News & Updates Archives | Page 17 of 76

Springs can be made from lots of different materials, and not all are made from metal. The end-use for the spring will inevitably decide its form and the materials it is made from. Learn the difference between a titanium spring and a copper alloy spring here.

Steel Springs

Steel is one of our favoured materials for creating springs. Steel is iron alloyed with elements like carbon, to create a strong yet pliable spring. Of course, steel isn’t a one-size-fits-all for springs; the purpose of the spring will dictate the percentage of the alloy, as well as how it is treated.

We can produce steel springs for a range of purposes. Here are just a few of the steel types we create springs from:

Cold drawn low-alloy steel
Hardenable spring steel
Stainless spring steel
Stainless spring steel with anti-corrosion
Stainless spring steel for high temperatures
Stainless spring steel, non-magnetic
Combination steel; non-magnetic, anti-corrosion, acid-resistant

Each of these steel types must be carefully chosen, created and modelled into the spring of your choice, and each subtle adjustment to the make-up of the material must change how we approach the spring-making process, too.

We have been spring manufacturers for many decades, however, and are well experienced with the intricacies of spring formation. We also understand that every spring matters, and when it comes to springs for motor industries or healthcare industries, a slack in quality at any point could become dangerous. As such, we pride ourselves on our deep understanding of spring engineering and its value to society. We concentrate on providing springs of a consistent quality for our customers.

Cold drawn low-alloy steels have the benefit of improved tensile strength, and often has a brilliant finished quality that makes it aesthetically pleasing. This could be important if your springs are going to be on show. The low-alloy nature of our cold drawn steels is created by adding in elements such as nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, and depending on the percentages used can grant your average steel spring with greater creep strength.

Our range of stainless steel springs are created from steel with a high percentage of chromium. Regular steel has 10%, but stainless steel uses 17% and some nickel. Stainless steel is best used in applications where yield strength is an important factor, but stainless steel also has high anti-corrosion properties. These properties can be strengthened through subtle tweaks made to the alloy percentages and the finishing of the metal spring.

Stainless steel is almost always cold worked, which can result in magnetism in the spring. This can be an issue in some devices, so it is important to specify or talk to us about whether you will need us to undertake extra work to achieve non-magnetic springs.

More Information About Additional Alloyants

Chromium is a popular alloyant that is used to improve strength, ductility, toughness, and hardness and is present in most types of steel as a result. Other incredibly popular alloyants that are used in carbon steel, which is sometimes referred to as spring steel, includes molybdenum, silicon, nickel, and copper.

We take these for granted, but each of these elements provides their own unique traits. For example, copper is one of the best electrical and heat conductors available on the planet, and silicon is incredibly effective at absorbing shock loads. European Springs also holds the largest stock of silicon chrome wire in the UK, so we’re able to create a wide range of products for a variety of industries and applications.

We understand how the make-up of your springs’ materials will benefit your end project:

Copper Springs

Copper is known for being a fairly soft and ductile metal, which means that it isn’t nearly so suitable as stainless steel is for bearing heavy loads. On the other hand, when the spring also needs to carry an electrical charge, beryllium copper springs might be able to provide the impact strength and anti-corrosion properties that are just right for the product you have in mind.

Primarily used in electrical applications, copper springs can be vital to your final product.

Titanium Springs

In healthcare, the hypoallergenic properties of the metal used might be of the greatest importance. In this case, titanium springs can prove to be the most effective for the end purpose. In contrast to some metals, titanium can be considered a little brittle for everyday use, and it can also be difficult to mould into the desired shape if wielded by an inexperienced company.

When calculated against the pressures it needs to withstand, however, we can figure out how best to solve your problems through the design of our springs.

At European Springs, we test every single type of spring that we manufacture to ensure its strength and durability are up to the mark and can withstand any type of stress and strain.

If you would like to know more about the processes that we use within our spring manufacturing procedures or any of the springs we make including compression springs, tension springs and torsion springs, then you can contact us today on +44 208 663 1800 and one of our incredibly friendly members of staff will be more than happy to help.

