The Completion of Avanti Grange's DT Wing: A Flagship Project for Future Creators


This Wednesday, we had the opportunity to tour the newly finished DT Wing at Avanti Grange Secondary School in Bishop’s Stortford. A special thanks to Callum Savill, the new Head of D&T as of September, for graciously guiding us through the facility. Together with the two primary schools, Avanti Brooks and Avanti Meadows, these three new schools are set to serve the expanding housing developments in Bishop’s Stortford North.

Avanti Grange’s new Design & Technology wing is more than just a set of rooms—it’s a place where students can discover their passions, develop their talents, and prepare for future careers in a wide range of fields. From woodworking and metal fabrication to fashion design, graphic arts, and culinary technology, students will have the opportunity to explore disciplines that lead to careers in architecture, engineering, fashion, product design, and even entrepreneurship.



Avanti Grange's vision of nurturing the next generation of creative minds and skilled professionals has come to life with the opening of this incredible facility, and we at Tilgear are proud to have contributed by designing, supplying, and installing all the equipment necessary to bring this dream to fruition.

 

A Cutting-Edge Learning Environment

The DT wing features 5 specialized rooms dedicated to woodworking, metalworking, textiles, graphics, and food technology. Each space is tailored to offer students hands-on, real-world experience in a range of design and technology disciplines, fully equipped by Tilgear with the latest tools, machinery, and safety measures to foster creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship.

Woodworking Room: Craftsmanship Meets Precision

The Woodworking Room is an example of modern craftsmanship at its finest, blending traditional woodworking with cutting-edge machinery. We supplied and installed machines that enable students at Avanti Grange to engage in a wide variety of woodworking activities, from basic construction to intricate design. These tools provide practical, hands-on experience, allowing students to explore both traditional techniques and modern technology. These tools give students the ability to hone their woodworking skills, from traditional carpentry to modern CNC routing, preparing them for careers in carpentry, furniture making, or product design.

The equipment we supplied and installed includes:

Deer Bandfacer - Pedestal Mounted - Three Phase (x2)

Holzstar Woodturning Lathe DB 900 (x2)

Berghmann Scroll Saw (x2)

Denford 2600 Bench Mounted CNC Router

ACM Education Bandsaw 442 2 Speed

Edubench Traditional 4 Station Bench with 4x 7" Q/R woodworking vices (x5) and a Projects Table

Central Extraction System

Woodworking room plan developed and designed

by T. Arundell - Tilgear



Metalwork Room: Engineering the Future

In the Metalwork room, students can immerse themselves in the engineering and fabrication process, with tools that cover everything from basic metal shaping to advance CNC machining. With this setup, Avanti Grange students are ready to explore careers in mechanical engineering, metal fabrication, and manufacturing technology. 

Key equipment supplied and installed by Tilgear includes:

Flamefast Low Temperature Casting System

ACM Education Bandsaw 442 2 Speed - 3 phase

Denford Turn 270 PRO Bench Mounted CNC Lathe with an automatic tool changer

Optimum Pro Drilling Machine D26 Pro

Optimum Pro Drilling Machine D17 Pro/1ph

Three Phase Gryphon Grinder Phase & Chamois Polisher

Refurbished Harrison 140 Centre Lathes & Harrison Miller - proof that vintage machines still hold immense value in modern education.

Edubench Beech 4 Station, Metal Frame with Engineering Vices x 5 and 1 Metal Frame Projects table

Metalwork room plan developed and designed

by T. Arundell - Tilgear




Electronics/ Product Design Room: Designing the Future

This room is all about turning ideas into reality, featuring equipment that supports both traditional and digital design. Here, students can pursue a wide range of creative and technical careers. They can become graphic designers, creating visual content for brands and media, or industrial designers, crafting everyday objects like furniture and electronics. Skills gained in 3D modeling and laser cutting can lead to a career as an architect, designing buildings and models, or even an animator or game designer, working in the entertainment industry. Students may also explore roles as packaging designers, developing innovative solutions, or as fashion designers, particularly in accessories or technical materials. Additionally, hands-on experience with 3D printers and laser cutters can set them on the path to becoming product engineers, designing and prototyping new tools and products.

Tilgear proudly supplied and installed:

CR Clarke Vacuum Former 750 x 1 Formech FLB500 Line Bender x 1 Berghmann Laser Cutter - 600 x 900mm Bed - 80W Tube - Supplied With Fume Extractor x 2 Flashforge Adventurer 4 Pro 3D Printer x 5

CR Clarke Schredder Plastic Granulator R25 - Single Phase x 1 CR Clarke Sheet Press R30 x 1

Berghmann Laser Cutter Fume Extractor  With Laser Cutter x 1

One of the standout features of the school is its commitment to sustainability and recycling. The shredder is designed to recycle plastic waste, while the sheet press transforms this recycled material into brand-new plastic sheets for use in various projects. This focus on eco-friendly practices not only enhances students' learning experiences but also instils the importance of environmental responsibility.



