Author: European Springs

We've had a fantastic year here at European Springs, and we'd like to extend a massive thank you to all everybody that helped make it happen. We're very grateful to each and every one of our customers, and we hope that you had a 2015 that was truly special and memorable for all the right reasons.

Looking Forward to Things to Come…

Of course, this festive season is also a good time to look forward to the year ahead, and we can't wait to spring back into action in 2016, helping more of you to find the springs, stampings and pressings that help your engineering dreams to become reality.

And whether it's a slinky in your stocking or a spring-powered car under the tree, there's a good chance that springs might play an important part in your Christmas… in fact, we can't help but think that even Santa's sleigh might rely on a spring or two to keep it going as it soars through the air tonight.

Enjoy Your Festive Break!

All that's left for us to say is that everybody here at European Springs wishes you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we hope that all of you have an incredible time over the holiday period – and if you overindulge a little on the turkey then don't worry, we won't tell!

If you can't stop thinking about your company's plans for the year to come then don't forget that we will be more than happy to act as your spring manufacturers in the New Year, helping you to manufacture your products and start 2016 as it means to go on.

To get in touch with the team and discuss your project you can get in touch with us at your convenience, online or at 0208 663 1800. We're also on Facebook and Twitter, so please connect with us if you want industry insights, company news and plenty of updates.

European Springs

Named 'TAUB' to correspond with the names of the universities that were involved in its manufacture, the mini robot has made major advancements in the engineering field. The design was inspired by the movement and jumping action of a locust more so than its physical resemblance.

Powered by an internal battery and remotely controlled, the insect inspired robot uses stored energy in steel wire torsion springs in its legs which are constructed from stiff carbon rods. The use of these mini mechanics within the model allows it to catapult itself in the air to mimic the movement of the flexor muscle of a locust.

The main innovators of the automaton, Professor Amir Ayali and Doctor Uri Ben-Haman intend to install a gliding mechanism so the robot can extend its jumping range and reduce its impact when landing.

This isn't the first example of nature-inspired engineering that has been developed, however. A robot that mimicked the tumbling movements of a turtle was made with four flippers to explore shipwrecks.

Another that could also be used for search and rescue missions is the Robo-bee, a fly-inspired bot with wings that can flap up to 120 times per second. This cutting edge technology means it could also operate to be used in environmental monitoring and crop pollination.

In May 2014, researchers from the University of Maryland were involved in the production of mini insect bots that could be used for surveillance with sensors installed into the drones' 'eyes'. They also have the ability to form swarms in order to deal with turbulence and avoid obstacles with the use of sensors.

As a long-standing company in the engineering industry, we can appreciate anything that utilises technology to build a better future, from springs that make robo-insects soar, to clock springs that keep our clocks and watches ticking.

If you have any queries about our services feel free to contact us at 0208 663 1800 or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information.

European Springs

Director J.J. Abrams first sketched out the BB-8 droid on a napkin; a basic idea of two circles, one atop the other, with a little dotted eye. From there, the challenge for the film crew's creature shop was to bring it to life. Abrams wanted it to be a practical effect, so there were a range of technical challenges to overcome.

In the end, the BB-8 you see in the films is a combination of half a dozen practical versions; a static version that could twist and turn for close-ups, a couple of versions using stabiliser wheels that could be driven by remote control, one that could be picked up by actors, one that balanced like a Weeble toy, and one that was controlled by two puppeteers using rods. This meant that CGI effects could be kept to a minimum, being used to remove the puppeteers from shots rather than to create the character.

However, while the screen BB-8 is an amalgam of those different versions, there is another BB-8…