The UK manufacturing industry is continuously churning out fantastic innovations. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, this industry has stepped up and continues to make great strides in innovation.

While there have been decreases in the manufacturing of the likes of vehicles throughout lockdown, the manufacturing industry has found new outlets in the form of manufacturing PPE and medical equipment to help the nation fight the virus. Here’s a look at what’s been going on in the manufacturing industry from June to August.

Packaging Giant Confirms UK Investment

The European market leader in the production of recyclable, reusable and returnable plastic packaging, Schoeller Allibert, recently confirmed a multi-million investment programme at its site in Winsford, Cheshire.

According to the Senior Regional Director, the increased adoption of e-commerce and the complex retail supply chains in the UK has shown that customers are seeking new, innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in their warehousing and logistics operations. The investment is fully automated injection moulding technology, which frees up employees from manual roles and allows them to upskill and develop within their businesses.

Automation puts the focus on quality consistency, which drives innovation and improves health and safety, all while offering new opportunities for both employees and customers. The investment is part of a five-year plan at the site to develop the technical flexibility and capability of the factory.

Antimicrobial Technology to Make Air Travel Safer

The aviation industry has been in turmoil in recent months thanks to COVID-19, but now Addmaster has developed an antimicrobial technology to make air travel safer.

In a succession of discussions with the aviation sector, Addmaster is working with the world leader in advanced passenger upholstery systems (MGR Foamtex) to develop MGRSafeWall. This will utilise the proven properties of Biomaster to provide long-term protection against viral and microbial threats on soft furnishings.

Surfaces treated with this technology have shown to reduce the microbial load and reduces the chance of cross-contamination to provide a second line of defence in addition to current cleaning protocols. The technology will address the current COVID-19 threat and deliver long-term value through enhanced hygiene in aviation cabins.

OWR Opens Europe’s First Robotics Demonstration Centre

OW Robotics has launched the first Robotics Demonstration Centre of its kind in Europe for customers and businesses to observe logistics and manufacturing operations through automation.

Based in their Lincoln HQ, the centre will allow UK businesses to replicate their processes in a sandbox environment to get a first-hand experience into how tailored automated robotics solutions could impact their business. Business owners will be able to get a clear understanding of how robotics could meet their requirements, the scalability and how it can reduce training, safety, recruitment and absence costs, and improve accuracy rates. All this can be done before they invest.

The centre is a fully functioning robotics centre with pick stations, multiple rack combinations and an A-to-B robotics grid. Hence, customers can see an estimation of what their solution will look like as the robots mimic their own processes in a simulated environment. OWR owner Greg Downey has already had positive feedback about the centres, with visitors finding the experience “impressive” and “incredible”.

BAE Awards £1 Billion in UK Supply Chain Contracts

BAE Systems has awarded another five contracts worth more than £100 million to suppliers, supporting 250 jobs and helping the nation’s economic recovery by maintaining much-needed skills and capabilities. More than £1 billion has been invested across its Type 26 frigate programme’s supply chain, with more than 100 suppliers globally.

The suppliers awarded contracts will contribute essential work to the programme as the HMS Glasgow enters the water for the first time. The contracts involve companies that provide surface preparation and painting, vessel load out and float off, cable and association work, insulation products and access and containment.

The Type 26 programme has made significant contributions to the UK economy by providing a stable platform for the UK’s industrial skills base. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of world-class capabilities, and its close ties with the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy support greater operational, training and intelligence ties between the three nations.

COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Tests Approved for Production

The rapid COVID-19 antibody test developed by Abingdon Health has been approved for professional use in the UK and the EU. This means that the test is now available for distribution for professional use; it will be mass-produced and rolled out from the end of August. Healthcare professionals can administer these tests.

