From springs that go into the mouthpieces for ventilators to catheter clips to syringe drivers, patient beds and trolley systems, instrumentation and numerous electrical components for medical technologies including defibrillators, European Springs & Pressings is proud to play a key part in the supply chain for a number of medical equipment manufacturers.
Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director of the Beckenham factory says: “We have developed tooling and manufactured medical components for the healthcare sector for decades but today’s climate and subsequent increase in demand has highlighted the market share with which we and our customers operate in.
We manufacture springs, pressings and gas struts for engineering companies and subcontractors across a broad spectrum of the healthcare industry. Requests for rapid turnaround times has made us see the fuller picture and resulted in us operating new production schedules to meet demand.”
With 1 million mouthpiece springs taking approximately 125 machine hours to manufacture and other product lines in the tens of thousands, the advanced design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities across European Springs & Pressings factories, from London to Cornwall, are working together to help combat today’s public health emergency.
McSheehy concludes: “We manufacture the largest range of springs and pressings in the UK and have some of the most advanced high-volume machinery available. At peak, our machines can manufacture 5 million springs an hour and we have repurposed and upscaled specific production lines to manage orders.
Normally validation as a new supplier takes months of trials before volume production but in this very abnormal period we’ve been fast-tracking processes to suit our customers and are beyond proud to be able to play a supportive role in today’s climate.”
It’s fair to say that UK manufacturing has had to endure a huge amount of turbulence over the past few years; so, it would be safe to assume that all is not well within the industry. However, that simply isn’t the case, with plenty of statistics coming from a range of credible sources, which highlight how the industry is not only surviving, but thriving. In this piece, we aim to give you an overview of some of the key manufacturing statistics for 2020, in the form of some simple and easily digestible graphics.
UK Manufacturing Stats 2020
The following statistics were taken from Make UK (formerly known as EEF) and show that UK manufacturing currently:
Smart Factory Technologies
Smart factory technologies are already well embedded into most major manufacturers internal processes throughout the UK. In the Annual Manufacturing Report 2019, a whitepaper that was resourced by the team at The Manufacturer.
When it comes to adopting the new technologies, there has been some resistance from businesses across the UK, and the research carried out by the Manufacturer backs this up. When posed the question of where their business is on the smart factory adoption journey, there were mixed results:
27% Currently have no plans to implement
Skills and Training
When it comes to skills and training within the manufacturing industry, it’s no secret that many businesses are left frustrated by the lack of resources available to ensure young people have the transferable skills that are applicable to the sector. There is particular focus from employers around the UK on the fact that the Government is not taking enough action to ensure there are sufficient education routes into manufacturing.
51% believe the Apprenticeship Levy is a tax on employment and is inefficient at driving apprenticeships
57% said the education system is a disaster for the industry, and it requires an overhaul
71% believe apprenticeships are developing into a real alternative to higher education
Growth and Exports
From a business owner’s perspective, growing a business will always be high on the list of their priorities. Whilst growth of individual manufacturing businesses is a necessity for the wider UK manufacturing industry, it’s important to remember that Brexit could make things significantly harder when it comes to exporting goods on a regular basis. Despite Brexit placing more pressure on manufacturers than ever before, respondents to The Manufacturers survey were generally optimistic about the future. At European Springs, we are always on the lookout for the very latest news that could affect our position as one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers, so be sure to check in our blog regularly. Our team offer expert insights on the major issues affecting the manufacturing and engineering sectors, whilst also bringing you some of the key statistics from the industry.
There is no doubting the fact that manufacturing will become increasingly reliant on AI technology in the coming years. To some extent, there is already a significant amount of reliance on AI within the industry, especially in the US and China. But just how does the UK stack up in terms of AI investment in the last year?
In this blog, we will answer that question, whilst also giving you some insight into exactly what AI is and some of the major applications it is used in within a manufacturing environment.
What Is AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to any task that is performed by a machine or a program, that if a human had carried out that exact same activity, we would suggest that the human had to apply intelligence to accomplish the task. This is a pretty broad definition, so another way of looking at AI is that it will usually display some of the following human behaviours:
Perception
Learning
Planning
Problem-solving
Knowledge representation
Motion
Reasoning
Creativity
Social intelligence
What Can AI Be Used For?
