News & Updates Archives | Page 30 of 75

This year we’ll be at a range of exhibitions throughout the UK, and you already know where to find us in June. We’ll be at three more exhibitions between July and September, offering expert advice and answering questions.

As leaders in spring design and manufacturing industries, we look forward to participating in these exhibitions. Feel free to come visit our stands or call in to one of our factories to know more about what we do.

Manufacturing & Engineering North East. 5-6 July, STAND E1

Coming to Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena for its third edition, Manufacturing & Engineering North East is a unique exhibition that provides visitors with the chance to engage with leaders in manufacturing and engineering. Showcasing the latest developments in the industries, it offers a platform to not only highlight innovative technologies but also build upon the industrial heritage of the region.

This exhibition has several practical workshop sessions and conferences with keynote speakers, alongside helping to promote business contacts between sectors such as robotics, design, and machinery amongst others.

FAST Show, Duxford. 21 Sept, STAND 31

The FAST show, also known as the Fastening & Assembly Solutions and Technology exhibition, focuses on showcasing the UK’s best production and design engineers professionals. In addition to bringing drawings or samples for a professional appraisal, expert – and free – knowledge is a common theme.

With representation from some of the UK’s industry leaders in rapid prototyping, plastics moulding, and advanced composites amongst others, there will be a vast well of knowledge available. As a leading spring design and manufacturing company based in the UK, we’ll be there!

TCT Show, NEC. 26-28 Sept, STAND A40

The 22^nd edition of the TCT show will continue to gather under one roof industry leaders such as designers, business leaders, manufacturers, investors and much more. Providing education and insight into the latest innovations, including doing business, the TCT show will include live demonstrations, product launches, and other features.

This show is also dedicated to accelerating the world’s adoption of 3D technologies alongside additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Comprised of the largest concentration of digital manufacturing stands from the UK, it will highlight the latest innovations and provide learning zones.

These exciting exhibitions are a great opportunity for us to showcase our expertise and knowledge in the engineering industry, and we hope to see you there!

Whether developing a completely innovative design or remaking one for optimised results, in engineering it’s vital to ensure only the best possible service every step of the way. The design process is a complex one that results in optimised end products, which answer the needs of both clients and society.

From the first moment that the engineering problem was brought to attention and until the last moment in which the problem has been addressed and a design completely tested and manufactured, engineers across the world share their expertise and knowledge in order to provide only the highest quality of service.

Defining the Problem

The design process in engineering typically occurs in response to a human need. In the industry, engineers are often directly involved with defining the problem but they might not be the first ones to recognise it. Clients or the market itself define these problems, often bringing them to engineers’ attention.

To instil a problem-solving process, the problem needs to be clearly defined. After identifying the clients’ need, engineers identify it from their point of view. Running experiments, collecting data, and computing variables are involved.

Considering that each problem is unique, engineering teams from different backgrounds gather to ensure that each criterion of the problem is addressed.

Exploring Solutions and Optimising Design

After the problem is expertly defined, it’s necessary to explore the different possible solutions. This step benefits from software such as CAD design and 3D rendering, which allows engineers to quickly formulate several variations of a design.

Building and testing concepts that address the problem is done thoroughly to ensure that the final solution is the most accurate one. Accuracy in engineering is vital, as many problems addressed by engineering are responses to human needs like lifts in buildings and bridges.

Implementing the Design

Testing the design, whether by simulation, by rapid prototyping, or both, ensures that a working version of the design is put to test under real conditions. Only after a prototype is thoroughly tested is the final manufacturing phase put into place.

This phase can sometimes involve going back to the drawing board, as testing shows both the weaknesses and the strengths of the design. Taking in the strong points in a design and working over the weak ones in order to surpass them, engineers test, re-design, and optimise every aspect of design in order to ensure that the final product is the best it could possibly be.

At European Springs, we always ensure every step of the design and manufacturing process is put through rigorous testing, guaranteeing the highest possible quality of our products. Take a look at our catalogues or simply get in touch for a bespoke design!

The engineering industry started strongly for 2017 and, with the many events that have happened so far this year, we are seeing some incredible news coming out of the automotive industry.

Here, we will take a look at what direction engineering is taking in these first few months of 2017. The future of the world is being created today in the advancements made by these incredible engineering feats.

Innovative Wind Satellite

It has recently been announced that a satellite with the ability to measure wind speeds at various levels of the Earth’s atmosphere will allow for more accurate weather forecasts around the world. With every success it has, the launch moves closer, with the expected date being the end of 2017.

Amazingly, this is a UK-built initiative, proving that the engineering community in our country is making waves in the future. The main payload of this technology is a LIDAR – Light Detection and Ranging – instrument known as Aladin, determining the wind speed in the atmosphere.