The tests were performed at Ulster University and in Abington Health laboratories, and have shown to be 99.40% accurate. Named the AbC-19TM Rapid Test, it uses a small drop of blood from a finger prick and displays results in just 20 minutes without the need to send the sample to a lab.

The test can help build a picture of how the virus has spread throughout populations, and could also help establish the effectiveness of vaccines, which is critical information to managing the current and future outbreaks of COVID-19.

The process of the development was fast-tracked in just 14 weeks, a process that would typically take ten months or more. Abington Health will produce 500,000 tests a month from October and a million a month from January 2021.

As leading spring manufacturers, we like to keep up to date with everything going on in the manufacturing and engineering industry. We frequently update our news page with industry roundups, so check in regularly to find out what’s been going on in the UK manufacturing industry, and contact us today for information about how we can provide you with springs and pressings.

There’s no doubt that the manufacturing industry has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, but there is cause for optimism, with many firms beginning to bounce back. Now is the ideal time to look at some of the things that can help kickstart the entire manufacturing industry once again.

In this article, we’ll be sharing some of our tips to help manufacturing to spring back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Threats to the Manufacturing Sector

To appropriately plan for a post-COVID-19 world, it is vital that we understand the threats our sector faces so that we can address them, and then surpass them. One of the greatest troubles is the cumulative cost of the Coronavirus crisis. In July 2020, it was anticipated that the virus and its effects on the economy may yet cost British manufacturers £35.7bn by 2020, and growth will continue to be stunted until 2022 (themanufacturer.com).

Despite these losses, there are plans to revolutionise the face of British manufacturing. In March 2020, the chancellor announced that around £600bn will be spent on major infrastructure changes, a large portion of which will undoubtedly be spent in the manufacturing sector.

As manufacturers, Britain accounts for around 50% of the country’s exports while using only 10% of the workforce (themanufacturer.com). We are vital to the UK economy, and as such, we can be sure that attempts to improve the UK economy in the coming months will affect us. The question is, what will these changes look like, and how can individual businesses plan around their implementation?

Open to Change

Manufacturing as a whole has had to face some difficult truths in the face of a new industrial revolution; many workers have faced redundancy from rising automation and climate change has demanded that businesses alter their output to stay in line.

And yet, the manufacturing sector has only been made stronger by dealing with these new challenges. With the added threat of climate change demands, businesses have been forced to reconsider their waste and work towards maximising their efficiency – this has led to many improving their annual revenue. Finding alternative energy sources to power their factories encourages those workers that they are not only the backbone of the nation’s economy, these businesses are also working alongside the moral greater good under an umbrella of sustainability. Here, manufacturing has changed for the better, and we cannot imagine going back.

Those factories that had successfully integrated automation into their workshops were more adequately prepared for social distancing measures. The future will undoubtedly bring a more hygienic front in manufacturing as the value of automated processes rises. Now, more than ever, it is important to start training up your bottom line to take hold of new positions working alongside automation.

Changes to Anticipate

The Annual Manufacturing Report of 2020 declared that 94% of UK manufacturers were ready to act towards achieving greater growth in their industry, but what sort of change should we be anticipating?

Industry 4.0

If your factory is yet to make the switch to automation, then you need to stay abreast of changes in Industry 4.0. The ability to keep up with the fourth industrial revolution will decide which companies come out top in the coming years, so it is vital that managers consider the importance of integrating smart technology in their factories and warehouses.

Smart Technology

Smart technology can be as complicated as introducing and combining intelligent robots with other machines, or it can be as little as adding slight changes to the way your production lines run to speed up processes and cut down the slack.

Internet of Things

In supply chain management, for example, the Internet of Things is set to become an indispensable tool of the future. If you want to stay ahead in the coming months, you should be aware of how implementing this new tech might affect your output.

The future might be uncertain, especially now, but it is clear that the manufacturing sector has the tools and the willingness to make the changes necessary to come out on top. We’re one of the leading spring manufacturers in the UK, and as such, we are dedicated to finding and understanding the latest changes in our industry. We wish you success during these trying times, and if you’re in the market for springs we recommend that you contact a member of our team.