AI is used extensively throughout a whole host of industries, but it’s also used in many products and applications that the average person will use in day-to-day life. A great example of AI technology that is used by a huge percentage of the population every day would be virtual assistants such as the Amazon Alexa or Apple’s Siri.
In manufacturing terms, AI is used extensively throughout the industry, with the technology used to:
Conduct Quality Checks – Quality checks of all products is an essential part of the manufacturing process. Having AI technologies conduct product checks is a fantastic way to lighten the workload of employees, whilst also guaranteeing the precise accuracy of each and every product manufactured.
Carry Out Predictive Maintenance – Equipment and machines breaking down can cause real issues for manufacturers, as they will have to put measures in place to operate at normal capacity during the equipment’s downtime. It’s therefore essential to prevent downtime where possible, and with AI technologies, there is a real opportunity to do so. Predictive maintenance has quickly become one of AI’s most important roles in the manufacturing process, as the technology can give insights to engineers when a machine or equipment is likely to breakdown or require maintenance. This can help reduce machine downtime from days or weeks to just hours.
Make Use of Data – Whilst this is a pretty broad statement, there’s no doubt that AI can help gather vast amounts of data and process it in a way which provides valuable insights into how things can be improved within a manufacturing firm. Data gathered could help supply chain and risk management, whilst also providing an overview of predictions on sales volume and product quality maintenance.
Digital Twins – AI technology in digital twins gives engineers a clear oversight of the general wear and tear of a machine and how it interacts with other devices. There has been a real surge in the number of digital twins used within the manufacturing industry, as it has helped companies more accurately predict when a machine is likely to break down or when they require some maintenance.
Where Is The UK In The AI Investment League at Present?
There has been a real surge in public and private investment in AI technologies from companies around the world, with the likes of USA and China soaring ahead in recent years.
The top 5, in terms of private investment in AI technology in 2019, is as follows:
USA – $65 million
China – $14 million
UK – $5 million
Israel – $3 million
Canada – $2 million
Whilst the latest figures are encouraging from the UK’s point of view, it’s essential for the growth of the UK’s manufacturing industry to continue investing in the latest AI technologies, so they do not fall behind other countries.
Other countries from around the world look set to challenge the UK in terms of private investment in AI in the coming years. The likes of Israel, Ireland, Finland and Singapore, all of which are AI-driven economies of the future, all of which are putting significant funds towards advancements in the technology.
Experts believe that the UK’s footing as one of the world’s largest investors in AI technologies could be genuinely under threat, and without more intensive investment in the coming years, development could be stifled.
Here at European Springs & Pressings, we are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest technologies that are capable of solidifying our position as one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers. We firmly believe that AI will be critical to the growth of the UK’s performance on the world stage, so it’s essential that our government support manufacturers in implementing AI technologies into businesses as soon as possible.
The manufacturing industry is constantly on the move, and due to the ever-changing nature of the sector, there are always plenty of new developments to keep an eye on. We tasked the team here at European Springs & Pressings with finding some of their favourite emerging stories from within the industry for this blog.
Here’s a selection of our favourite stories coming out of the manufacturing sector in 2020!
Can Supercomputers Boost Efficiency?
There’s no denying that supercomputers have completely revolutionised the way many employees work across multiple industries, but just how much of an affect do they have on the manufacturing industry?
A recent article from Industry Week questions if supercomputers can genuinely boost efficiency, taking a closer look at some of the benefits supercomputers can have in a whole host of sectors.
The article also takes an in-depth look at how supercomputers can help throughout the entire design and manufacturing process by gaining insight from a leading research group. Be sure to read on to find out more about supercomputers, especially if your business is interested in investing them in the near future!
The Electric Vehicle Dream – Is It Achievable?
The rise of electric vehicles on our roads is national news on a weekly basis at present, but it’s worth considering how close to achieving the ‘electric vehicle dream’ we actually are. Whilst there has definitely been an uptake in the amount of electric vehicles used in the UK, there is still a fair few issues stopping the majority of the public purchasing electric vehicles.
