There is no single industrial guillotine price that fits every workshop. Cost follows the drive type, the cutting width and thickness you need, and what is included for delivery, installation and training. For Mantech Rhino machines, authorised UK guide prices start from £8,160 +VAT for mechanical MEG shears and from £14,800 +VAT for hydraulic models. Exact figures still come from a quotation based on your sheet sizes, materials and site.
Guide prices start from £8,160 +VAT for Rhino mechanical MEG and £14,800 +VAT for hydraulic models — then width, capacity and install package set the quotation. Compare both ranges on the Rhino guillotine hub, decide straight blanking versus profile cutting in the guillotine vs fibre laser guide, and test ownership assumptions with the machine running cost calculator.
The short answer
- Rhino mechanical MEG guillotines guide from £8,160 +VAT.
- Rhino hydraulic guillotines guide from £14,800 +VAT.
- Price rises with bed width, mild-steel capacity and options such as a longer backgauge.
- Both ranges share Estun E21S NC control with a motorised backgauge as standard.
- Budget for blades, clearance setup, power use, training and service — not only the machine invoice.
- Ask for a quotation when you can describe the sheets you cut regularly, not a vague “price for a guillotine”.
Compare current mechanical and hydraulic formats on the Rhino industrial guillotine hub. For straight blanking versus profile cutting, read the guillotine vs fibre laser guide.
Why the quotation is still specification-led
Buyers often search for a sheet metal guillotine price as if every shear were the same. They are not. A compact mechanical MEG for light-gauge workshop blanking sits at the lower end of the guide. A longer hydraulic bed for thicker plate sits higher. The starting figures above tell you the entry points for each Rhino family; the quotation should follow the work you actually run.
Two shops can both ask for an “industrial guillotine” and need different widths, thicknesses and options. Bring your regular sheet sizes, materials and the blanks that feed the press brake or folder. That is how you get a useful number rather than a catalogue guess.
Mechanical vs hydraulic — how the guide prices split
Rhino mechanical MEG machines use a mechanical drive for everyday light-gauge blanking. Four standard cutting sizes cover 1270–3050 mm width at 3.2 mm mild steel. That is why the mechanical guide starts from £8,160 +VAT — it is the entry route for workshops whose stock stays within that envelope.
Rhino hydraulic machines use hydraulic power for heavier sheet and longer beds. The matrix runs from 2 m to 6 m cutting length with mild-steel capacities typically from 4 mm up to 20 mm depending on model. The hydraulic guide starts from £14,800 +VAT. Wider beds and higher capacity move the quotation up from that base.
| Range | What it suits | UK guide from | Typical capacity envelope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical MEG | Light-gauge workshop blanking and everyday rectangular cuts | £8,160 +VAT | 1250–3050 mm · 3.2 mm mild steel |
| Hydraulic | Heavier sheet, longer beds and sustained production duty | £14,800 +VAT | 2M–6M beds · typically 4–20 mm mild steel by model |
The hub owns the detailed mechanical-versus-hydraulic selection checklist. Use this article for cost and ownership questions; use the range page when you are choosing capacity and drive type for the job mix.
What usually moves the price within each range
- Cutting width — match the longest sheet you blank regularly, not a one-off oversized job.
- Mild-steel capacity — stainless and aluminium need confirming against the same machine envelope.
- Backgauge options — motorised E21S backgauge is standard; a 1 m extension is quoted when you need it.
- Guarding and site extras — confirm access, power and any additional guarding for your floor layout.
- Delivery, installation, commissioning and operator training — confirm what the package includes for your site.
Estun E21S NC control is standard on both Rhino families. You are not usually paying a separate “control upgrade” to get programmable backgauge positioning. Options and bed size still change the quote; the shared control keeps training and setup familiar if you later add a second shear or move operators between machines.
What to allow beyond the machine invoice
Ownership cost is more than the purchase price. Blades wear and need rotation, sharpening or replacement. Clearance must suit the material. Hydraulic machines need routine fluid and seal attention as part of normal service. Mechanical machines need drive and lubrication checks. None of that should surprise a fabrication buyer, but it should sit in the budget conversation.