This is determined to be one of the most intricate space technologies ever created and will be the first LIDAR in space. The satellite has a lifespan of three years.

Rise Of Endurance

The record for the longest flight with no refuelling has now reached an absolutely incredible time of 56 hours! A feat accomplished by a combustion-powered UAV, having been witnessed by a representative of the US National Aeronautic Association.

The only downside to this feat is that the initial flight was scheduled to last 120 hours! The crafts’ flight was shortened due to adverse weather conditions, but it still managed to retain the record.

This achievement paves the way for larger passenger flights to also become longer lasting in the future. The results will also be applied to larger airbuses, making super-fast journeys a real possibility in the future. It also speaks to a future of reduced running costs and no increase in personnel.

The Dawn Of Flying Taxis

2017 promises to be an exciting year with the testing of semi-autonomous flying taxis, according to Airbus. Currently, it is only a single-passenger prototype that will undergo testing in the next year. It is thought that the vehicle will be self-piloted in order to determine the safety of the craft.

However, the detection of obstacles and the ability to avoid them will be completely autonomous. The more successful testing undergone will then result in the technology becoming completely autonomous.

Although we may not see these independent flyers in the air anytime soon, the future skyline may be buzzing with these flying taxis!

Each year brings new ideas and creations in engineering, and these three exciting prospects so far in 2017 can change the near future if successful.

Here at European Springs, our specialists understand the importance of engineering and technology in various industries, which is why we provide the highest quality spring supplies to our clients. Get in touch with a friendly member of our team for more information on what we offer.

There are many concepts for E-springs, but a new invention, by Salah Elmoselhy, a postgraduate researcher, is set to shape the next generation of vehicle suspension systems.

Suspension design has traditionally been a compromise between three conflicting requirements; passenger comfort, road holding, and load carrying. Vehicle suspension springs are designed to absorb road shock by compressing or extending when vehicle wheels’ encounter bumps or dips in the road.

Spring Rates

The weight needed to depress a spring to a specific amount is called the spring rate. A spring with a low spring rate is soft and can absorb a lot of energy, therefore increasing the passenger comfort., However, it can decrease road holding and can carry light loads only.

A heavy stiff spring with a high rate performs well under a heavy load, but can make for a bumpy ride with a light load. A spring rate can be chosen to achieve a compromise, but a better result can be gained if the spring rate of the suspension can be tailored to increase with deflection.

The New Concept

The new concept in the E-shaped spring can be designed to produce the required variation in spring rate. Some sections can be profiled to flex easily under light lights and others to provide greater stiffness as the load increases.

This means it can be done without any part of the spring being subjected to undue stress, which in turn, increases the spring longevity compared with conventional solutions. Two E-springs can be combined in a compact space to create further options for tuning the suspension.

The E-spring is well suited to fabrication using micro-composites, in which the glass fibres help damped vibrations, and absorb energy. If a damper is needed, then one can be fitted neatly between the springs.

Improvements It Can Make

With putting this new concept in place, here are some improvements it can bring;

• Weight reduction of 85% leading to reduced fuel consumption
• Space requirement reduction of 75% leaving additional space which could be used, for example, for wider tires, snow chains, or storing a spare wheel.
• Adjustable spring-rate in the same compact space allowance, allowing the suspension system to deal with variable loads and increasing passenger comfort.
• Eliminating the cost of a heavy duty hydraulic damper.
• Improved fatigue performance.

Use Of E-Springs

E-springs can displace both hydraulic dampers and steel springs in both passive and semi-active suspension systems in a reliable, simple, and cost-effective way. Their applications span from light pick-up commercial vehicles to heavy trucks from vehicle suspension systems, to tiny mechanical devices, such as valves, gears, and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips, thanks to the E-spring’s inherent scalability.

Springs are everywhere and used in everyday devices, from vehicles to pens. Here at European Springs, we offer the UK’s widest range of compression, tension, torsion, and gas springs. Being leading experts in the field of spring manufacturing, we’re dedicated to providing high levels of products and services to our clients. Get in touch with a friendly member of our team for more information on what we offer.

When you think of the aerospace industry, astronauts, space, engineers, and fast jets spring to mind. But there is so much that goes on within this industry that makes all of this happen. With time, everything progresses and evolves to move with the times. Records are there to be broken, new aircrafts need to be built.

It is an everchanging industry, which makes it very exciting. Here we have a look at the latest news within the aerospace industry.

Nominations for Top Individuals in Aerospace

Nominations have opened for a series of special awards celebrating the best individuals in the West of England who are involved in the Aerospace and Defence Industry. The Aerospace Ambassadors Awards, launched by the West of England Aerospace Forum, acknowledges outstanding contributions made by people in the field, all of whom are free to enter the six categories open in this sector.

