European Springs Web Team, Author at European Springs

Despite the gloomy outlook for most industries following the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, there is a genuine optimism from many businesses within the manufacturing industry. There is a firm belief that the sector is robust and established enough to bounce-back convincingly and there may even be some room for industry growth in the coming years too.

Taking a closer look at some of the reasons for this optimistic outlook, our experts will highlight what must be done to ensure the industry continues to thrive in the coming months and years.

Research Suggests Optimism from Manufacturing Firms

According to the Annual Manufacturing Report 2020, almost every UK manufacturer who was surveyed (94%) stated that they were ready to act on new ways of operating to achieve growth. This statistic is extremely encouraging given that the Coronavirus pandemic has completely altered the way all manufacturers will work for the foreseeable future across not only the UK, but the world.

There’s no doubting the impact that the Coronavirus pandemic has already had on the vast majority of industries, but manufacturing has been largely able to reopen as normal, or even continue operating at normal levels throughout lockdown.

Being able to adapt to new ways of working is something that the manufacturing industry as a whole has been adept at doing, and there will be no doubt a huge reliance on this flexibility once again in the coming months and years as we begin to understand more about how Coronavirus will affect our working practices moving forward.

Smart Factories Bypass Social Distancing Issues

With the vast majority of the manufacturing industry having some form of automation within their premises, social distancing measures are made somewhat easier to implement and maintain within factories. Whilst there will still be some issues with social distancing in premises that only have some Smart Factory features, it’s fair to say that the risks for employees is vastly reduced.

For those factories that are considered Smart Factories, this is even more true as human interaction is rarely required, meaning that autonomous robots are more than able to continue carrying out their day-to-day jobs with no issues. In these cases, output and production won’t be affected at all, returning to pre-lockdown levels of productivity.

By continually investing in these technologies, manufacturing firms can be confident in their ability to continue meeting production targets and even surpass them in the coming years. However, this is obviously reliant on companies consistently upgrading their current manufacturing production lines to be like those found in Smart Factories.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we experienced one of our busiest periods throughout lockdown, as we answered the calls to help make parts for NHS ventilators. Thanks to proven internal processes and great commitment from all of our members of staff, we were able to fulfil a substantial amount of orders from the healthcare sector. Without investment in autonomous equipment we would not have been in such a strong position to provide these essential parts.

Speaking of the influx of sales back in April, Simon Taylor, Sales Manager at European Springs & Pressings said that orders “Started to ramp up about four to five weeks ago and we suddenly started to get larger orders from them (healthcare companies). By the time they had finished their most recent ordering cycle, they had put in orders for 29,000 parts.”

Despite the exceptional situation, we were more than capable of meeting demand, as Simon went on to add: “We’re a business that does specialise in both quick turnaround and high-volume production.”

Pick Up In Sales As Businesses Get Back To Work

Whilst it has been well documented that some industries have been hit harder than others when it comes to the impact of Coronavirus, the manufacturing sector has, on the whole, bounced back in terms of orders.

One of the biggest players in the manufacturing industry is the automotive sector, and whilst it’s been a slow start to life after lockdown for most businesses, things have started to pick up in recent weeks. There’s no doubting that the automotive industry was one of the worst hit, but with encouraging signs coming out of the sector more recently, there is a real cause for optimism for other industries picking up following the peak of Coronavirus.

Want to find out more about how the manufacturing industry may be affected by the Coronavirus pandemic in the coming months? As leading spring manufacturers in the UK, we are consistently keeping on top of the very latest updates in the sector and will be updating our blog page with the latest news coming out of the industry. Keep a close eye on our blog page for more of the most up to date goings on in the manufacturing world!

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought about a number of changes in the way that each and every one of us live our lives on a day to day basis. Not only that, it’s also brought about significant changes in the way that all sectors operate in the workplace, and that’s no different for the manufacturing industry.

Robotics have played a vital role in manufacturing for a number of years now, but in recent months there’s been a real reliance on autonomous machines due to a lack of human staff being able to work within factories up and down the UK.

As one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers, we understand just how important IOT and robotics are to the future of the manufacturing industry, so our experts give some of our insight into the main reasons the sector needs to invest in robotics in the coming years.

IOT & Smart Factories’ Vital Role During Pandemic

Before the Coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe, IOT and Smart Factories were already well-established within many manufacturing businesses around the world, and there is good reason for this. From being able to autonomously work all hours through the use of robotics, to equipment being able to accurately assess when it requires maintenance work, or if product quality was slipping, these innovations have already started to shape the industry for the better. COVID-19 has simply accelerated this process and reaffirmed the need for robotics in the industry.

