Springs in Automation

Despite the healthy growth of many industries in the UK, the manufacturing sector remains an integral part of the UK’s economy and a significant contributor to our country’s growth. The scope of manufacturing is changing, however, with an increasing number of companies turning to automation in their production.

This suggests that despite manufacturing being one of the most highly automated industries, there is still huge potential for further change. As a result, many predict both the pace and coverage of automation will increase in future years.

Automation is associated with a variety of benefits, and springs continue to play an important role in the process that continues to advance the way we manufacture.

What is Automation?

Automation is when a process within a company is developed to become automatic with the aid of a specifically designed machine. Automation technology monitors and controls the production of products, executing tasks that were previously performed by humans.

Independence is a key aspect of automation, as software must be able to operate on its own without periodic interference. Automation is also being used in several areas outside of manufacturing, including transport, defence and IT; a commonality in every industry is that control systems are able to operate equipment and applications autonomously.

Benefits of Automation

Many companies are opting for automated machines for a variety of reasons, each of which enhances the profitability of operations.

One considerable incentive for companies in adopting automation is its cost-effectiveness. Machines may often represent a sizeable initial investment, but over time, the cost of operating the technology is relatively low in comparison to labour. Spreading the fixed cost over a large number of units produced, combined with lower variable costs makes automation the cost-effective option in the long run.

Automated machinery not only tends to be cheaper; it’s also significantly less prone to making errors than humans perform. Reducing mistakes can speed up the manufacturing process and simultaneously improve production quality, which is a leading reason why more companies are opting for automated machines.

Fewer errors often correlate to greater output levels as well as improved quality. More output can be produced with the same or even fewer inputs, leading to an overall increase in productivity.

Springs in Automation

Case Study – The Potato Industry

With today’s technological advances, potato processing plants rely heavily on automated machinery to meet the ever-growing demand for potato-based products.

In the production process, the potatoes are fed through various machines to the sorting stage. It is during this stage that springs are utilised; the potatoes are fed into a compartment that monitors the weight. Once the desired weight is achieved, the potatoes are dropped through a hatch separating them into desired amounts.

Springs are used in providing enough force to prevent the trap doors from opening whenever the slightest bit of pressure is exerted. With tension springs holding the door in place until the desired weight is achieved, the automated machinery ensures that the same amount consistently is weighed out and distributed.

The Future of Automation 

Automation is already a prominent manufacturing process, and it is set to continue growing in popularity over the coming decades due to advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Factories can currently be run by just a small team of individuals with the majority of operations performed by automated machinery. However, some predict that in the not too distant future, factories will be 100% automated due to continued advancements in AI technology. The predicted progress in AI may allow manufacturing machinery to comprehend complex goals. However, it is perhaps slightly unrealistic to suggest 100% automation, as even the most finely-tuned machines will require human correction and maintenance.

Plummeting robotics prices could act as the catalyst for even greater use of automation in manufacturing. Costs have fallen as robotics production has expanded and, as robotics manufacturing shifts to developing countries, robots are likely to become cheaper still. In addition, people with the necessary skills required to design and operate automated manufacturing systems are becoming more widely available. Robots and robotics engineers are no longer prohibitively expensive, and if costs continue to decrease as predicted, this will only lead to further automation in manufacturing.

As well as their increased affordability, the quality of robotics will undoubtedly improve as technologies continue to advance. AI will enable automated machinery to cope with a greater degree of task-to-task variability while responding to changes in their environment. Robots are already incredibly accurate, but their precision will certainly advance in the coming years, which may increase their use in carrying out delicate tasks and almost certainly will make them more ubiquitous in manufacturing.

Even though many suggest we are heading towards a future in manufacturing where humans are of little importance, this is a claim that is not necessarily true. Advancements in safety systems will enable robotic automation to take up positions next to human colleagues.

Automation has had a major impact on the manufacturing sector, and it is expected to become a key part of many other industries in the future. With springs being an integral part of automation, we at European Springs are proud to supply various manufacturers with the right springs for their production systems.