STEM education has been vital throughout the last few years, as manufacturers look to address the skills gap in the coming years. However, it could be argued that this type of education could well be more important than ever before as educating up and coming STEM employees may hold the key to the manufacturing industry’s full recovery.

Here, we take a look at what should be done to ensure STEM education doesn’t get forgotten about during these trying times.

Focus On Online Workshops

With the world switching to online overnight back in March, there’s been a real emphasis on providing online workshops and conferences for all sorts of topics. One such topic that should be high on the agenda for any manufacturing firms is providing STEM related seminars for students who are interested in working within the sector.

It’s important to keep young people engaged with STEM subjects as much as possible, and with everyone having more spare time on their hands in the current circumstances, holding online seminars are a great way to increase exposure for your company, whilst also educating the manufacturers of tomorrow.

By simply holding an hour long, half day, or even full day course discussing some of the more practical aspects of utilising STEM skills within the workplace, you could be engaging some of the brightest upcoming minds within the industry. It’s essential that manufacturers don’t overlook the importance of holding small events like these.

With GCSE, AS and A2-Level exams all cancelled this year, there should be real emphasis on ensuring that we are equipping our country’s students with the right skills to thrive within workplaces. STEM subjects are absolutely essential for modern day working life, and if there are any ways in which we can introduce more STEM learning during these testing times, it must be done.

Focus On Creativity & Engagement

Inevitably there will be real emphasis placed on ‘catching up’ when students do return to school in September. With several months of the academic year missed in 2020, many within education will be keen to press on with textbook learning to ensure students are ready for exams. Whilst this is obviously extremely important, it’s vital that educators don’t forget the importance of STEM subjects and learning practical skills.

It’s no secret that STEM solutions are currently playing a role in ensuring a return to normality for people across the country, as manufacturers, like ourselves, have been active during the pandemic providing parts for vital healthcare equipment. Schools must dedicate time to teaching key principles when it comes to STEM subjects, allowing students to express creative freedom within their classrooms. Weekly workshops on problem solving are a great place to start, and these types of sessions can encourage collaboration between students, whilst also giving the opportunity for creativity to shine through.

Take the Coronavirus pandemic for example; across manufacturing we have seen a whole host of practical and creative ideas implemented in order to most effectively tackle the challenges of the situation. Without these ideas and solutions, who knows where we would be right now.

Skills Shortage Still Worryingly Apparent

Whilst the Coronavirus pandemic has stolen headlines for obvious reasons in recent months, it’s important to remember that there is still an alarming skills shortage within the manufacturing industry. In the UK alone, STEM roles are expected to double in the next decade, so it’s essential that there are fully capable young people coming through education who can competently fill these roles.

It is believed that at present, there is a shortfall of around 200,000 workers within the industry, and this is inevitably costing businesses up and down the country millions of pounds each year.

Whilst it would be unfair to expect the next generation of manufacturers to come in and plug the gap fully, there’s an opportunity for the industry to prepare young people for the jobs they are looking to occupy in the future. Offering work placements to university students, and giving them a real taste of what it is like to work within a manufacturing setting is a great place to start.

Offering apprenticeships is also a fantastic way to engage young people and give them exposure to manufacturing best practices from a young age, giving them the very best chance of succeeding within the industry in the future.

It’s no secret that giving young people genuine hands-on experience within the manufacturing industry is the only way that we will properly address the skills gap we find ourselves with. There’s a real opportunity for businesses to make an impact with the current situation, so it’s essential that all businesses within the sector do what they can. Whilst plenty can be learned from a textbook, there’s no denying that most people thrive within a working environment and gaining real life experience on the job – so making the most of placements and apprenticeships is essential to the recovery of manufacturing in the coming years.

At European Springs, we understand just how important it is to ensure the manufacturers of tomorrow are nurtured, and that’s why we have run several apprenticeship schemes for the next generation of engineers in the past. We’re confident that we have helped to develop the next batch of highly successful spring manufacturers, and we take great pride in ensuring that we’re doing our bit for the industry as a whole.

