European Springs Web Team, Author at European Springs

As the manufacturing landscape continues to change and adapt to the current climate, it becomes increasingly apparent that university isn’t the only route to a successful career in engineering. Therefore, your workforce needs to be adaptable and think critically about not only programming and tools but digital processes and new technologies.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we take on apprentices every year, and there are many benefits to having this development plan in place. It helps us stay competitive in our sector, and the time we spend upskilling, training and reskilling is a much more valuable investment than an ongoing recruitment drive.

This blog focuses on engineering apprenticeships, what’s involved, the increased demand for engineers, and why apprenticeships are beneficial to the industry.

What is an Engineering Apprenticeship?

Engineering apprenticeships are courses that provide apprentices with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience of a qualified engineer. The program is typically broken down into modules or skills which combine classroom instruction and on-the-job training.

Gain Hands-on Experience

Apprentices learn trade skills from the more experienced staff members and learn to take responsibility and accountability for day-to-day tasks. They are a fantastic addition to your workforce as they can bring a fresh perspective on current processes and operations within your business. Here are a couple of examples of what to expect when you’re training to be an engineer:

Shadowing – qualified engineers will teach you different aspects and methods of completing their work through shadowing. You’ll be able to learn first-hand the correct way to do things and ask questions in real-time.
Supervised Work – gradually, you will be able to complete tasks under supervision, grow your confidence and take responsibility for key aspects of projects. In addition, supervisors will provide you with clear instructions and feedback on these tasks.
Studying – apprenticeships will give you access to the physical nature of the job, as well as classroom-based theory surrounding the topic. This could be a couple of days a week at college or in-house with your fellow coursemates.
Assessment – for the duration of the apprenticeship, you will have a supervisor who will check in regularly and answer any questions you may have. Your supervisor will be responsible for assessing your skills and knowledge on the job, and you will also complete practical exams and coursework throughout the program.

Earn While You Learn

Throughout the apprenticeship training programme, you will be working toward gaining a nationally recognised qualification. The company will pay you for the work you complete, and the amount will depend on your age and how long you have been training. Typically, apprentices can take between 1-4 years to become fully qualified (depending on prior experience and knowledge of engineering).

Our Managing Director Stuart McSheehy speaks about the importance of our apprenticeships: “not only is this a fantastic achievement for personal development, but it also inspires the next generation of engineers and spring makers. With the challenges of 2020 behind us, we are all very proud to present our latest apprentices with their qualifications.”

Take a look at the stories of our most recent apprentices who have successfully achieved either CITY & GUILDS or BTEC qualifications following a nationally recognised manufacturing apprenticeship framework.

The Increased Demand for Engineers

Our sector is facing the largest skills gap in over 30 years. As pressing manufacturers, we have to act and create both short and long term solutions to the problem. The skills gap is widening due to employees retiring faster than the rate of new talent joining the industry.

Businesses with experienced workforces should spend time upskilling and retraining. Automating basic processes will also give you the option to expand in areas such as software and machine learning development. However, it’s important to consider that while investing in this equipment is a positive move, you should also focus on training employees with the skills needed to operate new machinery.

European Springs Developing Engineers for the Future

As leading spring manufacturers, we prioritise upskilling our workforce as it allows us to build on new and existing team skills, increase productivity, and streamline work processes. When you spend time identifying gaps within your team, you can use the data to plan for development, taking into account the equipment or resources you need.

Not only can you inspire the next generation of manufacturers with attractive apprenticeship opportunities, but you can highlight the need for skilled young people in our industry. If you would like any more information about any of the services or products including tension springs, compression springs and disc springs that we provide, contact European Springs with your enquiry. Our experienced team will be happy to answer your questions.

A buckling spring is a specific type of keyswitch mechanism that became widely used for keyboards — following the success of International Business Machines Corporation’s (IBM’s) keyboards for the PC, PC/AT, 5250/3270 terminals, PS/2, and other systems.

The name ‘buckling spring’ refers to the coil spring that is fixed between the keycap and the buckles. The mechanism provides tactile and auditory feedback as the person typing on the keyboard pushes it down. When it buckles, the hammer pivots with the motion of the spring and makes electrical contact, registering the keypress.

So, in this article, we will explore buckling springs, a type of compression spring that is specifically used in keyboards.

