There are many different engineering disciplines under the umbrella term of engineering, but not many people outside of the industry understand how all these different positions work together.

Engineering as a whole relies on collaboration between various different engineering skill-sets, and to create an end product, it is essential that engineers from these disciplines work together and apply their knowledge to ensure that the product meets sometimes vigorous requirements.

Overview of the Disciplines

There are many different areas of engineering, but there are four main groups which cover each of these disciplines.

Firstly, there’s what is known as the big four – civil, electrical, mechanical and computer engineering. These are the four biggest disciplines within the industry, and cover a range of specific skill-sets. These are what contribute most to the economy, followed closely by the next four disciplines, which are known as the medium four.

Aerospace, manufacturing and industrial, chemical, and biomedical are such disciplines, and have a more niche focus, especially with regards to the industry that they are working in. However, this doesn’t mean that from time to time, these engineers can’t help other industries out!

The smaller disciplines such as agricultural, architectural, and environmental engineering are grouped together in another group. These disciplines are even more specific, focusing their skills within specific industries which may not necessarily seem like they need the help on an engineer on the outside.

The last group of disciplines are very specialist, meaning this group is quite small. Engineers which specialise in areas such as ocean engineering and electromagnetic engineering will fall into this category.

How They Can Work Together

A simple vending machine needs the help of four of the disciplines mentioned above to function and operate as it should. Mechanical, electrical, industrial and computer science engineers are involved throughout the design, manufacture, and production of even the simplest of vending machines.

Vending machines utilise various types of springs for different functions. Here are some specific springs commonly found in vending machines:

Coil Springs: Coil springs, also known as compression springs or coil tension springs, may be used in vending machines to provide tension and support for various mechanisms such as coin dispensers, product dispensing mechanisms, or locking mechanisms.
Torsion Springs: Torsion springs are often employed in vending machines to provide rotational force or torque. They can be found in mechanisms like coin return mechanisms or selection buttons, ensuring smooth and controlled movement.
Extension Springs: Extension springs or tension springs (which extend under tension) may be used in vending machines to provide tension and assist in the movement of components such as product dispensing coils or coin mechanisms.
Flat Springs: Flat springs, also known as leaf springs, may be used in vending machines for functions like holding components in place, providing support, or assisting in the operation of specific mechanisms.

The mechanical engineers are tasked with creating the mechanical motors within the machine which will allow easy delivery of the product to the end user, as well as keep the unit cool, which in turn keeps the food fresh.

Electrical engineers, om the other hand, are brought in to ensure that electricity is provided to the correct parts of the machine, through the use of micro controllers which help with the selection process, as well as keep the food and drink products cool and stored correctly. They need to ensure the right amount of power is supplied to keep the temperature levels perfect for the products inside to stay fresh.

Industrial engineers are more focussed on the human factors of the vending machine; namely how the machine looks, how easy it is to use, and how accessible it is. These engineers are tasked with making the vending machine usable by anyone by deciding on where important features should go, such as payment, collection and even selection options.

The computer science engineers are responsible for creating the user interface, as well as implementing a variety of tracking software to allow the owners of the machine to track aspects such as usage statistics, stock levels and determine if there are any specific product trends to improve the service that the vending machine supplies.

Here at European Springs, we have a wide range of engineers with a variety of disciplines to offer, and it’s why we’re one of the leading spring and wire form manufacturers! As expert tension spring manufacturers and flat spring manufacturers among many more, we understand the importance of different disciplines working together to create a working, reliable solution. To find out more about our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!

The engineering sector is one of the largest sectors within the UK; it is so large that it was responsible for providing over a quarter of the UK’s GDP in 2016, which corresponded to £445.6 billion.

It is an industry that is thriving and is always seeking new talent. Are you thinking about joining the sector? If so, there is a lot to think about, such as what type of engineering career you are thinking about joining.

At European Springs, we encourage everyone to follow their dreams, so we’ve come up with a small list of the different types of engineering careers that you can join in the near future.

Aerospace Engineer

The aerospace sector is an incredibly important one in the UK, with companies such as Airbus, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems being some of the largest and most important in the country. It is responsible for implementing the latest aviation technologies for the commercial, travel, and defence sectors.

As such, if you are thinking of going into the aerospace industry, engineering is a great way to do it. By learning the necessary skills, and information about it, you will flourish within that industry – and there are so many opportunities to work with some of the most prestigious names in our aerospace industry.

Medical Engineer

Medical engineers are another important asset. Medical engineers are responsible for creating MRI machines, as well as the various lasers that are used in cosmetic surgeries, clinics, and hospitals. If you need to have a CT scan, then it is likely that a medical engineer helped to build it.

You will also have to know the method of testing new equipment, how to safely dispose of old equipment, and also understand the importance of safety within the workplace. The medical industry is incredibly important, and it is always seeking new talent, so if you are interested in that sector, get looking now!