With employers now needing to take into account a whole host of health and safety issues, including adhering to social distancing measures in the workplace, along side maintaining staff well-being, robotics in manufacturing really does come into its own.

We have already seen many companies continue to thrive during and after the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, with equipment being able to autonomously work alongside a skeleton staff of human employees to ensure products created are of the highest standard. This has played a vital role in keeping many businesses within the manufacturing sector afloat, whilst also ensuring that social distancing measures are easily adhered to within the workplace, keeping all employees safe.

Robotics Take Giant Leap During Pandemic

There’s no denying that robotics have been a key part of the manufacturing industry for some time, but in recent months there has been a huge leap in the productivity and innovation seen within the robotics industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has given robotics experts from around the world a real impetus, as they race to develop and deploy innovative technological solutions that are capable of addressing the numerous challenges faced by a huge range of industries due to the current crisis.

One of the major developments to come about this year is seeing robots capable of performing disinfection tasks in public and commercial spaces. Utilising robots to disinfect workplaces could well become the norm, especially in the manufacturing industry, as autonomous equipment is already playing a vital role in the supply chain. By reducing the need for human interaction with potentially infected areas, businesses can rest assured they are doing everything within their power to reduce the likelihood of any COVID related outbreaks within their workplace.

Whilst it’s fair to say that robotics are constantly evolving, there is still a need for robots that are capable of fulfilling more than one task. This has been an area of focus for researchers for a number of years now, as the need to shift to multi-task robotics has grown in demand from companies around the world. The advancements we have seen during the Coronavirus pandemic has certainly given many scientists and robotics developers the confidence that creating autonomous innovations can be done in a short space of time, it’s now up to developers to take the next step in providing multi-purpose robotics.

For the manufacturing industry it would be ideal to see a robotic solution that is capable of not only creating products and highlighting when it is due to either breakdown or requires maintenance, but also actively fix any internal issues by itself. This would take a lot of pressure off engineers within manufacturing businesses, as the autonomous machines could effectively work completely alone to some degree.

Want to find out more about the latest developments in the manufacturing industry? Be sure to regularly check in on our news page as our experts are constantly giving their take on the latest and greatest innovations within the sector, as well as sharing the very latest company news coming out of European Springs & Pressings!

As a leading spring manufacturer, here at European Springs, we know what customers should be looking for when they need custom springs made to their exact specifications. However, perhaps you’re new to the world of spring manufacturers, you know you need some springs, but you don’t know how to differentiate between different manufacturers to make sure you’re getting the best springs for your needs.

To help you make that all-important decision, here’s what you need to be looking for when looking for that perfect spring manufacturer:

Wide Range of Metals

You don’t want a spring manufacturer that has a limited variety of metals that they can craft into springs for you. Different metals have different purposes and advantages, depending on their application. Some metals are more malleable than others; some metals are more suited to more tightly coiled springs whereas other metals lend themselves to looser springs with more elasticity. You need a manufacturer that can work with a wide variety of metals, so they don’t just provide you with the right kind of spring design, but that the spring itself is made from the most effective metal for its purpose.

Here at European Springs, we work with a wide range of metals including steels, copper, titanium alloys and even super alloys like Inconel, Hastelloy and Nimonic.

Variety of Spring Designs

Springs come in all sorts of styles and varieties, including custom made springs designed exclusively for your needs. Different kinds of springs have different purposes. For example, you will find compression springs inside pens, switches and automotive suspensions, whereas extension springs are often found on garage door hinges and trampolines.

So when choosing your spring manufacturer, make sure they have the ability to design and manufacturer a wide variety of springs so you can get the most suitable spring design for your needs. At European Springs, we manufacturer the most extensive spring range in the UK including compression springs, torsion springs, tension springs and wire forms. We can also tailor the length, force, movement, damping, connectors, colour and finish of any spring to your exact requirements.

Quality Products

Aside from the design and the metal your springs are manufactured from, they should also be top quality products that are going to last. You don’t want springs that are going to give out and need frequent replacement, so make sure your spring manufacturer produces only the best in spring technology. Our facilities include the latest range of large-scale, high-end spring coiling machines and presses, ensuring we can craft high-quality springs every time.