In this particular piece, The Engineer has pieced together an expert panel to discuss some of the most pertinent questions surrounding electric vehicles. Taking a look at issues such as a lack of charging infrastructure around the UK hampering uptake of electric vehicles, this article is certainly thought-provoking and highlights some of the major issues that need to be addressed before electric vehicles are commonly seen on our roads.
You can find out more about electric vehicles in the full article by heading over to The Engineer!
How Will Machine Learning and AI Impact the Manufacturing and Engineering Sector?
Machine learning and AI are impacting the manufacturing and engineering sector more than ever in 2020. Both machine learning and AI are now embedded in many of the workflows within businesses around the world, giving companies a whole host of information to improve their internal processes.
Whilst there are some obvious benefits that machine learning and AI will have on the manufacturing and engineering sector, the article from Interesting Engineering takes a closer look at just how large of an impact these technologies will have on the industry. It also addresses just how manufacturers can adapt to the new technologies, integrating them into existing internal processes and workflows.
If you want to find out more about how machine learning and AI will impact the manufacturing and engineering sector, why not check out the full article on Interesting Engineering?
Turning AI Into ROI
Ensuring that your business receives the best return on investment from each and every piece of technology involved in the workflow is essential. This is no different when it comes to AI, as any business owner will want to see just how effective the new technologies have been when it comes to increasing efficiency.
It’s no secret that AI can be extremely effective, no matter what the nature of your business is, so this particular piece will be of use to a whole host of businesses.
BCG have put together a six-step plan on how to drive business value through artificial intelligence, so you may find this especially useful if you have just invested in AI recently.
Tesla Announces 500th Supercharger in Europe
Last month, Tesla announced that they have opened their 500th Supercharger station in Europe. The charging station, located in London at the Park Royal service centre, also marks the beginning of the deployment phase of V3 Superchargers outside of North America.
It has taken Tesla 7 years to implement 500 Supercharger station’s across Europe, with a further 4200 Superchargers across the world in 24 countries. The company hopes that this landmark achievement will continue to see more road users begin to use electric cars in Europe, thanks to increased accessibility to electric power points throughout the region.
As one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers, our team always keep up with the very latest developments from the manufacturing and engineering industries. Be sure to regularly check in on our blog to find the latest news coming out of the industry, as well as a whole host of news stories from European Springs & Pressings.
European Springs & Pressings parent company, Lesjöfors AB, are delighted to announce the acquisition of shares in Northampton based company, Metrol Springs Ltd, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of a whole manner of gas springs. Metrol Springs specialises in the manufacture of tooling gas springs, special purpose gas springs and gas struts.
Metrol has grown a reputation as one of the leading gas spring manufacturers in the UK, as they provide a wide range of standardised products including conventional gas struts. Over the years, the company has enhanced its product offering with the addition of linear actuators and a constantly expanding range of industrial hardware.
Lesjöfors identified Metrol Springs as a company of interest due to their diversified customer base in the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia, as they serve industrial and automotive customers. In total, Metrol currently exports to more than 20 countries around the world.
Speaking of the acquisition, retiring Lesjöfors President, Kjell-Arne Lindbäck, said: “With its main business areas being gas springs and gas struts, Metrol will broaden the Lesjöfors Group’s offering for both existing and new customers. The decentralized, technical and sales-orientated business culture within Metrol mirrors the philosophy we have at Lesjöfors, which will make it easy to work closely in our joint development of this business.”
Recently appointed Lesjöfors President, Ola Tengroth, also commented on the transaction: “I look forward to supporting the development of Metrol going forward along with its strong management team, which is now fully integrated within Lesjöfors.”
Metrol’s principal owners, Andrew Marks and Robert Lamb, and directors Paul Hynes and Chris Pegram, said: “We are incredibly happy for the company to become a part of a group that has a global market presence with extensive knowledge of our business concept and ethos.”
In addition, Paul Hynes and Chris Pegram state: “We appreciate the decentralized structure of Lesjöfors and are looking forward to staying on and continuing to develop the company further.” Robert Lamb is also enthused by the prospect of his continued involvement in Metrol as part of the expanding Lesjöfors team.
With the UK officially leaving the European Union on 31st January 2020, many manufacturing businesses are looking for ways to ensure their business isn’t negatively affected. Whilst it’s fair to say that Brexit will undoubtedly have some teething issues, especially on the manufacturing sector, there are some things that your business can do to minimise its impact.
