Helping turn students and apprentices into qualified engineers.
Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College (HLNSC) has recently invested in four new high-performance manual lathes from MACH Machine Tools.
The new MACH L-1330 lathes, installed at the college’s engineering workshop in Hereford earlier this year, join five manual machines that HLNSC had previously acquired from MACH Machine Tools in 2022.
The investment in nine MACH manual machines in total over the past four years has significantly increased and strengthened the manual machining capacity and capabilities of the college’s engineering workshop, and allowed HLNSC to replace a number of older ‘legacy’ machines that were no longer up to scratch.
Through these new machine tool acquisitions, HLNSC is now better able to provide its engineering students and apprentices with direct access to, and experience in operating, modern manual machine tools that are used extensively by UK manufacturers and toolmakers.
As a result, students and apprentices are able to acquire practical, transferable and relevant engineering and machining skills required by industry today…and tomorrow.
Since 2022, MACH Machine Tools, the leading UK-based CNC and manual machine tool and machine shop equipment provider, has supplied Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College (HLNSC) with two manual milling machines and seven manual lathes.
The machines, comprising two MACH VS-1 (Classic) turret-type milling machines, five MACH L-1330 compact lathes and two (larger) MACH L-1340 lathes, have helped modernise the college’s engineering workshop into a dynamic hands-on learning environment able to provide its full- and part-time students, and apprentices with practical, relevant and transferable milling and turning skills.
Says Mike Coakham, HLNSC’s Team Leader - Engineering:
“We are committed to continuous improvement and, as such, regularly monitor and assess the capacity and capabilities of our engineering workshop and the resources we have at our disposal.”
Over recent years HLNSC has made significant improvements to its engineering workshop and has invested in a range of advanced manufacturing technologies to further develop the knowledge and skills of its students and apprentices.
These investments have included new robotic systems, a state-of-the-art CAD-CAM suite, 3D printing equipment etc.
Continues Mike Coakham:
“Back in late 2021, we made the decision to replace a number of our older manual machines that were getting ‘a bit long in the tooth’, with newer, more sophisticated models that would better serve the needs of our students, and further reinforce to local and regional employers our partnership credentials, and our ability to handle their future training and recruitment needs and requirements.”
2022 - a pivotal year
HLNSC’s machine tool upgrade programme, and its subsequent association with MACH Machine Tools, first started in 2022 with the college defining the scope and scale of its future investment programme, agreeing (internally) the number, type and specification of the new machine tools it required, and identifying and selecting a specific manual machine tool supplier to help it realise its ambitions.
Having determined that it needed to acquire two manual milling machines and three manual lathes, HLNSC did its homework, researched the market and approached a number of manual machine tool suppliers.
One of the suppliers HLNSC contacted was MACH Machine Tools - a company that was already heavily involved in the UK education and training sector.
MACH Machine Tools - education and training pedigree
MACH Machine Tools is well established company that is highly regarded in the UK and Irish education and training sectors.
The company’s ranges of CNC and manual machine tools are extensive, and are used by a growing number of UK Universities, FE and HE Colleges and Training and Apprenticeship Schools.
The number of educational and training institutions specifying and now using MACH Machine Tools’ technologies is growing year on year and, to date, over 35 institutions have invested in the company’s machine tools.
Selecting the right machines
As part of its investment decision-making process, engineering members of staff from HLNSC visited a MACH Machine Tools’ Open House that was taking place at the company’s facility in Bristol in October 2022.
It was here that college staff were able to check out the manual machine tool ranges available, and to discuss, face-to-face with MACH Machine Tools’ directors, the college’s investment plans and its immediate (and future) manual machine tool requirements.
Continues Mike Coakham:
“We liked what we saw and what we heard.
“During the visit we were introduced to a number of different MACH manual lathes and milling machines, and found out more about MACH Machine Tools’ commitment to education and training.”
Having seen a number of manual machines in action, HLNSC invited MACH Machine Tools (as well as other a number of other suppliers that had been contacted) to complete and submit a fully-costed quotation to supply it with five manual machines in 2022.
Based on set specific criteria, that included pricing, project management and the timescales involved, as well as the safe removal and disposal of a number of HLNSC’s ‘legacy’ machines, MACH Machine Tools’ quotation proved to be successful.
As a consequence, the company was awarded the contract to supply HLNSC with a MACH 1330-G trainer lathe, two larger MACH L-1340 lathes and two MACH VS-1 (Classic) milling machines.
Says Mike Coakham
“Our first (five) MACH machines are good all-round performers and, since their installation, haven’t missed a beat.
“MACH manual milling machines and lathes look the part and are built to last. Their rigid design and build combined with a whole host of technology features, that are supplied as standard, ensure excellent cutting performance and long life.
“In addition, the machines are backed by MACH Machine Tools’ best-in-class after-sales service and support - another strength that helped put the company in the box seat.”
Since 2022, and its acquisition of the five machines, HLNSC has continued to build strong business relationships with MACH Machine Tools, and further investments in MACH machines have occurred as a result i.e., a MACH GSHE 320 manual bandsaw was delivered and installed in 2023 and, most recently, four MACH L-1330 lathes were delivered and installed in 2026.
A closer look at HLNSC’s most recent investment: MACH L-1330 lathes
MACH L-1330 lathes are high-performance machines that deliver outstanding accuracies and surface finishes, and low tool wear.
Despite their compact footprints, the machines still pack a punch and feature heavy-duty 2.2kW/2570rpm spindles, induction-hardened and ground gears and shafts, and backlash eliminators for reliable, high precision and long lasting performance.
With 40mm spindle bores, 760mm bed lengths and integrated MT3 tailstocks, MACH L-1330 lathes can be used to machine a wide variety of different sized workpieces, and being supplied with 3- and 4-jaw chucks, quick-change posts and Newall DP 2-axis DRO’s, further increases the lathes’ capabilities, flexibility and appeal.
MACH L-1330 lathes in action
Since being installed, the four new MACH L-1330 lathes have been put through their paces by students, apprentices and staff, machining a range of jobs from different materials.
Specific turning operations undertaken by students and trainees on the new lathes include -: ID/OD turning, rough and finish turning, face and taper turning, boring and drilling, grooving and parting-off, threading etc.
MACH L-1330 lathes are proving to be instrumental in helping HLNSC’s full-and part time students enrolled on Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 (HTQ) Engineering courses, as well as trainees on 3-year Engineering Apprenticeship Programmes, acquire practical and industry-relevant turning skills.
Says Mike Coakham:
“Although our MACH L-1330 lathes are not used continuously they have to perform when required and deliver the accuracies and processing speeds expected of them.
“The acquisition of four additional lathes has enabled us to adopt and maintain a consistent teaching approach with students and trainees being trained on identical machines.
“Our MACH L-1330 lathes have proved to be an ideal machine tool solution for our students and trainees to learn new skills and become proficient in basic turning operations.”
Summary
The nine MACH manual machine tools (ten if you include the bandsaw), have helped modernise HLNSC’s engineering workshop, enabling students and trainees to acquire and practice new machining skills and, as a consequence, secure well paid engineering jobs and careers in the future.
For further information please contact:
Matt Andrew
matt@machmt.co.uk
Tel: 0117 965 2706