Buckling Springs in Keyboards

The buckling spring keyboard was one of the first keyboards ever released, and its design still has an influence on the modern layout of the keyboards we use today.

The name ‘buckling spring keyboard’ describes how the piece of equipment functions — using a key switch mechanism (as mentioned above). Every time you press down on the keycap, the spring is compressed inside.

Using Simple Mechanisms to Complete Everyday Tasks

Buckling spring keys are much taller than modern-day keyboards and, because of this, you have to press down a little harder on the keys to register typing. However, buckling springs are very reliable, and once you get into a flow of pressing keys with the right amount of downward force, it will register that you are typing. Not only this, but many people prefer buckling spring keyboards because of the sound they make. Some say it is satisfying, and the sound alone can motivate you to type faster or get into a rhythm.

Many typists prefer to use traditional buckling spring keyboards. However, some people claim that they find using these keyboards tiring — possibly due to the frequency of using modern keyboards or tapping on phone screen keyboards.

The most common and best technique for operating a buckling spring keyboard is to allow your hands to float over it so that when you press down on the keys, force is also exerted from your hand. If you prefer to type with your wrists fixed on your desk, then you may find you will get tired quicker when using this style of keyboard.

With the shift to home working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are now working from home on computers with a buckling spring keyboard — though new technology is just as popular.

Springs Used Throughout a Variety of Industries

We’re compression spring manufacturers, and our products are produced in a range of different materials, from stainless steels and non-ferrous metals such as phosphor bronze and beryllium copper to superalloys like inconel, hastelloy and nimonic, so we’re able to create some of the finest springs in the whole of Europe.

We take great pride in ensuring that we are capable of meeting all of our client’s requirements. Whether you’re looking for specific body size, force, length or pitch or wire diameter, as one of the best European spring manufacturers, we’re able to provide you with a range of spring dimensions from 0.1-65 millimetres for your individual use. All of our compression springs are quality assured and comply with ISO:9001 standards.

We hope you learned something new about buckling springs in this blog. As experienced spring manufacturers, we see many uses for our springs throughout a wide range of industries.

Take a look at our stock catalogue for more information on our range of springs and forms including tension springs, torsion springs and die springs. Alternatively, get in touch with us directly at info.bec@europeansprings.com – we’d be happy to hear from you.

Implementing processes to become a leaner manufacturer has many benefits. Not only can your business maintain high levels of productivity, but you can remain efficient at all times when producing quality products to make a profit.

As spring manufacturers, we understand it can be hard to prioritise processes and manage in a streamlined way. However, when you start to become leaner in your working methods, you can become more proficient by eliminating waste without compromising on quality or disrupting the productivity of your facility.

Our well-equipped manufacturing plants allow us to offer a wide range of custom products and services. We train our experienced engineers and invest in the latest automated equipment, which means we can repeatedly meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers and the market we operate in.

The overarching goal of Lean manufacturing is to simplify the processes within your working environment. This blog will look at the different ways in which you can modify and improve your manufacturing operations.

What is Lean Manufacturing?

Lean manufacturing covers the application of Lean practices, principles, and tools used to develop and manufacture physical products. The term originates from the Japanese manufacturing industry, specifically the Toyota Production System who are recognised as one of the most successful automotive manufacturers. The system requires less human labour, less factory space, and reduced timeframes while still providing customers with top-quality products.

Below are five fundamental principles that define the process:

Specify value – the desired value of the customer.
Identify the value stream for each product – review unnecessary steps.
Flow – the product flow should be continuous through value-added measures.
Pull production – introduce pull steps so continuous flow is possible.
Pursue perfection – the number of steps and time required should be continuous.

The process is based on the intention of continuous and incremental improvements to remove redundant activities. Those activities or processes that do not add value to the customer are considered ‘waste’, which can apply to skill, money and time. Instead, you should focus on the design and flow of your current processes with a vision of creating a system with more value and reduced waste.

‘The Toyota Way’ outlines seven types of waste:

Overproduction
Waiting
Unnecessary transport/conveyance
Overprocessing (or incorrect processing)
Excess inventory
Motion
Defects

By eliminating all forms of waste, Toyota can apply a long-term structure of continuous flow and avoid overproduction. Let’s look at some more examples of how you can implement this system into your manufacturing processes.

