Category: News & Updates

Springs in Land Transport

There are a couple of areas in which springs are used within transport; the most important of these is their use in suspension systems. In small vehicles, such as two-seater cars and motorcycles, the suspension system consists of coiled helical springs, as these provide excellent absorption when going over small holes and bumps in the road.

Certain car manufacturers such as Ford have cleverly designed revolutionary suspensions for their supercars, changing the way in which springs are used in road cars. The latest, second-generation Ford GT features a double wishbone suspension, and it has two types of springs at each corner. The torsion bar and coil spring provide two unique spring rates, one for each ride height. At the GT’s highest ride height, the torsion bars and coils act in series but when the driver engages Track mode, a hydraulic actuator at the base of each coil spring locks the spring so it no longer moves, subsequently lowering the ride height by two inches.

In larger vehicles, such as SUVs, buses and lorries, another form of spring is used within suspension systems: leaf springs. These springs are great for supporting larger loads, such as heavier chassis, containers and cabins.

In even larger vehicles, such as trains, a combination of the two are used; leaf springs and coiled helical springs are combined to ensure that the heavy load is guided by the wheels and axles along the track.

Springs in Air Transport

Aerospace is one of the largest sectors in the world when it comes to manufacturing, research and development. As such, a lot of investment has been put into the manufacturing of important parts, such as springs, valves, etc.

When it comes to aeroplane manufacturing, springs are used in everything from levers and ignition systems to landing gears. Because of the demanding precision of the industry, each spring must be of extremely high quality to ensure that no safety regulations have been missed and that all the necessary quality checks have been made.

Springs in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas industry have an incredible amount of money invested into it, as the profits can be astronomical. In the North Sea, energy companies are preparing to invest £5bn in new capital projects in 2018, which could include up to 16 oil & gas developments. However, this large amount of revenue comes with health and safety risks, especially when oil workers are stationed hundreds of miles offshore.

Various springs are used to operate the mechanistic systems on the oil rig but, more importantly, springs are also used in the drilling of the rock so that the oil can be extracted.

When drilling in a pneumatic way, the repetitive nature of the drill can cause oil leaks which are disastrous for the environment. Springs help with this by providing shock absorption for the drill and help to prevent any gas or oil leaking from the well.

Springs in Telecommunications

We live in a world that now relies on telecommunications; mobile phones are one of the most-used products in the world. Purchasing on mobile phones is becoming more popular, as is browsing the web.

Considering this and the fact that mobile phones are used every single day, it is important that all the components within the phone are strong enough to withstand wear and tear. In telecommunications, bespoke springs, such as flat springs and pressings, are generally used to add functionality to certain parts of mobile phones, as well as being an effective way of transferring messages between a keypad and the phone itself. However, with touchscreens becoming more popular, springs are now being used in other, more beneficial ways.

Springs in Motorsport

The evolution of Formula 1 cars since the 1950s has been astonishing, as the design of the cars has become so incredibly detailed and complicated, particularly over the last decade. Teams invest heavily in the design of their cars since even the smallest details can result in a team holding a slight edge against their rivals.

Contrary to road cars, driver comfort is not a concern for designers, as the suspension is designed to optimise performance. F1 springs are not mounted directly to the suspension arms but are operated remotely through push-rods which enable variable rate springing which is where there is soft initial compliance, becoming stronger as the spring is further compressed.

A vital feature of these suspension systems is that they are adjustable, meaning that car set-up can change depending on weather conditions and the aerodynamic requirements of the track. These two factors combined with data from previous years will determine basic spring and damper settings.

Springs in Robotics

Robots are becoming used more commonly in various industries, and springs are at the core of the robotic movement. Springs are integral in ensuring smooth and human-like-mobility, which is desired by manufacturers.

Agility Robotics, a spin-off at Oregon State University, designed ATRIAS which was the first machine to demonstrate human-like dynamics. The legs are configured as a 4-bar linkage for the spring-mass model embodiment, enabling spring mass walking, which combines a mechanical system of walking with computer control.

