Great news for engineering and advanced manufacturing in Crawley, with a major new Festo Didactic Industry 4.0 production line now installed and operational at the Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology (SSIoT) building at Crawley College.
Funded through the Crawley Town Skills Fund, the new system will give students hands-on experience of the technologies shaping modern manufacturing, including automation, robotics, PLC control, sensors and pneumatics, helping them develop practical skills using advanced industrial equipment.
The investment is designed to do more than introduce new equipment. It will help learners develop the technical skills, confidence and experience needed for increasingly automated workplaces, while supporting employers across Sussex and Surrey with a pipeline of people trained using technology that reflects modern industry.
It comes at a time of renewed national focus on technical education. In July 2026, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to strengthen technical routes for young people, including greater access to skills training, work experience and links with local employers.
The approach closely reflects the model behind Institutes of Technology, bringing colleges, universities and employers together to develop skills around the needs of their regional economies.
The Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology works with university, college and industry partners to create pathways into higher-level technical education and employment, particularly in engineering, manufacturing, digital technologies and construction.
Paul Rolfe, Director of the Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology, said:
“Our investment in Festo manufacturing training equipment gives our learners hands-on experience with genuine industry-standard equipment, so the skills they develop are the ones employers actually need today — and that’s central to SSIoT’s vision of shaping the workforce of the future.”
Festo Industry 4.0 technology at Crawley College
Developed specifically for technical education, the Festo Didactic system recreates many of the processes found in a modern automated manufacturing environment. The modular production line is made up of a series of interconnected stations. Conveyors move components between different stages while technologies including sensors, pneumatics, automated handling, robotics and programmable control systems work together as part of a single manufacturing process.
Its current configuration uses a simplified mobile phone as the product travelling through the system, allowing students to see how individual components and processes can be coordinated, controlled and monitored across an automated production line.
In simple terms, sensors detect what is happening on the line, PLCs process that information and control the next action, while pneumatic systems and robotic arms move and position components. Conveyors transfer the product between stations, with each part of the system working together as one connected production process. For students, that means being able to see, operate and troubleshoot the relationship between automation, robotics, control systems and data rather than learning each technology in isolation.
Rather than simply observing automation, students can learn how the different elements interact, investigate faults, change processes and develop their understanding of the engineering, electronics and control systems behind modern production.
This combination of practical engineering and digital technology is central to Industry 4.0, where machinery, sensors, software and data are increasingly connected across manufacturing operations.
Developing advanced manufacturing and engineering skills
The new equipment represents a landmark investment in advanced technical education at Crawley College and forms part of a wider programme of investment in facilities and skills across the campus. Providing learners with access to sophisticated equipment can help bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving them the opportunity to work with technologies they may encounter in higher education, apprenticeships and employment. It also creates opportunities to challenge learners at a higher technical level, encouraging them to experiment, solve problems and see what they are capable of achieving.
For employers, the aim is equally important: ensuring that people entering the workforce have relevant technical knowledge and experience, and strengthening the local talent pipeline in engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Supporting students and local employers
Selecting and installing the equipment has involved the engineering team at Crawley College, ensuring the system supports both current courses and the development of future technical skills.
Mohamed Khan, Lecturer in Electrical Electronic Engineering at Crawley College, who helped select and install the equipment, said: “We selected the Festo equipment because it reflects the technologies students will encounter in modern automated and smart manufacturing environments. It gives them hands-on experience with areas such as PLC control, sensors, pneumatics, robotics and Industry 4.0 systems, allowing us to move beyond simulation and theory and provide practical, industry-relevant learning using equipment that closely reflects real industrial applications.”
Installing the new Festo production line
The system will also be supported day-to-day by the college’s technical team, helping students and teaching staff get the maximum value from the technology.
Sean Pulling, Specialist Technician at Crawley College, said: “Being able to work directly with this technology gives students a much stronger understanding of automation and engineering systems. It allows them to develop problem-solving, fault-finding and teamwork skills in a practical environment, helping prepare them for their future.”
The investment builds on the development of the c. £20 million Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology building at Crawley College and wider support from local and national government, the council, employers and community partners. Together, these investments are creating the facilities, partnerships and technical capability needed to develop skills locally, raise aspirations and support the industries that will shape the future economy of Sussex and Surrey.
See the technology in action
Come and see how Crawley College is investing in the future of engineering, construction and digital skills at one of our upcoming Open Events on 8 October or 7 November 2026.
Explore the Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology, see the facilities and equipment first-hand and find out more about the courses, progression routes and opportunities available.
Book your place at an upcoming Crawley College Open Event: Open events | Crawley College