Projects
Polokwane school lab
Education bundle shared care in a lockable cupboard.
What the Polokwane school needed
A Polokwane senior phase school contacted ByThis with a simple but specific brief: create a compact, secure maker station for basic STEM and practical arts that could serve multiple teachers and classes. They had just one lockable storage cupboard off the main corridor. The kit had to hold up to plenty of hands, bag scuffs, and afternoons with the windows open, all while sitting through regular Limpopo power-cut cycles. Classroom assistants and FET students needed clear routines for sign-out and shared care.
Shortlisting the right starter kit
The review started from the Sunnyrock Trade Yard, where ByThis keeps hands on shortlisted ranges for school and college requests. Vinyl tools were out, not enough safe space for heat presses in a busy senior phase store. We picked: a compact 60 cm laser unit (with Polycarbonate cover), a plug-and-play CNC mini-router, essential hand finishing tools, 4-metre extension cords (SA 230 V), and a simple DTF kit with two starter rolls for T-shirt transfer. For cleaning, two microfibre packs and a 1-litre neutral surface spray sign-off. No catalogue bombardment, just a precise bench pick, ready for South African school hours.
- 60 cm enclosed laser cutter (polycarbonate safety window)
- Compact CNC router suited for plywood and aluminium
- Plug-safe 4-metre extension cords (, 15 A double socket)
- DTF transfer kit, T-shirt starter pack, 2 rolls
- Finishing: precision knife set, sanding blocks, microfibre cloths
Install, snag, and support
Everything shipped to Polokwane in two secure deliveries. One sharp snag: the school’s old bladed cupboard lock spat out it’s key after a couple goes. Instead of a delay, a new cam lock and handle kit from the Sunnyrock yard was couriered same day, with installation notes for the caretaker. Inside the cupboard, the gear fitted as measured, with space for the two DTF rolls upright and all cables labelled. Our support team sent quickstart sheets right to the teachers by email, so their next Monday session was ready to go.
A local supplier would charge a lot for on-site assembly, but most schools want to keep the budget to kit, not callouts. That’s why ByThis includes specific setup notes, photos, and email support via our contact form for whatever assistant or caretaker is on shift. Week one, eight classes signed out the kit without a single missing piece. Teachers say having the cupboard kit means no more lost parts or orphaned cables, even with busy changeovers.
How it runs this term
Two months in, the cupboard kit still does its rounds, checked by the office once a week. The DTF starter rolls lasted past 20 T-shirt projects. The CNC router handles 7 mm MDF and even some scrap aluminium leftover from the tech workshop. FET college learners took the transfer kit to a career demo at Polokwane Mall, making decals and quick tees on demand, no heating issues in the cupboard, as that corner stays cool even on Limpopo’s hottest afternoons. The lock holds up and the microfibre cloths get replaced each term. It’s a practical, shared solution that just fits how South African schools actually work.
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