The robotics industry will continue to advance massively, and it is likely springs will continue to play an important role in robotic development in the years to come.

These industries play an incredibly important role in modern-day society. As leading spring manufacturers that also specialise in producing extremely high-quality wire forms, European Springs design and manufacture springs for a range of different industries, including some of those mentioned above.

The engineering industry takes pride in 'changing the world', and Cornwall alone contributes with £800 million a year to the local economy. Secretary of the Cornwall Manufacturers Group, Ken Martin, adds that the 1,100 manufactures provide an industry that employs more than 16,0000 people.

Cornwall Manufacturers Group is invested in students’ careers, and in a recent career show they launched a brochure showcasing expert knowledge from some of Cornwall's best managers, apprentices, and managing directors. Our very own Managing Director, Michael Gibbs, was featured in this brochure aimed at the UK's South West young student population.

Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs

Initially a Medicine student, Michael Gibbs realised the degree didn't suit his abilities and, as such, he undertook a Masters in Mechanical Engineering at Exeter University. Study in CAD design to gas turbine technology and grinding and milling in workshops followed a two-year graduate scheme at Rolls Royce in Bristol.

Under the employment of European Springs, he completed a funded two year KTP scheme, studying for an MA in Management. Michael developed his skills, allowing a more complex application that successfully ended with him becoming Operations Manager of European Springs. The company grew from a turnover of £800k a year in 2001 to £7.5 million in 2016 under his direction. The 900% growth resulted in the company relocating to larger premises in 2013 and extending the existing building at Treleigh Industrial State, in Redruth.

Engineering Your Career

Throughout the UK, engineering students are contributing with breakthrough technology developments. While studying his MSc in Innovation Design Engineering consisting of a joint course between the Royal College Art and Imperial's Dyson School of Design Engineering, Luca Alessandrini developed a violin composed of a mixture of spider silk and resin. His project won over 49 other entries at the International Student Innovation Awards.

His violin allows for sound customisation due to the spider silk vibrating the casing. The addition of resin produces a material combination with a unique tone that is altered through blending the materials in different quantities.

The engineering industry quickly changes and adapts to the world's technological needs, providing remarkable growth to the local economies. With ever-changing engineering expertise, students are able to specialise in a varied selection of paths within the industry and achieve a truly exciting career path.

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But just thinking about this helps us to understand why we use them and why we need them in our everyday life. So, what are the smallest and largest uses for compression springs?

The Multiple Uses of Micro Springs

At European Springs, we provide high quality compression springs to a plethora of industries, from the aerospace industry to the medical sectors. On the smaller scale of things, micro springs are particularly popular in surgical equipment, such as forceps, and devices that can be used to aid patients.

One of the most important uses of these micro springs is in pacemakers, where springs are used to ensure that the leads within the pacemaker that connect the electrical circuits to the heart don't become detached. A detached lead can cause serious health risks and even result in damage being inflicted on the heart.

How Are Large Compression Springs Used?

For large compression springs, the most common way to refer to them is a heavy duty compression spring. These springs are used in mechanisms that require a great amount of force to be exerted on the spring itself. These can be used in anything from the automotive industry to intense environments that are susceptible to high compression loads.

One incredibly strenuous industry in which these heavy duty springs are required is in the oil rig industry. When working offshore, the things that need to be considered in every situation, in an engineering sense, is the temperature of the drill bit and the pressure that they have to withstand.

As part of a case study, European Springs worked with an offshore rigging company to develop a spring material that tackled both of these conditions and, in the end, our solutions trumped what nature had to offer. By using the latest technology and material science, the heavy duty compression springs, and even micro springs, that we manufacture are stronger and more durable than ever.

As leading spring manufacturers that specialise in high quality spring and wire form technology, we have to ensure that every product that we develop is durable enough to withstand any scenario and also maintains its primary functions without any deformation occurring.

If you would like to know more information with regards to the compression springs that we manufacture and the industries in which they are used, then please don't hesitate to contact us. Just give us a call today on +44 208 663 1800 and we will be more than happy to help with any questions you may have.

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