In this article, we aim to give you a few tips on how your business can overcome the Brexit effect whilst also highlighting what areas have already been affected by the decision to leave the European Union.
What’s Currently Being Affected?
Before delving right into some of the measures that your company can put in place to lessen the affects of Brexit, it’s worth considering some of the biggest affects Brexit has had on the industry.
Workers – As expected, the number of EU nationals working in the UK has steadily declined over the last 3 years. With a large number of employees of UK-based businesses already making the shift to other EU countries – among these workers are a significant number of highly skilled workers.
Weak Currency – In recent years Pound Sterling has taken a significant dip in value against many other currencies. This has caused significant issues for many manufacturers with imports costing more, and it’s fair to say that Sterling doesn’t look set to soar back to early 2000 levels of strength any time soon.
Trade Barriers – Following the EU referendum, input price inflation increased significantly due to a depreciation in the trade weighted value of the pound. With trade deals with other nations around the world currently up in the air, it’s difficult to speculate on just how much of an affect this will have on manufacturers in the UK as of yet.
How Can Businesses Avoid Being Adversely Affected?
Investment in Smart Factory Technologies
Whilst it may sound counter-intuitive to start investing more money into your business in the current manufacturing sector landscape, the importance of Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory technologies cannot be understated. With the ability to save time and money in the long run, by reducing the need for human intervention with the supply line, Smart Factory technology is the future of the manufacturing industry.
In January 2018, the Government released a strategy for a post-Brexit modern industrial strategy that would be put into place over the coming years. This strategy promised billions of pounds of investment in manufacturing technology and Industry 4.0 in a bid to boost the sector to continue competing on a global scale. The manufacturing industry could certainly benefit from significant investment, and the introduction of more Smart Factory technologies could propel UK manufacturers into contention with global manufacturing heavy weights such as China and the United States.
Whilst there has been no official word on when the funding will be available and how it will be distributed, it’s worth keeping a close eye out for news on this in the coming months. Smart Factory technology genuinely has the capability to change the landscape of the UK.
Find A Way To Keep Goods Moving
With the UK officially leaving the European Union, it’s time to start thinking about how you can ensure that your business can continue to import and export the goods you require with little to no interruptions. The major worry for many manufacturers is obviously the costs that may be added to import and export tariffs, but there are also concerns regarding the lead times for importing essential components.
We would recommend that you begin by enhancing the relationships you already have with your current suppliers and the businesses you are currently exporting to. This is an essential step to take as you can work with the companies you are importing from and exporting too to find a suitable work around following the UK leaving the European Union.
One tactic many manufacturers are currently exploring is considering trade opportunities with countries outside of the EU, such as China and the US. Whilst it’s still early days, trade deals will be being explored by the UK Government, so it’s worth taking a look at all of the international trade options you have available to you.
We would also suggest that you are completely clued up on the very latest on trade deals that our Government is trying to strike with other countries, this will inevitably mean that your business is in a position to make arrangements ahead of time.
Invest In Your Staff and Hire The Right People
Our final and probably most important recommendation is that you continually invest in your existing staff and hire the right people to fill any gaps within your business. As with any business, the employees you have in place will either make or break your long-term success, so it’s well worth investing in the people you believe are capable of driving your business forward.
With Industry 4.0 set to play a vital role in the future of manufacturing, it’s imperative that you have a team that is capable of integrating new technologies into your existing work processes. Whether you look to upskill internally, or hire from outside of your business, the importance of having a multi-skilled team cannot be understated in the UK post Brexit.
It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t forget about bringing in apprentices and graduates into your business. Brexit offers the perfect opportunity to upskill your workers internally, so looking to hire some enthusiastic young employees who are eager to learn can only be a good thing!
Here at European Springs, we take great pride in ensuring that we are always forward planning for the next big technological advancement or political development that could affect our development as a spring manufacturer. It pays to guarantee that your business always has it’s finger on the pulse of the very latest developments within the sector, so be sure to check in regularly on our blog, as we will regularly post updates on the key topics within the manufacturing industry.
At European Springs, we are always on the lookout for the very latest news that could affect our position as one of the UK’s leading 
