🎧 EKC Group buys 25 machines from XYZ for apprentice training

When the East Kent College (EKC) Group was awarded £500,000 of government funding for the integration of the new 2-year T-Level courses that are taken after the GCSE stage, the astute leadership team at EKC Group invested wisely – buying 25 manual and CNC machines from XYZ Machine Tools. 

The T-Level courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers, so the content meets the needs of the industry – preparing students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study. Following a tender process that was instigated by EKC Group, it was decided that the best route to preparing young learners for a future in engineering would be training them on machine tools from XYZ.

Undertaking everything from teaching, training, maintenance, health and safety compliance and learner engagement, Craig Munn, Deputy Head of Engineering at Canterbury College says: “Our campus has approximately 1500 students and in the engineering department we have 155 students and nine staff. In 2021, we received £500,000 in government funding towards the new T-Level qualification. This has resulted in us buying computerised CNC machines that will get our learners ready for industry. The best way to use this funding was to invest in XYZ machines, so we purchased 25 machines from them. The machines are dotted across the Canterbury, Ashford and Dover campuses of the EKC Group.”

“Whilst there are similarities between the machines that create familiarity, they differ in their capabilities. This means the machines are perfectly placed for their intention of preparing students for integration into the industry. This familiarity also enables our learners to seamlessly work across different campuses and use all of the different machines,” adds Craig.

Tom Marshallsay, the South East Area Sales Manager for XYZ Machine Tools comments: “The college came to XYZ as they realise we are very well established in the educational sector as well as in industry. The EKC Group compiled a tender where XYZ was put against other machine tool companies. As we engaged with the college more during the process, there was a realisation that there were considerable benefits from working with XYZ.”

Looking at the different machine tools and packages supplied by XYZ, Tom continues: “There is a mixture of ProtoTrak and Siemens CNC control systems across the machine tools. This provides integration with industry-standard platforms. From a machine perspective, we have the XYZ 500 LR machining centre and the XYZ CT52 LR turning centre both at Ashford and Dover campuses. Ashford also has an array of manual machine tools. We also have another couple of machines in Canterbury, such as the XYZ RMX 2-OP and the XYZ 1530VS manual lathe.”

Alluding to why XYZ won the EKC Group’s business, Tom says: “The reason we won the business is largely down to the control systems and the simplicity of the machines. The fact that the machines and the control systems are industry standards means that students can come to the college, become competent and confident with the machines and then go straight to industry and run machines, which is perfect for both college and employers. Many engineers didn’t get that opportunity when they were at college, so this is significant for learners in the area. In addition, the service and support that XYZ provides to college staff and how we train the staff to use the control systems is a huge benefit.”

The Apprentice Opinion

Serving his apprenticeship at the renowned MJ Allen Group and undertaking training at the college, Takudzwa Chauruka says: “I drive from Ashford to Canterbury College to study machining, which I do on the new XYZ CNC machines. The machines are very good as you don’t have to excessively concentrate on programming, as the CNC machines are mostly conversational. So, all you have to do is put in the numbers and parameters you want, and the machine will do the rest. What else is really good is offline programming. You can program on a computer remotely and then send the program directly to the machine.”

“From the perspective of the manual machines, we get to learn the fundamental basics and with the CNCs, we get to do more complex tasks like rigid tapping, which you mostly cannot do on a manual machine. The CNC machines also help apprentices learn how to make complex parts that may have concave profiles. One of the things I love about the XYZ ProtoTrak is that it has a DXF converter that makes it easier to use when programming. All you have to do is import your drawing, and the machine then does the rest.”

“Compared to the machines I use at work, the XYZ machines are much easier to use as they are smaller and easier to work with. In the future, I am hoping that we can have some of these machines at MJ Allen.”

Adding to this sentiment, fellow college trainee Liam Harkett, an apprentice at Instro Precision in Sandwich, says: “I am an apprentice machinist using manual lathes, milling machines and CMMs. I have a basic understanding of the XYZ machines and I use them for machining small and relatively simple parts. I’m learning to set datum points, program the machine and also understand how to use conversational programming. By using this, I can tell the machine what to do and it writes the programme for me. I prefer this over the previous method where you would have to input the exact programming instructions into the machine – this makes programming a machine much easier and more efficient. The ProtoTrak control panel is very user-friendly and it is an excellent concept for apprentices to use.”

Liam continues: “In my workplace, we have a wide range of CNC mills and lathes and this includes 3, 4 and 5-axis machining centres and a 3-axis live tooling lathe – but none of them are as easy to program and set as the XYZ machines at the college. This is down to the XYZ ProtoTrak and the conversational programming.”

Looking at the primary benefits of installing XYZ machines at the different campuses across Kent, Craig Munn from EKC Group concludes: “We have installed these machines to train the next generation of engineering employees and employers. We also need to fill the skills gap that is currently in the market. We chose the XYZ machines because they really work everywhere. They have equipped our apprentices and our full-time learners to be able to get a job in any machine shop out in the industry. XYZ has also provided excellent technical help with the training of our staff, teaching the learners and being on hand with any technical issues we may have.”

“The learners were itching to use the machines from the day they were delivered – and the machines haven’t failed us, they have been superb machines to use. We are certainly happy that we have chosen XYZ,” concludes Craig.