliable and ready for action at all times.

“We were so pleased with the initial tranche of machines supplied in 2021 that we followed this up in 2022 by acquiring a second MACH SB 30 drill, and again in 2023 when we ordered another two VS-1 manual mills.”

For further information please contact:

Matt Andrew

matt@machmt.co.uk

Tel: 0117 965 2706