Manufacturing Engineer

This type of engineer focuses on manufacturing sciences and practice that includes everything from the research, design, and development of manufacturing systems to understanding every part of the machines and equipment, as well as how the processes work. They are vital in the manufacturing line, as they are always there to make sure that things are running smoothly, as well as ensuring that all the equipment is running efficiently and without any errors.

As leading spring manufacturers, European Springs employ an array of manufacturing engineers from all walks of life to make sure that the processes and equipment within our facilities, such as the spring manufacturing factories in London and Cornwall, run efficiently and without any faults.

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers are engineers that are responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of large-scale structures that are used in everyday scenarios, such as roads, bridges, buildings, and other important structures. As it is focused on building large structures, mathematics and physics are incredibly important skills to have as a civil engineer.

You also have to be extremely hard working and meticulous with your work – you need to make sure that you don’t make any mistakes whilst working. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding disciplines, especially once you have completed a long project!

We love to take on new talent, which is why you can check out our latest vacancies on our page dedicated to new positions. We want to give everyone the opportunity to do something that they are passionate about and to join the ever growing and friendly European Springs team!

If you want to know more about our positions or anything with regards to engineering, please don’t hesitate to contact us today and one of our friendly members of staff will be more than happy to help.

We’re a day away from Christmas Eve, and we still can’t quite believe that 2016 has passed us by so fast. Maybe time has miraculously sped up or maybe we’ve just been incredibly busy for the past year that we haven’t had time to sit back and notice that Christmas was just around the corner!

We’ve had an incredible year here at European Springs. Our Beckenham offices working alongside experts on the new Tate Modern to create a spring mechanism which would play an essential role in the security of an anti-climb zone.

Our Redruth location has also been very busy this year, working alongside Liberty in London to create and deliver 80 springs for their incredible window displays! It’s not often that we’re asked to create springs which are for display purposes!

We also showcased the skills that we’ve developed over 70 years of European Springs to work on one of the biggest projects we’ve undertaken yet. Using a new Fortuna coiling machine, we were able to create bespoke springs that were used in West Ham stadium’s canopy system to dissipate loads!

We worked with Fabric Architecture, who have won awards for their work with tensile fabric structure, to create a bespoke solution which enabled the stadium to install fabric canopies to their existing retractable seating voids.

Our London site at Beckenham also had their year made back in August after being granted the ISO 14001:2015 certificate. This is a pretty big achievement, and it was all thanks to the introduction of an effective environmental management system!

That’s not all we’ve been up to, but to compile everything into one blog, we’d be here until new year!

Looking forward to 2017, we’re hoping to have an equally fruitful year, and it wouldn’t have been possible this year without you – our incredible clients. Thank you for your continued support and we hope to work with you all again next year!

So, from all of us here at European Springs – Merry Christmas!

2016 has been an amazing year for European Springs; we have installed some fantastic equipment that can help us achieve extremely high quality springs and pressing in a fraction of the time it normally takes.

We have also taken part in some amazing projects, such as the Tate Modern, the West Ham Stadium, and Liberty of London. But what will happen, in an engineering perspective, next year? Well, we will look into some possible things that could occur.

Virtual Reality in the Aerospace Sector

Virtual reality has become one of the most accepted pieces of equipment of 2016; it’s become so popular that nearly everyone wants a brand new virtual reality headset. However, there are only a few select sectors that fully utilise the extent of virtual reality.

The entertainment industry is, without a doubt, the sector that uses virtual reality the most. Everything from virtual reality gaming to cinemas is becoming increasingly popular. However, one sector that would greatly benefit from virtual reality is the aerospace sector.

It is already known that the air force uses virtual reality in their training exercises to ensure that the fighter pilots are confident enough to fly a virtual aircraft, ensuring that they have what it takes for the real thing. However, pilots of commercial aircraft would also greatly benefit from virtual reality, as it will teach pilots crucial training points and tips.

Engineering in Space

We have seen some fantastic things being achieved this year when it comes to exploring outside of our planet; the spacecraft Juno reached Jupiter in July 2016 and the satellite New Horizons reached Pluto in the same month, making it the first spacecraft to explore the dwarf planet.

But what is left when it comes to satellites being sent into space? In the next year, there will be many missions of sending spacecraft into space, but there is one that we are particularly interested in.

This mission is a Boeing Orbital Flight Test that will take place at the end of next year. The test will include sending an unmanned space capsule into orbit around the Earth, built by Boeing and collaborated with Bigelow Aerospace, for testing. The main mission is to send a crew to the ISS, meaning that it could eventually lead to sending people into space once again since there would be no more space shuttles being sent into space as of 2011.

The Advancement of Robotics

Robotics have been incredibly important to the manufacturing industry, and even to other important industries; one ‘robot’ that we are proud to have at European Springs is the Bruderer BSTA 500-110B. As such, we like to see when there are significant advances in the world of robotics.

One such advancement that will be occurring in 2017 is the link between the automotive industry and robotics. In the next year, Toyota will be releasing a robot known as the Kirobo Mini, which will revolutionise the toys that people will be able to communicate with in the future.