Cutting-Edge Equipment

To stay on top of the spring manufacturing industry, a company needs to invest in top-quality equipment. As designs become more sophisticated, so do the machines that make the springs and they need to be updated so they can cope with the rising demand. That’s why at European Springs, we invest in the very latest machinery and technology.

We have two factories in Cornwall and one in Kent with a manufacturing capacity of over 7000sqm. Our facilities include the latest in high-end machines and presses, and we stock over 2000 tonnes of material and hold the largest supply of silicon chrome wire in the UK. For large orders of pressings and stampings, we use Mabu Zani and SMV, which are among some of the most advanced pieces of equipment in the industry.

Accreditations

Accreditations are essential for manufactures and engineers. They give the customer assurance of the quality of the service and products they are receiving from a company. So familiarise yourself with some common accreditations in engineering and manufacturing so that you can see if your spring manufacturer is the real deal.

At European Springs, we hold ISO 9001, the International Standard for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001, Environmental Management, as well as being members of the Institute of Spring Technology. So you can be assured in the high-quality springs that we can produce for your needs.

Professionalism and Experience

Don’t settle for amateurs when looking for a spring manufacturer. To guarantee you will get the high-quality you’re after, the best thing you can do is opt for a long-established company with many years of experience and an excellent reputation. Check online for reviews and read about the history of the company to see how long they’ve been operating.

We have a 70-year heritage, and with all these decades of experience, we continually invest in the absolute best in spring technology so we can design, quote, manufacture and dispatch your products in just three weeks.

Customer-Centric

It’s all well and good having a spring manufacturer that can provide you with what you need, but it’s even better to have that from a company that also puts customer service at the forefront of everything they do. By opting for a customer-centric spring manufacturer, you are guaranteed that they can provide you quality products, whilst also keeping you informed every step of the way.

At European Springs, we are continually adapting to meet the ever-changing requirements of customers. Our high levels of technical experience and innovative solutions and professionalism allows us to provide the highest standards of dedicated service at unbeatable prices.

When looking for a spring manufacturer, don’t settle for anything less than the best. As professional spring manufacturers, European Springs know what it means to be at the top of the game. For all your spring requirements, including bespoke designs and custom springs from a comprehensive range of materials, we can offer you a complete service from prototypes to full production. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help your business.

The automotive industry is forever adapting to a rapidly changing world. Consumers are drawn to technology that makes their lives easier, and that includes how they get around. The automobile is no longer just technical, it is a social commodity that allows for personal mobility and social participation, and their very existence shapes our cities and landscapes.

With that in mind, the future of the automotive sector is about the user, making the vehicles more efficient, safer and enjoyable to drive. Here’s what we can expect the future of automobiles to look like:

An Electric Future

A shift that we are already seeing happen rapidly before our eyes: the car of tomorrow is electric.

The UK has already announced a ban on selling new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035, setting the stage for the future of car manufacturing. No doubt in response to this shift, car manufactures all over the world have been releasing entirely electric car models for the electrification of the future.

The move to electric cars could give the UK economy a £24 billion boost over the next five years. Electric vehicles are increasingly common, and many can be charged at home or the increasing number of available public charging stations. The main caveat in the electrification of vehicles is how much battery power they can store, which can limit how far they can go before needing a recharge. As battery technology improves and their manufacturing costs decrease, their environmental advantages will draw more and more drivers to make the switch.

A Connected Future

As technology has developed, everything has become more connected, from our phones, to our laptops and even our fridges. The connected car is another future development we can anticipate. It involves the networking of cars with other cars, or with the increasingly intelligent transport infrastructure (like traffic lights).

Soon connected features will be a must-have for all cars, as each vehicle becomes a source for receiving and transmitting information that allows for increased safety and efficiency. GPS is already available in the majority of new cars, and real-time tracking is increasingly available, as well as offsite engine monitoring.

Soon, with vehicle to vehicle communication, cars will be automatically aware of the position and movement of other vehicles and changing road conditions. Interactive road signs and traffic lights will communicate with cars to allow course and speed corrections without driver intervention. And this leads us further to the reality of the driverless car.

Autonomous Driving

There has been rapid progress made in autonomous driving as artificial intelligence and machine learning make driving without human intervention a possibility, even in complex traffic situations. This will completely redefine the use of individual mobility.

In the last five years, progress has been made, and driverless vehicles have been out on the roads being tested. But some elements of autonomous driving have already become mainstream, with certain car manufacturers already including automatic parking in their high-end models.