Eliminate Waste and Reduce Un-Used Materials

Removing waste is the core principle of lean manufacturing, and this doesn’t just apply to material waste. We’d recommend using a value stream to highlight wasteful activities, which will allow you to make decisions on improving added value to your production line.

By effectively implementing a value stream into your processes, you can turn customer requests into a tangible value then analyse each step of the process to see where waste occurs.

One of the most significant critical waste points identified by The Toyota Way is overproduction. Using materials and components efficiently should never mean compromising on quality. You should make use of every resource available (where possible) and use only what you need to optimise storage space — reusing materials where appropriate.

Shorter Production Times with In-Depth Analysis

Reducing the time it takes to make your products is one of the great benefits of lean manufacturing processes. Our fully equipped toolroom includes the latest WEDM machines and in-house 3D CAD. Investing in the latest technology enables us to reach a production capacity of up to 400,000 units a day. The automated nature of these machines means that you don’t have to be concerned about downtime or halting production, which can be costly.

Investing in high-quality equipment, we can work toward faster and more efficient production times. Another benefit is that we can increase product quality and experience fewer errors in production. Halts in production can be detrimental to your productivity. So you should put contingency plans in place to avoid this where possible, such as regular machine maintenance and employee training.

Continuous Improvement

Lean manufacturing practices require continuous improvement across many areas. It is a journey that should be regularly measured and analysed. You can use your value stream map to visualise your priorities, which will help you understand how the learning process affects operations — measuring your performance and evaluating waste is an effective way to see the bigger picture.

Whether you decide to implement a formal practice or a looser set of guidelines, you should focus on integrating continuous improvement into your business to make a meaningful difference over time.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we’re continuing our focus on an automated and Lean manufacturing approach. As reputable spring manufacturers, we’ve seen the benefits of investing heavily in automation, upskilling our employees and using the best technology in the business. We’re optimistic about our vision and plans for growth in the future.

Keep up to date with our blog page and be the first to see the latest information on the manufacturing industry, as well as expert sector insights. You can also take a look at our extensive spring range including tension springs, compression springs, torsion springs and many other spring and pressing types.

As experienced spring manufacturers, we recognise significant changes within our industry following the Covid-19 pandemic that have affected the in-demand manufacturing job skills.

The skills gap in manufacturing has been around for some time, especially in the UK, and recent research has highlighted how urgent the issue has become. The Annual Manufacturing Report for 2020 showed that British manufacturers, in particular, are fronting the most considerable shortage of skilled workers since 1989.

The introduction of smart factories and advancements in automation is indeed a case for a strong rebound from many businesses. However, it’s essential to address how implementing these new technologies and equipment factors for the skills needed to operate efficiently.

In this blog, we’ll look at the cause of the growing skills gap and how you can combat this by looking at long and short term solutions.

Cause of the Skills Gap in Manufacturing

As mentioned above, our industry has been facing the largest skills shortage in over 30 years. The skills shortage is partially a result of the rapid advances in smart technologies and automated machinery. While manufacturers invest in this efficient equipment, many people currently do not have the right experience or are unaware of the qualifications or skills needed to fill vacant roles.

Let’s explore where you can begin to counteract the growing gap while still investing in the right areas:

Manufacturing Skills of the Future

The manufacturing landscape as we know it is constantly adapting and evolving, which means that more than ever, your workforce needs to be able to adapt and think critically about programming, tools, technology and digital processes.

When you start implementing smart technologies such as big data, cloud computing, senators and industrial IoT, you can report more accurately and streamline your processes by identifying key areas for improvement or boost capacity.

Short-term Solution Ideas

The harsh reality of the growing skills gap is that employees are retiring faster than the rate of new talent joining the industry. Those with experienced workforces should spend time upskilling and re-training. To combat this, you should look at and address areas where there are opportunities to upskill current employees. Choosing to automate basic and valuable processes allows for growth in the areas like software and machine learning development.

Here at European Springs, we prioritise upskilling our workforce as it allows us to build on new and existing team skills, increase productivity, and streamline work processes. When you spend time identifying current or projected gaps within your team, you can then use the data to map a timeline for development, taking into account the equipment or resources that you need.

You can inspire the next generation of manufacturers with attractive apprenticeship opportunities and put a spotlight on the need for skilled young people to join our industry. Apprentices are a great addition to your workforce, and gain the necessary experience by working with an established employer. They not only learn trade skills from your more experienced members of the team but start to take accountability, responsibility and bring a fresh perspective of current operations.