The robot will be able to speak and take part in casual conversation whilst also moving its head and arms at the same time. There is a camera inside that can read facial expressions, meaning that it is able to interpret human emotions; something that can completely change child interactions.

It is an exciting time for engineering and manufacturing as a whole; who knows what we will expect to see in such a thriving and ever-changing world.

As leading springs manufacturers, we understand how certain techniques change constantly, from industrial processes to new methods of undergoing safety checks.

Christmas is less than two weeks away and Santa is taking care of the last preparations before he delivers millions of gifts to children all over the world. With the amount of work that needs to be done, Santa needs a multitude of machinery to help speed up the process.

From toys to Santa’s sleigh, components such as springs and wire forms help to create a truly magical time for every child on Earth.

Flying the Sleigh in the Nick of Time

In order to deliver all of the presents to boys and girls in time for Christmas, Santa needs to have a specially designed sleigh that is able to withstand the trip. To understand how durable Santa’s sleigh needs to be, we need to look at the physics behind his amazing feat.

The sleigh, according to Dr Larry Silverberg from North Carolina State University, is much more advanced than any technology we have for air transportation. The professor of mechanical aerospace engineering theorises that Santa would have advanced knowledge of the space and time continuum in order to travel around the world on Christmas’ Eve.

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity says that time runs differently for observers who are moving relative to each other – which could see only a few minutes passing on Earth while Santa has months to deliver his presents. Science can explain how Santa can deliver all of the presents in one night, and the sleigh needs to be built with extremely durable materials.

Springs are highly important in engineering, and Santa’s sleigh is no different. Able to withstand the high velocity experienced by the sleigh, springs are components that require a functional design in order for all of the sleigh mechanisms to work properly.

A Toy for Every Child

When building the popular game Mousetrap, a tension spring allows for the mice to be trapped and for the game to be played. But that’s not the only application Santa has for tension springs; the game Hungry Hungry Hippos uses tension springs to allow the hippos to catch the food.

Toys such as a Jack-in-the-Box utilise a torsion spring as a component in the gear system. After turning the crank, the torsion spring trigger a lock that make the clown pop out of the box. These springs store mechanical energy when they’re twisted, allowing for toys to entertain children around the world.

Santa builds a wide variety of toys that require springs to be designed in a varied amount of shapes and sizes. At European Springs we are expert spring manufacturers , and our team is able to design springs to specification, ensuring that all Santa’s projects are completed to his requirements. If you want to know more about our services, you can contact us on +44 (0) 208 663 1800 to speak to our team; we’re always happy to answer any query you might have.

Alternatively, you can also followus on Facebook and Twitter to see our latest news and updates.

05/12/2016
A lot of companies love having an opportunity to show off their expertise, knowledge, and authority within their industry. Here at European Springs, we're no different! We really love to show off, especially when it comes to showing you all what we are capable of.

A few weeks ago, various springs manufacturers from across the world came to London for a conference meeting, and then afterwards, arrived at European Springs for a tour, talk, and demonstration of our skills. Here are the highlights of what happened.

One of a Kind

During the meeting that took place at the European Springs and Pressings manufacturing site in London, the Technical Director of European Springs, Howard Downs, presented a customer project that was initiated during last year's meeting.

The project itself was, in fact, a customer request for a secateurs springs that a client, Stumpp and Schule, had received. It was appreciated in the European Springs community, and therefore have developed prototypes of these springs and met with the end client, which was Bosch, the engineering and electrics company.

The reason why this was noted is because the secateurs spring, according to the rest of the meeting attendees, was actually the first one that was produced in the Lesjofors group; a magnificent achievement that showed willingness, dedication, and engineering expertise.

Reaching Greater Manufacturing Standards

After Howard Downs talked about the customer project to the attendees, Peter Bodilly, part of the Production Team at European Springs, discussed a tool that is used in the Lesjofors AB group that is used to check nearest corresponding standard known as the Spring Material Selector.

The tool was created by the Institute of Spring Technology, also known as the IST, and it is used to manage other international standards if your material stock is according to a standard that is listed another country.

The tool is a website and it is incredibly useful to manufacturing sites that are already exporting their products abroad but also want to widen their scope when it comes to the export industry. As such, the European Springs manufacturing sites at London and Cornwall would both benefit greatly from this tool, which could mean that the possibility of greater standards management is nearer to the horizon than we previously thought.

The meeting was a complete success and we were extremely privileged to be a part of it. With the industry constantly changing and certain companies wanting even more requirements present, such as certain ISO certifications and the following of international standards, by complying to these, the manufacturing industry will, without a doubt, develop a much safer and environmentally friendly industry.

As specialist spring manufacturers and experts in producing extremely high quality wire forms, we always want to make sure that the products that we manufacture are of the highest quality, which is why they always go through our intensive quality checks, to ensure that they are capable of being use in any situation.

If you want to know more about springs and the industries that we supply to, make sure to contact us today and one of our incredibly friendly members of staff will be more than happy to help.

European Springs

Category: News & Updates