The categories are; Best Aerospace Design Engineer, best young Aerospace entrant, best representative of diversity, heritage Aerospace ambassador, best Aerospace customer service and best Aerospace media ambassador. The Aerospace Ambassador Awards Ceremony and Gala dinner are announced on 28^th June.

UK Aerospace Industry Set to Soar Higher

The likes of 3D printing and space tourism look set to send the UK’s aerospace industry soaring to new heights. This is due to the growth in air travel, as well as a demand for high-tech parts for spacecraft and rockets, fuelling the sectors rise.

The UK is the second largest aerospace manufacturer in the world, behind the US, and is the fourth largest aerospace exporter, due to their specialising in engine and aircraft parts, which make up 79% of all exports. The reason for the rise is due to the growing market of space tourism, which the UK aerospace industry and other chains are part of.

Since 2002, the UK industry has more than doubled overseas sales from £13.2bn to £28.3bn, increasing by 114%. The UK sector is continuing to soar by staying at the forefront of innovative technologies.

Greener Aircraft

Aerospace engineers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have found a breakthrough to pave the way for non-polluting electric aircrafts, replacing current hydraulic and pneumatic systems that are typically powered by the main engine.

They have developed a process that can be used onboard aircrafts while inflight, to produce hydrogen from water and aluminium particles safely and cheaply. This means the hydrogen can then be converted into electrical energy for inflight use. This ground-breaking work offers a good solution to several challenges, such as hydrogen storage, without the problems with storing hydrogen in a liquid or gas state, which has always been a problem.

The foundation for this technology is in the chemical reaction between aluminium powder and water to produce hydrogen. Either fresh water or waste water, already onboard the aircraft, can be used for activation, meaning the aircraft does not need to carry any additional water. The heat generated from this process can be used for several tasks, such as, heating water and food, de-icing operations, or heating aircraft fuel prior to starting the engines.

Researchers suggest this technology could provide; quieter operations on board an aircraft, drastic reductions in CO2 emissions, more efficient electrical power generation, reduced flammable vapours in fuel tanks, thermal efficiency, reduction in wiring, and compact storage. This could represent the future for efficient and safe inflight energy.

At European Springs, our specialists understand the importance of engineering and technology in various industries, which is why we provide the highest quality spring supplies to our clients. Get in touch with a friendly member of our team for more information.

Technology keeps developing in continuously innovative ways, transforming the way we engage with the world around us. In addition, with the increasing use of robotics in industries such as medical, engineering, and automotive.

Through the use of springs, robotics are more and more capable of functioning closely to how animals and humans do, with similar walking patterns. Modern developments in robotics have provided us with examples of how possible it is to develop robots similar to humans and animals.

Robotic Cheetah

Researcher Geert Folkertsma from the University of Twente spent four years developing a prototype cheetah robot, with the animal’s replicated movements. Its movement utilises approximately 15% more than a real cheetah, a fact that Folkertsma wanted to ensure as the animal is one of the most efficient runners on the planet.

Efficiency and elegance are possible when developing robots by closely studying how animals move. Folkertsma analysed how cheetahs move through specialised software, as he found how important the backbone is to a cheetah’s movements. His robot is a simulated skeleton with joints and muscles, weighing 2.5kg and measuring 30cm long. A spring is utilised to copy how vertebrae and intervertebral discs work, achieving the same effect.

Approximately twenty times lighter and four times smaller than a cheetah, the prototype can achieve the speed of one kilometre per hour. Further tests and research will allow for the robot to become much faster.

Disney’s Humanoid Robots

Disney filed a patent to introduce humanoid robots to its parks. These soft body robots will interact with the public, similar to how Baymax moved in the film Big Hero 6. According to the patent, Disney is working on prototypes called ‘soft body 300’ and ‘soft body 1000’. The prototypes are meant to reduce “collision impacts during human interaction”.

Through this soft body robot technology, Disney will be able to remove the barrier between their guests and their animatronics, ensuring that whoever visits the park has a more immersive and engaging experience.

Robotic Leg Brace

In Japan, the company Toyota has presented a robotic leg brace developed to help patients who are partially paralysed so they can walk again. Named the Welwalk WW-1000, its composition includes a motorised mechanical frame the patient can wear from the knee down and practice walking on a specialised treadmill.

The company announced that it would rent one hundred of these systems to hospitals and medical facilities this year. The patient’s body is supported by a harness from above, and a motor helps the brace to bend and straighten. This device is thought to help Japan’s rapidly ageing society to recover from paralysis due to stroke and other complications.

Focusing on innovation and perfection, here at European Springs &Pressings the future of robotics and springs looks bright!

Category: News & Updates