Find out more about how apprenticeships could play a key role in manufacturing’s recovery.

Long-term Changes

There is set to be severe consequences for manufacturing if the skills gap is allowed to continue long-term, especially in relation to productivity, operational costs and failing to meet client demands.

To stay competitive in the market, you must invest time upskilling, reskilling and taking on apprentices. There are many benefits to this, and it’s a much smaller investment than recruiting and hiring a new staff member.

When you train your workforce to current operations and equipment, you can create a well-rounded, multi-skilled workforce capable of increasing overall efficiency and product quality. You implement this by setting achievable goals with each employee and encourage development through regular courses and learning opportunities — personal development plans (PDPs) are an effective way to record progress and target key areas.

Engineer Showing Apprentices How To Use CNC Tool Making Machine

With over 70 years of experience as spring manufacturers, we’re proud to invest heavily in our workforce, develop our people for the future and push the boundaries presented by the growing skills gap.

By welcoming apprentices each year, we’re able to see the benefits first-hand of having a development plan in place, and many of our qualified apprentices continue to grow their skills as spring technicians.

If you would like any more information about any of the services or products that we provide including tension springs and compression springs, contact European Springs with your enquiry. Our experienced team will be happy to answer your questions.

After a year and a half of Covid restrictions, the DSEI 2021 show was the first exhibition that European Springs and Pressings have been able to attend.

It was great to be back at a live show to meet and talk in person with other attendees and industry professionals. We’re delighted to have made contacts across multiple industries, including aerospace, defence and security — we spent time reconnecting with clients and were entertained by the expertise and innovation on show.

As it was our first time attending a DSEI show, we did not set typical KPI targets for the event but instead monitored sales leads generated to gauge the suitability of the event for the future. In this blog, we’ll provide a round-up of our experience at the show.

The Importance of Attending DSEI 2021

The Defence and Security Equipment International show is the largest fully-integrated defence and security show in the world, running biennially in London and Saudi Arabia respectively. As we manufacture products for the defence, security and aerospace industries, it was important for us to attend this event for the first time.

European Springs & Pressings are always aiming to raise our profile (especially over the next twelve months) and improve the effectiveness of our exhibition attendance — promotion strategy is an integral part of this process. We decided that collaborating with Metrol on a joint stand at DSEI would enable both companies to pool our offers and gain visibility at such a prominent exhibition.

Why Does This Event Resonate with European Springs?

DSEI is a great networking event, renowned for the strength and seniority of those that attend — this includes senior officials, industry buyers and over 3,000 international VIPs and official delegations.

The show gave us the opportunity to exhibit alongside primes and tier 2 suppliers, top UK and international delegations and UK and international defence ministers. Others who attended the event included senior procurement staff teams, prime contractors/OEMs, pre-qualified industry visitors, SMEs, system integrators, subcontractors, major manufacturers, service providers and defence media.

Networking and future innovation are a huge part of what we do. Meeting with these like-minded industry professionals allowed us to represent our high-quality service and products and repeatedly meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers and the market we operate within.

What Was The Atmosphere of The Event Like?

As the world’s largest defence and security community gathering, the event had great energy and buzz surrounding it. With 8 halls, international pavilions from 6 continents and over 1000 companies in attendance covering aerospace, land, naval, security, joint, future technology, manufacturing, medical and space sectors, there was plenty to see and do in an optimal business environment.

There were live demonstrations at the dockside and tours of the naval boats in attendance. We particularly enjoyed the indoor demonstrations of drone technologies and Q-UGVs (Quadrupedal Unmanned Ground Vehicles – robo-dogs!).

Our Favourite Thing About DSEI 2021

If we had to choose one thing about the show that truly stood out, it would have to be simply being back at a live event and being able to talk directly to potential clients and suppliers.

The show was a spectacle of jaw-dropping military technology and innovative manufacturing. There were so many intriguing things to discover, even if you do not have an interest in defence and security equipment and vehicles.

We also have to mention the armed forces marching band who put on their opening day show. The pomp and professionalism of the performance was a real treat to see live; they really brightened up a muggy Tuesday afternoon.