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailings. The death of a 49-year-old woman who was hit by an autonomous Uber after it failed to brake sent shockwaves throughout the industry. It led to Uber temporarily suspending their driverless vehicle programme and has raised concerns over the safety of their testing programme.

But Britain is still spending millions of research and development funding on driverless technologies and infrastructure. So, while they may not have hit the roads yet, we can expect to see over the next few years levels of automation increase.

A Car Sharing Future

This may come as a surprise to come, as cars have always been seen as allowing an individual the freedom of movement, but the future of the automotive industry is car sharing.

Many big cities have been offering car-sharing facilities for years, but they are likely to increase alongside the introduction of autonomous vehicles. It will no longer be about searching for a shared vehicle in your area, but being able to order vehicles to appear wherever you happen to be with an on-demand service.

Connectivity and autonomous vehicles will likely make people rethink ownership of cars. Instead, users may only pay for the journeys they need, forgoing the responsibilities of individual ownership. With the implementation of connectivity and autonomous driving, car-sharing could see significant growth as access to vehicles when required becomes much more efficient, and consideration for the planet encourages users to forgo individual journeys. However, with the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing, it’s possible that this growing industry could experience disruption.

Whatever direction the automotive industry takes, it’s clear that it is going to be a very different industry from what we know today. At European Springs, we love discussing the future and potential growth of technology. We are spring manufacturers who have been providing compression springs, tension springs, torsion springs and suspension springs to a wide variety of industries, such as automotive, aerospace, nuclear and pharmaceuticals for many years. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more about our services.

Some businesses within the manufacturing industry did take a hit during the Coronavirus pandemic, but as more businesses return to work and adapt to the new normal, there is optimism around the sector.

Taking a closer look at how manufacturing is making a comeback, we discuss some of the key areas that businesses within the sector must focus on to ensure they are capable of getting to pre-pandemic levels.

Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 has been the buzzword in the manufacturing sector for a few years now, and there is good reason for this. The fourth industrial revolution has seen the introduction of smart factories, which use connected machines and intelligent robots alongside more traditional manufacturing technology – all of this married up creates a seamless smart factory that is capable of running almost autonomously.

All of these systems are fuelled by data and machine learning, so they are capable of improving overall efficiency over time, and this is especially important in times like these.

The current digital revolution has showed no signs of slowing down, even with the issues faced by firms around the world following COVID-19, so Industry 4.0 is only set to grow even further over the coming months.

Businesses that have already extensively invested in Industry 4.0 technologies have reaped the benefits of this technology already, as they have been able to let machines do most of the heavy lifting during and after lockdown, allowing human employees to focus their efforts and attention elsewhere.

Focus Placed On ‘Best Of British’

Over the past few months, there has been a real focus on buying local, and there is a strong belief that this may well filter through to companies utilising British-based companies more prominently. Many manufacturers are being quick to jump on this trend and are placing heavy emphasis on the fact they’re a British company, producing British products, and are generally receiving a positive reception from clients.

If there is a real push for the Best of British over the next few years, this will inevitably see the manufacturing industry recover and thrive.

Adjusting Processes

With social distancing measures in force for the foreseeable future, there’s been a requirement for almost all businesses to adjust their processes in one way or another. The manufacturing industry has managed to navigate this potentially tricky roadblock with relative ease, by simply allowing their modern technologies to take the driving seat with most of the work.

Employees have been either redeployed, or had their roles tweaked ever so slightly, to ensure the smooth running and operation of their in house technologies. There has also been significantly more focus on adapting to the ‘new normal’ from all employees, who are constantly looking for more efficient and socially distanced ways of working.

Whilst adjusting processes has always been a primary focus for all those who work in manufacturing, in order to achieve the best outcome for clients, the added focus that has been placed on this can only be a good thing for the industry moving forward. The resilience the industry has shown and the willingness to adapt and enact change following the pandemic surely means that the industry will only come out of this period better prepared for events like this in the future.

Investment in The Latest Technologies

Businesses that have focused on continually investing in the latest technology within their field have managed to continue thriving through these uncertain times, thanks to little to no dip in productivity levels despite working with reduced staff numbers.

As one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers, we have placed a lot of emphasis on investing in the latest technology to ensure our processes are as slick as possible. Through continual investment in our technology we have increased our output and overall efficiency, and this has helped us to navigate the coronavirus pandemic with relative ease.

We could operate with a skeleton staff and allow our modern spring coiling machines to do the heavy lifting with little intervention from our employees. This simply wouldn’t have been possible without the equipment that we have invested in, so we cannot overstate just how important having the very latest technologies available to your business is!

