Case study: Watford Grammar School for Girls

School laser cutters are an exciting addition to any classroom.

These devices turn the ideas in a student’s imagination into reality and, like 3D printers, can really help spark an interest in STEM subjects.

Watford Grammar School for Girls has just leased a brand-new laser cutter from Utility Rentals – and loves it!

So, we got in touch to see why the school chose this laser cutter and how it’s helped students since its arrival.

What was Watford Grammar School for Girls looking for?

Vanessa Cittadino, Design & Technology Technician at Watford Grammar School for Girls, was responsible for finding a new school laser cutter.

She needed an affordable option that could do everything the curriculum required, while keeping students safe at the same time.

That’s why she chose the HPC Laserscript LS3060 60W laser cutter with BOFA Oracle extraction unit and chiller.

This model runs off Windows and can cut and engrave a variety of products, including:

• Acrylic
• Laser
• Plywood
• MDF
• Fabric
• Rubber
• Slate
• Glass
• Marble
• Metal (with the assistance of MarkSolid)

It has a 60W peak power laser and a continuous cutting power of 40W. The 300 x 600mm work area gives students a lot of space, and the machine’s small footprint means it fits neatly into the classroom.

Watford Grammar School for Girls definitely picked the right model for its needs and is already seeing great results:

“The girls in our school are benefiting so much from the implementation of the laser cutter into our curriculum, and we are extremely grateful to have found Utility Rentals, which gave us the chance to give the pupils this opportunity.”

What to consider when choosing a school laser cutter?

It’s important to find the right laser cutter for your school and curriculum. Watford Grammar School for Girls chose this laser cutter because it ticked all of the boxes, including:

1) School safety

Safety should always be your top priority when choosing a new device for a school.

The laser cutter Watford Grammar School for Girls chose comes with an extraction unit and chiller – two essential features for laser cutters in schools.

The extractor gets rid of any noxious or damaging fumes, while the chiller cools the equipment, making it safe to touch. (This also stops the system from overheating so it’s a win-win!)

2) Affordability

School budgets are very limited and often cannot stretch to new equipment for non-core subjects.

However, the team at Watford Grammar School for Girls felt like it hit the jackpot when it found Utility Rentals:

“Our school was not able to afford the full cost of the equipment in one go, renting suits our current budget constraints”

The school team was impressed that Utility Rentals was able to deliver a “much lower” price than other rental companies it had looked at.

3) Comprehensive maintenance package

A school laser cutter is a hefty investment, so you need to make sure your model works and has cover if anything goes wrong.

That’s why the Watford Grammar School for Girls chose a package that offers support from beginning to end. This includes:

• Installation
• Training
• Five-year warranty
• Annual servicing

All of this gives Vanessa (and the rest of the team) peace of mind for the next five years and ensures the laser cutter stays in tip-top condition for as long as possible.

The Utility Rentals touch

Vanessa and the team at Watford Grammar School for Girls were very impressed with Utility Rentals.

The school said it was extremely likely to recommend us to friends and colleagues, and even gave us a whopping 10/10!

The ability to spread payments and Utility Rentals’ top-notch customer service is what led Watford Grammar School for Girls to choose us as its supplier.

“Utility Rentals got back to us quickly, and were efficient with finding equipment that suited our budget and were far more affordable than other companies we received quotes from”

The school gave a special mention to our account manager, Katie, who did a great job throughout the procurement process:

“Katie Hatton has been extremely helpful, informative, and flexible throughout the entire process and was really a delight to work with.”

We’re delighted to hear that Watford Grammar School for Girls is so happy with its new laser cutter, and the Utility Rentals service.

If you think your school could benefit from leasing a laser cutter, talk to our team today – they’re all just as helpful as Katie!