Category: News & Updates

According to a BBC News article, the airports of the future are being regarded as “high-tech pleasure domes” with the majority of the processes which are currently in place being replaced with automated alternatives to increase safety and make the whole airport experience smoother for everyone.

Check-In Simplicity

Although we've seen a drastic change with regards to the check-in process at many of the world's airports using online check-in and app-based boarding passes, it looks like the future holds an even smoother check-in process for us to experience.

Most passports that are issued nowadays are of the biometric kind, and airports such as London Heathrow are already utilising some of the many benefits that these kinds of passport bring, such as biometric passport gates which scan the face of a passenger and compare it with the photograph which is provided on the passport itself.

London Gatwick is also building the world's first completely automated baggage check-in which will allow travellers to check their bags in by dropping them onto a check-in conveyor belt up to 12 hours before their flight.

Japan's All Nippon Airways is also going the extra mile and making the check-in process a lot smoother by providing their travellers with access to smart tablets which allow them to check-in at the touch of a button, while providing them with the means to easily navigate the airport with their map app, and up to date flight notifications.

The Future of Facial Recognition

Another process which is already being trialled by a few airports is facial recognition. This technology aims to reduce queuing and check in times, and with further advancements in technology, a laser molecular scanner is expected to be introduced at some time in the future which will be able to scan an individual from up to 150 feet away.

This incredible piece of technology and engineering is being developed to help identify those carrying suspicious items; it can detect gunpowder residue, pick up concealed organic matter in 50 picoseconds without an individual needing to be stood directly under the scanner, as well as further reduce the time the check-in process takes with manual searches.

In a time when airport security is top of everyone's priorities, this advancement in technology and engineering could potentially see our airports – and probably our world as a whole – become a much safer place to be.

Here at European Springs, we love learning about advances in engineering and technology that are about to reshape our future. As leading spring manufacturers, we're always on the lookout for ways in which we can enhance the world's future! If you would like to find out more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today – we'll be delighted to help.

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The automotive industry and virtual reality have developed a close relationship in the past years, with Audi investing in the technology. In education, this technology helps to find flaws and weaknesses at a much quicker pace. Students develop their understanding of how projects will work after being complete, and they explore various industrial environments that allow them to develop skills they otherwise would be unable to.

Virtual Reality Laboratory

At the London South Bank University students have a virtual engineering laboratory with a virtual reality auditorium, a rapid prototyping and post-production area, a project-based learning laboratory, a digital factory, and a head-mounted display suite. Through the use of headsets in the display suite, students explore their projects in a virtual reality world and are able to alter it easily.

The virtual reality laboratory aims to “give students a hands-on experience of using Virtual Reality as a development tool, as this technology changes the way we interact not only with our designs, but with our colleagues too.” The Academic Director within the School of Engineering, Tony Roberts, adds that creative solutions are developed when engineering students are challenged through the use of these technologies.

Designed by Virtalis, the head-mounted display suite is a combination of CAD design and virtual reality allowing students to interact with each other while improving their designs.

MIDEN, Building 3D Models

Having a thorough insight into how structures work is vital in engineering; the understanding of their overall interaction and collapse allows for engineers to build sturdy and safe structures. At the University of Michigan, students utilise a virtual reality cave that constructs 3D steel structures on a 10×10 screen enclosure.

The virtual reality cave allows for ease of alteration of structures through the use of the controller and headset. By being able to manipulate the physical orientation of the structures, students aren’t limited to a stationary model. The MIDEN virtual reality cave represents a rising trend in optimisation of engineering study and project construction.

Our Crucial Role in the Industry

European Springs stocks items as conventional and straightforward as springs and fasteners, all the way up to complex gas springs, ready for same-day dispatch. Whether it’s a small business or a large-scale operation, our clients trust us to stock them with high-quality spring components with every single delivery. One common use of the gas spring, for example, is its implementation in the manufacture of air guns and recoil buffers. Gas springs that operate with high pressure can store a huge amount of energy, allowing them to be used as a power pack. Another great application of the gas spring includes its ability to operate the main valve on Formula 1 race cars. It is also worth noting that gas springs come in numerous varieties, including the following: non-rotating cylinder, cable cylinder, standard cylinder, fixed-height cylinder, dual-mode cylinder, heavy-duty cylinder, and more.