Despite the gloomy outlook for most industries following the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, there is a genuine optimism from many businesses within the manufacturing industry. There is a firm belief that the sector is robust and established enough to bounce-back convincingly and there may even be some room for industry growth in the coming years too.

Taking a closer look at some of the reasons for this optimistic outlook, our experts will highlight what must be done to ensure the industry continues to thrive in the coming months and years.

Research Suggests Optimism from Manufacturing Firms

According to the Annual Manufacturing Report 2020, almost every UK manufacturer who was surveyed (94%) stated that they were ready to act on new ways of operating to achieve growth. This statistic is extremely encouraging given that the Coronavirus pandemic has completely altered the way all manufacturers will work for the foreseeable future across not only the UK, but the world.

There’s no doubting the impact that the Coronavirus pandemic has already had on the vast majority of industries, but manufacturing has been largely able to reopen as normal, or even continue operating at normal levels throughout lockdown.

Being able to adapt to new ways of working is something that the manufacturing industry as a whole has been adept at doing, and there will be no doubt a huge reliance on this flexibility once again in the coming months and years as we begin to understand more about how Coronavirus will affect our working practices moving forward.

Smart Factories Bypass Social Distancing Issues

With the vast majority of the manufacturing industry having some form of automation within their premises, social distancing measures are made somewhat easier to implement and maintain within factories. Whilst there will still be some issues with social distancing in premises that only have some Smart Factory features, it’s fair to say that the risks for employees is vastly reduced.

For those factories that are considered Smart Factories, this is even more true as human interaction is rarely required, meaning that autonomous robots are more than able to continue carrying out their day-to-day jobs with no issues. In these cases, output and production won’t be affected at all, returning to pre-lockdown levels of productivity.

By continually investing in these technologies, manufacturing firms can be confident in their ability to continue meeting production targets and even surpass them in the coming years. However, this is obviously reliant on companies consistently upgrading their current manufacturing production lines to be like those found in Smart Factories.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we experienced one of our busiest periods throughout lockdown, as we answered the calls to help make parts for NHS ventilators. Thanks to proven internal processes and great commitment from all of our members of staff, we were able to fulfil a substantial amount of orders from the healthcare sector. Without investment in autonomous equipment we would not have been in such a strong position to provide these essential parts.

Speaking of the influx of sales back in April, Simon Taylor, Sales Manager at European Springs & Pressings said that orders “Started to ramp up about four to five weeks ago and we suddenly started to get larger orders from them (healthcare companies). By the time they had finished their most recent ordering cycle, they had put in orders for 29,000 parts.”

Despite the exceptional situation, we were more than capable of meeting demand, as Simon went on to add: “We’re a business that does specialise in both quick turnaround and high-volume production.”

Pick Up In Sales As Businesses Get Back To Work

Whilst it has been well documented that some industries have been hit harder than others when it comes to the impact of Coronavirus, the manufacturing sector has, on the whole, bounced back in terms of orders.

One of the biggest players in the manufacturing industry is the automotive sector, and whilst it’s been a slow start to life after lockdown for most businesses, things have started to pick up in recent weeks. There’s no doubting that the automotive industry was one of the worst hit, but with encouraging signs coming out of the sector more recently, there is a real cause for optimism for other industries picking up following the peak of Coronavirus.

Want to find out more about how the manufacturing industry may be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic in the coming months? As leading spring manufacturers in the UK, we are consistently keeping on top of the very latest updates in the sector and will be updating our blog page with the latest news coming out of the industry. Keep a close eye on our blog page for more of the most up to date goings on in the manufacturing world!

As a leading manufacturer, here at European Springs & Pressings, we know what customers should be looking for when they need custom springs made to their exact specifications. However, perhaps you’re new to the world of springs, you know you need some springs, but you don’t know how to differentiate between different manufacturers to make sure you’re getting the best springs for your needs.

