Case study: Kineton High School

School laser cutters give students an opportunity to learn in a new and engaging way. They can see something they’ve designed go from a piece of paper to a real-life object.

These handy devices are great for getting students involved with STEM subjects and can really help them unleash their creativity and practical thinking.

However, you don’t have to take our word for it. Kineton High School in Warwickshire has just leased a brand new laser cutter from Utility Rentals, and we’re proud to say they like it!

Here, we’ll explore what led the school to make this decision and why laser cutters are now considered a must-have for any DT classroom.

What was Kineton High School looking for?

Brendan Campbell, the Assistant Business Manager at Kineton, was in charge of finding the best laser cutter for the best price.

As with all school equipment, it had to be easy to use, safe for students and suitable to play a key part in the students’ education.

That’s why he ended up choosing the Boxford BGL460 80W laser cutter.

This high-tech CO2 laser cutting system works really well in the classroom. The ‘point and shoot’ interaction between the laser and the software means that everything you cut, or engrave, is highly accurate and of top quality.

This machine is extremely versatile and can cut a variety of materials, including:

• Plastic
• Wood
• Textiles
• Cork
• Glass
• Stone
• Aluminium

With it, students and teachers can cut and engrave a variety of 2D components. The integrated chiller cooling system ensures the device doesn’t get too hot and is safe to use all day long.

What to consider when looking for laser cutters

Finding the right laser cutter can be difficult. Kineton chose this model because it integrated well with the school’s requirements, including:

1. Fits with the curriculum

The Boxford BGL460 combines with virtually all computer design packages.

This means it’s compatible with software students already use (and their curriculum) and is a great way to demonstrate how different computer programs work. This is really handy, considering many students are already learning to code!

It’s important to think about how you’re going to use your laser cutter. How much downtime it will have, how accurate you need it to be, the size and capacity and its overall ability. Kineton decided that this model hit the mark on all of these points and was the obvious choice.

2. Has a strong support package

A little bit of support goes a long way. Luckily, Kineton High School chose a model that comes with an end-to-end package, with support from a “very friendly and communicative” team.

This includes:

• Delivery
• Installation
• Training
• 3-year warranty and support

3. Comes with effective cost and payment methods

Laser cutters can be expensive and school budgets don’t always stretch very far.

The option to “spread the cost and then make a decision about what to do when the agreement ends” was a huge bonus for Kineton High School.

And, you’re not simply “stuck with the old equipment” because you have opportunities to upgrade and sign up to a new arrangement.

The Utility Rentals’ touch

Brendan thought that Utility Rentals’ unique leasing plans and fantastic approach to customer service made a huge difference to the school’s experience. That’s why he’s “extremely likely” to recommend Utility Rentals to friends and colleagues.

He also said that he particularly appreciated that Utility Rentals “kept in touch without the hard sell”. Utility Rentals does not put pressure on schools to rent its equipment; it appreciates that schools must find the right fit and wants to help as much as possible with that.

The school’s point of contact, Katie, did a great job on this project. Brendan said, “she was very friendly and answered our questions professionally”. She’s a great example of the kind of excellent support we offer throughout the leasing process.

If you want to find out more about leasing school laser cutters, get in touch with our team today! (They’re all just as nice as Katie, we promise!)