Whilst it is fair to say that the manufacturing industry has dipped over the last three months, since lockdown measures have been eased there have been encouraging signs for a revival. The coming months will show just how well the industry has adapted to the ‘new normal’ but early signs do look promising; at European Springs & Pressings we will continue to adapt our work in line with government guidance, and strive to do so without having an adverse effect on our customers.

Be sure to regularly check in on our blog for the very latest news coming out of the manufacturing industry, and more reaction and updates on how the sector is dealing with the fallout from the Coronavirus pandemic.

With many manufacturing businesses continuing to work throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s fair to say that some of the equipment your business uses on a regular basis will be in need of some TLC. Focus has been placed predominantly on ensuring that orders are met, and this has meant that for many manufacturers, the regular equipment maintenance schedule they once had in place has been put on hold.

Here, we take a look at some of the benefits of focusing on equipment maintenance right now, whilst also giving you some insight into some of the steps you need to take to ensure you’re giving your equipment the right level of attention.

Benefits Of Carrying Out Equipment Maintenance Now

There are a number of benefits to carrying out equipment maintenance right now, from guaranteeing the safety of your staff to preventing machine breakdown. Here’s just a few of the main positives you can expect to see if you do happen to carry out equipment maintenance in the coming months:

It’s no secret that the manufacturing industry has soldiered on throughout the pandemic, but this could well have come at the cost of ensuring that maintenance schedules were adhered to throughout the last 3 months. It’s essential that all of your equipment is properly maintained to ensure the highest levels of efficiency, but even more importantly to guarantee that all of your machines are completely safe for your employees to operate.
With social distancing measures set to be in place for the foreseeable future, now is the ideal time to redeploy some of your staff to focus on maintenance for all of the equipment in your workplace. This enables your company to maintain social distancing with all employees, whilst also having the added benefit of ensuring that all of your equipment is fit for purpose.
If you take the time to ensure your main production line equipment is in fully working order, you can stand to save yourself the headache of dealing with equipment downtime if it does happen to break.

Focus On Preventative Maintenance

One of the first things you should consider doing when your full workforce is back in, is focusing predominantly on preventative maintenance for all of your equipment. This essentially means that you should assign some of your staff to give each piece of equipment a full check over, and ask them to keep an eye on any issues that could well crop up in the near future. This might be seeing general signs of wear and tear from a potentially older piece of equipment, or simply finding that your machines are simply not as efficient as they once were.

Once your staff have identified any problem equipment in your factory, it’s essential that you get experts in to fix any issues with your equipment as soon as possible. Taking steps to find issues and fix them ahead of a machine fully breaking down or becoming completely inefficient is essential at any time, but is especially important in the current situation as extended waiting times can be expected for most equipment in the manufacturing market.

Schedule Regular Maintenance Check Ups

If the pandemic has thrown your regular maintenance schedule into disarray, don’t worry! It’s fair to say that Covid-19 has thrown all businesses off their regular working schedule, so things like maintenance check ups have been put on hold at the moment. However, it’s essential that your business does take the time to implement a new servicing schedule to ensure that none of your equipment is faulty or in need of repairs.

Once you have a schedule in place, it’s essential that you assign an expert to regularly and consistently checking up on the overall health of your equipment throughout your facility. These check ups could well highlight some issues with your equipment that do need attention in the near future – and this could stand to save you a significant sum of money over time.

Don’t Be Afraid To Replace

If you do happen to find that one of your main pieces of equipment is in need of replacing, it’s important to remember that even if you have done your utmost to maintain it throughout its lifetime, machines will eventually break down. Whilst it’s not ideal, especially with current circumstances, it’s best to act quickly and place an order for a new piece of equipment as soon as you notice any issues that cannot be rectified.

Acting quickly is essential in this case, as any downtime could cost your business a significant amount of money, especially with many manufacturers finding themselves extremely busy with most businesses heading back to work in recent weeks. Always be sure to speak about just how long it will take for your new piece of equipment to be manufactured and delivered with suppliers, as lead times could be longer for some businesses than others!

As one of the nation’s leading spring manufacturers, we take great pride in ensuring that we consistently update and maintain our equipment on a regular basis. Just last year we invested heavily in a whole host of new spring manufacturing equipment across our three sites, and it’s fair to say that the increased productivity and efficiency those machines have brought to the company are well worth the initial investment!

Author: European Springs Web Team