Setting Our Stall Apart

Our stall was focused on showing exactly who we are and ensuring our products and expertise are clearly defined and communicated. Ahead of the event, we understood that it would be difficult to compete for attention, especially when the next stand was boasting a Challenger 3 Mobile Battle Tank!

Our helpful experts and reps welcomed a lot of visitors to our bright and colourful stall. We found that most were industry colleagues making purchaser product enquiries. However, a few visitors enjoyed a lighter conversation about spring tension as a break from discussing the stopping power of an AK47.

Advice For Those Attending Future DSEI Shows

Wear comfortable shoes! The DSEI show is huge, filling the 8 halls of Excel London and its two dockside areas with equipment, vehicles and displays. You have to do a lot of walking to get around it all.

Attending the DSEI gives you access to the global marketplace. With a 95% visitor satisfaction rate, the show is an essential opportunity to explore international business opportunities.

We found considerable benefits in attending the show and networking with others to develop our knowledge and integrate with other businesses across various industries. The exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to speak with peers and industry professionals and learn from other exhibitors and sponsors.

As spring manufacturers, we must keep up with the latest news, movements and events within our industry. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and would like to thank everyone who visited our stall and made us feel welcome during our first DSEI event!

European Springs & Pressings and Metrol attended the recent DSEI Expo at Excel London for the first time, sharing an exhibition stand as part of our ongoing commitment to finding new ways of working collaboratively.

The Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) show is the largest fully integrated defence and security show in the world. With 8 halls and over 1000 companies in attendance, covering the Aerospace, Land, Naval, Security, Joint, Future Tech, Manufacturing, Medical and Space sectors, DSEI is recognised as the world’s most prestigious land, sea and air biennial defence and security exhibition. The 2021 show brought together senior international trade and military experts from across the entire supply chain in an optimal business environment.

The Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Making our first appearance at DSEI, European Springs & Pressings and Metrol decided to pool resources and attend the event together. The initial reasons and benefits were clear; sharing a platform means sharing exhibitor and stand costs, an economic saving that allows both companies to be present at more exhibitions across the year. Similarly, the collaboration enables us to combine our marketing and logistics, align our messaging and mutually promote both companies.

The collaboration also allowed our sales representatives and experts to become more familiar with their counterparts’ products and service offers. Knowing each other’s product range and capabilities allows for much smoother cross-selling across the two sister companies. This increased product range makes the customer feel more confident that we can fully cover their needs within the Lesjofors group.

Our Comprehensive Spring and Wire Form Range

Our combined range, including springs, standard and specialist application gas springs, wire forms, metal-pressed and motion control components, means that we can offer a lot more options and present a greater range of solutions to our customers.

The benefits of this were very evident at the DSEI show, where a discussion with a customer might begin with a request for a heavy-duty wire spring but, in order to supply the requisite power, we were able to suggest a gas spring alternative. Alternatively, some customers enquired about the suitability of a gas spring, and our experts were able to advise them on other types of spring that would meet their product or process needs at a lower cost or with better results.

This approach exploits the natural synergy between the two businesses and has already been producing results. At the DSEI 2021 show, it was apparent that operating a shared stand and drawing on both company’s strengths yielded advantages in terms of lead generation and retaining visitor engagement. These benefits have also translated across to general operations, with European Springs & Pressings and Metrol better able to help customers who enquire by directing them to the product ranges and capabilities on offer across both companies.

Promoting Products and Services while Co-Exhibiting

The Defence Security Equipment International Show 2021 is only the first joint exhibition that European Springs & Pressings and Metrol have decided to co-exhibit at, with several collaborative shows planned for 2021 and 2022, including Interplas, The Engineering Design Show, Advanced Engineering and Medical Technology Ireland. Furthermore, both teams will continue to support and promote the other company’s products and services at events that we attend individually, building upon the platform of cross-selling and mutual promotion that we have begun to develop.

Alongside valuable representation at exhibitions and the increased generation of leads and sales support, the venture has also fostered a strong feeling of comradeship and respect across the two businesses.

Rewarding events like the DSEI Expo clearly demonstrate the benefits of companies within the Lesjofors family working together. The combined range of products, expertise, and experience that we can offer proves how much stronger we are when we work together.

As spring manufacturers, we must keep up with the latest news and events within our industry. We thoroughly enjoyed the show and would like to thank everyone who visited our stall and made us feel welcome at our first DSEI event!

Author: European Springs Web Team