Power use, labour at the shear and scrap from poor nesting or wrong blank sizes also affect the real cost of blanking. A cheaper machine that forces extra handling or rework can cost more over a year than the right width and capacity from day one.
Use the machine running cost calculator to test electricity and ownership assumptions with your own hours and rates. It will not replace a quotation, but it helps you think beyond the invoice total.
What a typical Mantech package includes
Standard packages are arranged for your site in the UK or Ireland and usually cover delivery, installation, commissioning and operator training, together with warranty and technical support. The quotation confirms site access, electrical supply, lifting requirements and any optional tooling or backgauge extensions.
See real installs such as the Rhino hydraulic installation in Norfolk, a mechanical guillotine returning customer install, and guillotine installation in Ireland. Training proof also sits in the HWGTA case study.
What to prepare before requesting a quote
- Your regular materials and thicknesses (mild steel first, then stainless or aluminium if relevant).
- The longest sheet width and heaviest gauge you blank often.
- Typical blank sizes that feed the press brake, folder or next operation.
- Batch sizes and how often dimensions change.
- Available floor space, power supply and access for delivery.
- Whether delivery, installation and training should be included for a UK or Ireland site.
- Any drawings or sample blanks that show the real work, not a best-case job.
When that list is ready, request a quotation from the industrial guillotines hub. Call the team — UK 0121 541 1444 · Ireland (+353) 83 804 8820.
Next step with Mantech
Mantech supplies Rhino mechanical and hydraulic guillotines with Estun E21S NC control across both ranges. Delivery, installation, training and support are arranged for your site in the UK or Ireland. Start with the sheets you cut every week and the blanks that hold up bending — the quotation will follow from there, using the mechanical guide from £8,160 +VAT or the hydraulic guide from £14,800 +VAT as the honest entry points.
Explore the Rhino guillotine range, plan the bend stage with how to choose a CNC press brake, or browse proof on installations.
Useful next reads
- Rhino industrial guillotines
Mechanical vs hydraulic selection, capacities, E21S control and full specifications.
- Guillotine vs fibre laser
Straight blanking compared with nested profile cutting.
- Machine running cost calculator
Test electricity and ownership assumptions with your own hours.
- How to choose a CNC press brake
Plan the bending stage that follows shearing.
- Press brake ranges
Pair blanking with torsion bar or premium CNC bending.
- HWGTA guillotine case study
Mechanical and hydraulic guillotines in engineering training.
- Installations
See Rhino shears commissioned in UK and Ireland workshops.
- Applications hub
Sheet metal fabrication workflows across sectors.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an industrial guillotine cost in the UK?
For Mantech Rhino machines, authorised UK guide prices start from £8,160 +VAT for mechanical MEG shears and from £14,800 +VAT for hydraulic models. Where you land above those starts depends on bed width, mild-steel capacity, options and the install package. Accurate figures still come from a quote based on your sheets and site.
What mainly drives the cost of a sheet metal guillotine?
The largest drivers are drive type (mechanical or hydraulic), cutting width, mild-steel capacity, backgauge options and what is included for delivery, installation and training. Blade care, power use and service also affect total ownership cost after purchase.
Is a mechanical guillotine always cheaper than a hydraulic one?
The Rhino mechanical guide starts lower — from £8,160 +VAT — because MEG machines are sized for light-gauge workshop blanking up to 3.2 mm mild steel. Hydraulic machines start from £14,800 +VAT and cover heavier plate and longer beds. Choose by the work, not by the lower starting figure alone.
What running costs should I allow for?
Allow for electricity, blades, routine mechanical or hydraulic service, and labour at the shear. Scrap from poor blank planning also costs money. Use the machine running cost calculator for planning, then confirm site services during the quotation.
What does a Mantech guillotine supply package include?
Packages are arranged for your site in the UK or Ireland and typically include delivery, installation, commissioning and operator training, with warranty and technical support. The quotation confirms access, power, lifting and any optional equipment such as a backgauge extension.