Textiles Room: From Fabric to Fashion 

In the textiles room, students can explore a variety of contemporary creative and technical careers. They can become fashion designers, crafting modern clothing and accessories, or textile engineers, developing innovative fabrics and materials. With skills in sewing and embroidery, they might pursue careers as costume designers for theatre and film or as interior designers, focusing on contemporary fabrics and furnishings for homes and businesses. Experience with heat presses and sublimation printers can lead to roles as print designers, specializing in fabric patterns that reflect current trends, while expertise in fabric construction may inspire students to become tailors or seamstresses, working in custom garment making. Additionally, the knowledge gained in textiles could pave the way for careers in fashion merchandising or product development, where they can contribute to the ever-evolving fashion industry.


Silver 303 Sewing Machines (x23) and a Silver CH01 Sewing/Embroidery Machine, giving students hands-on experience in garment construction.

CREWORKS 5-in-1 Heat Press Machine and Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer for high-quality printing on fabrics.


Food Technology Room: Culinary Arts and Beyond

Last but not least, the food technology room is a hub for future chefs and culinary innovators. While we provided everything from teaspoons to aprons, this room will serve as the launching pad for students interested in the culinary arts, nutrition, and hospitality industries. Equipped with the essentials, students can explore careers as chefs, nutritionists, or food technologists, all while learning the importance of sustainability and innovation in the food sector.




We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Avanti Grange on this project, providing the cutting-edge tools and spaces necessary to inspire and educate the next generation. Special thanks for making this happen to Rhys Jones – Principal, Gary Rome - Head of Year 7 and Design & Technology Teacher, Mitul Patel – Project Manager. Their commitment to offering world-class education in design and technology aligns perfectly with our mission at Tilgear, and we are honoured to have contributed to such a significant and innovative project.

Follow us on LinkedIn














Recent Articles

Categories

Customer Testimonials:

"Wow! What amazing customer service you provide. This is great. Thank you so much 🙂" - Finance, The Forest School          "I wanted to express my gratitude for our phone conversation today. I am pleased to be engaging with Tilgear for my professional needs.  As a DT Technician in the Technology Department at Millais School, my role here involves ensuring our department is well-equipped and functioning smoothly, which naturally leads me to rely on quality suppliers and efficient service. As a customer, I am looking forward to your support and assistance in the future. Your expertise at Tilgear is something I value greatly, especially when it comes to selecting the right tools and equipment for our school's needs. I am confident that your guidance and service will be immensely beneficial." - DT Technician, Millais School          "Thank you for the excellent service your company provides for this school. Your staff are always kind very helpful you always deliver your products on time. Keep up the high standards." - Trinity Catholic High School, London           "You have been very thorough and helpful Neil. An amazing experience so far 10/10 for service I must admit" - D Shah, Designed with Elegance UK          "I have used Tilgear to supply us with goods since 2014 when I started as a Construction Technician. Having since moved on to two additional colleges I’ve always made sure we did business with Tilgear. The team always extremely helpful and professional and will always go the extra mile to supply our goods, even if it’s not a stock item. Any issues we have they will sort them for us. I recommend them to any school or College who need a reliable supplier to work with".  - Buckinghamshire College Group, High Wycombe.          "Over the past two and a half years I have been using Tilgear for purchasing the tool kits for the Lee Marley Brickwork apprentices. I have a good report with the account manager who promptly returns quotes and is always on hand to answer any questions. Once the order is placed, Tilgear quickly turn around the order and get the tools delivered very promptly. I’m very happy with the service I receive from Tilgear!" - Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, Reading          "All received today and a very happy year 6!  They couldn't build cars last year as our usual supplier was out of stock of the parts for some 6 months so we're really happy we can get all the bits from you now instead!!" - Federation of Winklebury Infant and Junior Schools, Basingstoke          "I just want to thanks you for delivering the workbenches last week and your engineer who worked very hard to have them all ready for us on time. Excellent job and excellent service!" - Flexit FF&E Solutions, Leeds          "They arrived yesterday morning, super quick. Thank you so much they were exactly what we needed." - Benjamin Britten High School, Suffolk          "WOW – what service. Thank you so much." - North Berwick High School, East Lothian          "All received and mechanical department are happy with the bits. Thank you for your assistance with this and will keep you in mind for future purchases." - Bedford College          "Fantastic customer service!" - The Purbeck School, Dorset          "Thanks for touching base, we are extremely happy at our end pricing is excellent compared with other suppliers. Many thanks! "- The Three Rivers Learning Trust, Northumberland          "We have had fantastic support so far and really competitive prices." - Sacred Heart High School, Newcastle upon Tyne          "We received our order in speedy time as always and never had an issue. We do only ever order small amount of items, but if we do require anything in bulk I will be sure to contact yourself." - Scotland’s Rural College          "You were really speedy and we will defo use you again." - Haileybury Turnford, Hertfordshire          "Thank you very much for your and the rest of your crew for their assistance in getting this sorted so promptly. It really is appreciated by all our dept staff." - Wolverhampton Girls High School