To help you make that all-important decision, here’s what you need to be looking for when looking for that perfect manufacturer:

Wide Range of Metals

You don’t want a manufacturer that has a limited variety of metals that they can craft into springs for you. Different metals have different purposes and advantages, depending on their application. Some metals are more malleable than others; some metals are more suited to more tightly coiled springs whereas other metals lend themselves to looser springs with more elasticity. You need a manufacturer that can work with a wide variety of metals, so they don’t just provide you with the right kind of spring design, but that the spring itself is made from the most effective metal for its purpose.

Here at European Springs, we work with a wide range of metals including steels, copper, titanium alloys and even super alloys like Inconel, Hastelloy and Nimonic.

Variety of Spring Designs

Springs come in all sorts of styles and varieties, including custom made springs designed exclusively for your needs. Different kinds of springs have different purposes. For example, you will find compression springs inside pens, switches and automotive suspensions, whereas extension springs are often found on garage door hinges and trampolines.

So when choosing your manufacturer, make sure they have the ability to design and manufacturer a wide variety of springs so you can get the most suitable spring design for your needs. At European Springs, we manufacturer the most extensive spring range in the UK including compression springs, torsion springs, tension springs and wire forms. We can also tailor the length, force, movement, damping, connectors, colour and finish of any spring to your exact requirements.

Quality Products

Aside from the design and the metal your springs are manufactured from, they should also be top quality products that are going to last. You don’t want springs that are going to give out and need frequent replacement, so make sure your manufacturer produces only the best in spring technology. Our facilities include the latest range of large-scale, high-end spring coiling machines and presses, ensuring we can craft high-quality springs every time.

Cutting-Edge Equipment

To stay on top of the spring industry, a company needs to invest in top-quality equipment. As designs become more sophisticated, so do the machines that make the springs and they need to be updated so they can cope with the rising demand. That’s why at European Springs, we invest in the very latest machinery and technology.

We have two factories in Cornwall and one in Kent with a manufacturing capacity of over 7000sqm. Our facilities include the latest in high-end machines and presses, and we stock over 2000 tonnes of material and hold the largest supply of silicon chrome wire in the UK. For large orders of pressings and stampings, we use Mabu Zani and SMV, which are among some of the most advanced pieces of equipment in the industry.

Accreditations

Accreditations are essential for manufactures and engineers. They give the customer assurance of the quality of the service and products they are receiving from a company. So familiarise yourself with some common accreditations in engineering and manufacturing so that you can see if your manufacturer is the real deal.

At European Springs, we hold ISO 9001, the International Standard for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001, Environmental Management, as well as being members of the Institute of Spring Technology. So you can be assured in the high-quality springs that we can produce for your needs.

Professionalism and Experience

Don’t settle for amateurs when looking for a manufacturer. To guarantee you will get the high-quality you’re after, the best thing you can do is opt for a long-established company with many years of experience and an excellent reputation. Check online for reviews and read about the history of the company to see how long they’ve been operating.

We have a 70-year heritage, and with all these decades of experience, we continually invest in the absolute best in spring technology so we can design, quote, manufacture and dispatch your products in just three weeks.

Customer-Centric

It’s all well and good having a manufacturer that can provide you with what you need, but it’s even better to have that from a company that also puts customer service at the forefront of everything they do. By opting for a customer-centric partner, you are guaranteed that they can provide you quality products, whilst also keeping you informed every step of the way.

At European Springs, we are continually adapting to meet the ever-changing requirements of customers. Our high levels of technical experience and innovative solutions and professionalism allows us to provide the highest standards of dedicated service at unbeatable prices.

When looking around, don’t settle for anything less than the best. As professional spring manufacturers, European Springs know what it means to be at the top of the game. For all your spring requirements, including bespoke designs and custom springs from a comprehensive range of materials, we can offer you a complete service from prototypes to full production. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help your business.

Category: News & Updates