Additional Custom Uses

Because we stock 12,000 items at our Yorkshire facility, we have just about every spring under the sun. Aside from the aforementioned gas springs, we also stock torsion springs, tension springs, extension and compression springs, and an array of other kinds. Rest assured that we have the expertise and equipment to help cater to your needs, whether you’re producing something as simple as mousetraps, or something as complicated as a newly patented piece of complex machinery. Additionally, if you’re not completely sure of what spring you’ll need, that’s totally fine! You can read below to find out more information pertaining to your next spring acquisition.

Find Out More

More than anything else, we want to turn your ideas into a tangible reality. Because we cater to even the smallest of clients, you don’t need to feel concerned about your project being “too insignificant”. You can contact us to speak to any of our friendly and professional staff, who will be excited to help you fulfil your requirements.

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Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution and the modern trend of both automation and collaboration of data on manufacturing technology. The “Smart Factory” of the future is categorised by efficiency in the production processes, with all procedures being performed and conducted smoothly and effortlessly.

The Principles and Main Components of Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 will have interoperability as a main factor; the Internet of Things (IoT) will ensure that all smart devices are connected to each other, providing a connective feature to all components. Communication is vital between smart factories, humans, and technologies, in order to guarantee a cooperative environment that includes assembly lines, people operating them, and the products themselves.

Decentralisation will allow for quicker decision-making, ensuring that all systems comprising the Smart Factory are able to make decisions distinctly. This process will, however, maintain in the path towards the decisive goal within the organisations.

Shaping the Industry 4.0 will be autonomous robots or, more precisely, artificial intelligence. Robots have been present in manufacturing for many years, but they will continue to evolve and improve, becoming completely autonomous in the near future. Their use as tools will end, and they will become integral units working alongside humans.

Potential Challenges

With a new industrial revolution emerges obstacles that need to be overcome, to allow for a full implementation of successful changes. In Germany, an investment of €250 billion in the next ten years will be required for manufacturers to adapt and implement all processes of the Industry 4.0.

Similarly, systems and machines capable of sustaining the demands of Industry 4.0 are required so that all production processes are effectively completed. Connectivity and standardisation across all industries all over the world will open way to international standards for an organised interaction.

The question with Industry 4.0 is how quickly it will finish being implemented, as traditional manufacturing business models are opening the way to the emergence of the digital transformation and new business models focused on the future of automation and artificial intelligence.

As compression spring manufacturers and leading experts in high speed press technology, here at European Springs we understand the importance of the new industrial revolution is optimising all parts of the manufacturing process. Our team of experts always ensure the highest possible service, and you can get in touch with us on +44 (0) 208 663 1800 to know more about how we can help provide you with high quality springs and pressings.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see our latest news and updates.

European Springs

These values are always crucial, but more so in industries where precision is not just preferred, but absolutely critical to the workings of machinery and equipment.

We’ve previously mentioned that there are many different items and objects that you may not realise were stamped or pressed, so now we’re taking a look at some industries that depend on these processes in one way or another.

Automotive

This industry is one of largest in the UK, as well as one of the most profitable, given that car manufacturing reached a new high with a growth of 3.9% to 1,587,677 vehicles produced. Pressings and stampings are incredibly versatile and are used in this sector often, mainly in order to manufacture a large number of parts with limited resources or manpower. The result is the mass production of precise components that work together perfectly.

Electronics

Electronics are at the core of many modern technologies, and they tend to be made up of small parts and components, some of which are created through stampings or pressings. For instance, many contacts used within electrical components are manufactured through these processes, as are the connector sockets inside computers.

Aerospace

Another industry where accuracy is king. High-quality pressings and stampings are used to create components that are strong, light-weight and precise, as anything other than this could mean the failure of a craft or piece of equipment.

This field also benefits from cutting-edge technology, which is why we use the latest technology available to manufacture efficient, superior quality stampings and pressings. Also, this focus means that objects stamped or pressed can face even the harshest of environments, so characteristic of the aerospace industry.

High-quality pressings and stampings allow companies to meet the challenges of their industries, especially because they can be applied where exact tolerances and high volume productions are required. From the choice of raw material to the affordability of our processes, we always make sure that you’re getting exactly what you need for your project.

European Springs