News & Updates Archives | Page 18 of 76

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!

It’s fair to say the last few months have brought up some negative stories around the industry due to the Covid-19 situation; however, in the last month there have been some fantastic, positive news stories pouring out of the sector.

Here, we take a look at some of the biggest stories from around the manufacturing and engineering world, whilst offering some of our own insights on each story.

UK Manufacturing Shows Signs Of Recovery Following Covid-19 Pandemic

Recent figures have shown signs that the UK manufacturing industry is showing signs of recovery following some of the worst damage inflicted during the Covid-19 outbreak. A survey from HIS showed that factory output had declined at a significantly slower pace in May than it had in April.

These positive signs came after lockdown measures had been eased slightly during May, which highlights how the industry is ready to get back to work, whilst employing social distancing measures to ensure the safety of all members of staff.

It should be noted that over the course of June, the figures should continue to show more signs of recovery for a larger range of manufacturing businesses, with most non-essential shops and workplaces set to open on the 15^th June.

It is vital that each and every company that works within the manufacturing and engineering sector do all that they can to get our industry back up and running, as our products and services could well hold the key to the country’s wider economic recovery in the months and years to come.

To read the full article, why not visit The Guardian’s website?

75% of People Now Believe In The Importance Of UK Manufacturing

New research has emerged that shows that 75% of people now believe more strongly in the importance of UK manufacturing. The research, which was conducted by Cadence Innovation Marketing, involved 2000 adults from around the country.

The most enlightening finding from the report was that 75% of people are now firmly behind the manufacturing sector, mainly down to the way the industry has stepped up to meet the challenge of supporting the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The nation has plenty of faith in the industry and believes that it genuinely has the power to help the economy get back up and running over the coming months.

It also found that 76% of people are concerned about cheap imported goods being brought into the UK in the wake of Covid-19, further highlighting just how important it is for UK manufacturers to continue growing their output and creating high-quality products.

As a UK based spring manufacturer, this news is fantastic to hear and we will continue doing our part to ensure the good name of manufacturing in this country continues to go on.

You can read more about the research by visiting The Manufacturer, where you’ll find more insight on other aspects of Cadence Innovation Marketing’s findings.

SpaceX Rocket Launch & Successful Docking With ISS

Spacecraft are a breath-taking feat of modern engineering and manufacturing, and in late May, after a delay of a few days, SpaceX’s craft successfully launched in America. The successful mission marks the first time that NASA astronauts have launched from US soil on a commercially built spacecraft. It was also the first manned launch of a spacecraft for nearly 10 years.

Launching on Saturday 30^th May at 3.22pm, SpaceX Crew Dragon docked with the International Space Station around 19 hours after take-off on Sunday morning, in a journey that saw the spacecraft orbit the earth at speeds of up to 17,500mph.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX corporation was founded in 2002, and since then has set about achieving the goal of enabling people to live on other planets in the future. This successful mission will hopefully go some way to achieving this goal in years to come.

You can read more about the journey, and find a few videos of the spacecraft in orbit by visiting The Engineer.

New Electronic Material is Stretchable, Self-Healing and Illuminating

New materials are constantly being developed and tested, and though each of these materials is impressive in its own way, the new material which has recently come out of the NUS Institute for Health and Innovation & Technology definitely caught our eye.

HELIOS (Healable, Low-field Illuminating Optoelectronic Stretchable) is a brand new material that can be used in both wearable technology and robotics. Whilst it pretty much sums up what the material does in its name, the material is completely self-healing, stretchable and electronic – a mixture that will stand it in good stead for future invention we are sure. There’s no doubt in our minds that this type of material is definitely the future of technology, and will likely be used extensively throughout the manufacturing industry.

Whilst we could go on forever about this incredible new material, we will instead point you in the direction of Interesting Engineering’s post on this new innovation.

At European Springs & Pressings, we regularly update our news page with all sorts of insights into the world of manufacturing and engineering, as well as with company updates, so be sure to check in regularly to see our latest take on the goings on in the industry.

With the manufacturing industry experiencing disruption as we have never faced before, it’s not surprising that a lot of things have been put on hold. Industry 4.0 was a much talked about subject before the global pandemic, but it still remains a relevant issue now.

In this article, we’re taking a look at how important Industry 4.0 is and how it will be affected going forward.

Why is Industry 4.0 Important?

Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution it’s often called, is the future of manufacturing. With the advent of the Internet of Things, virtual reality, blockchain, drones, Big Data, robotics, augmented reality, and so much more, it’s clear that digital technology plays a key role in manufacturing.

Discussion about industry 4.0 may have been overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis, but many important elements are still set to be implemented this year. 5G rollout is one of them. Artificial intelligence remains just as important as well and many manufacturers depend on additive manufacturing.

There are many benefits to Industry 4.0, including how technologies can help companies to react to the market more quickly (and easily), how work-life balance of your employees can improve, how it’s innovation-centred and how it can lead to fast designs and productions.

The industry is undergoing a massive digital transformation, which can help businesses to remain competitive while driving innovation forward.

Industry 4.0 and Cybersecurity

With so much technology already in the works, cybersecurity is a concern, especially considering how devices are increasingly connected and automated. This can leave them vulnerable to attacks. It’s crucial that technologies are safe against these attacks by having protection built into their code, for example.

Blockchain is helping to ease some of these concerns by creating safer systems. Blockchain allows for decentralised digital transactions where information is securely stored in blocks that are then sealed. This premise allows machines to communicate safely.

So, while it’s crucial to continue advancing technologies, it’s also important to remember that the future of 4.0 will have to include sophisticated security.

Artificial Intelligence

AI and robots will remain just as important and, by 2030, AI-enabled next-generation robotics will transform both industries and society. Technology such as this one will be pivotal in all areas of life, from healthcare and aerospace to electronics and the private sector.

Artificial intelligence allows machines and robots to interact with one another and to learn from and adapt to different situations. This will lead to an exponential growth of industry, from driverless systems in the automotive sector to more intelligence aircraft.

5G Rollout

We mentioned how 5G is one of the main technologies to come out recently, but we can’t expect to see a full-on rollout yet. It’s still early days when it comes to this amazing technology but, once it becomes commonplace, it’s set to impact industries everywhere.

5G will likely continue to be implemented in 2020. This technology will improve automation and increase the speed of information transfer. Machines, including those that work independently, will see a boost in performance because of this. 5G, therefore, can lead to a burst of productivity for companies across the nation and the world as well.

Better Human-Machine Communication

Many people fear that automation will lead to job losses, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Of course, there will be exceptions but, overall, automation will lead to both humans and machines working together. Industry 4.0 will lead to an improvement of cooperation and communication between humans and machines, from better sensors in factories to better artificial intelligence systems.

This, of course, will lead to increased productivity for manufacturers, which will contribute to a financial boost to both the company and the economy.

High-Tech Sensors

Machines already have sensors in order to perform their tasks well. For example, a robot needs to know when to stop filling a bottle or when to stop working if there’s a foreign object on the belt. However, the future of Industry 4.0 will see even better sensors. Machines will self-analyse and constantly monitor themselves; they will also analyse algorithms and predict which tasks are needed from the data they studied.

Unplanned maintenance and downtime could affect companies financially, but this can help them to stay open.

European Springs and Technology

As spring manufacturers, we believe it’s important to stay up to date with the latest technological developments, especially as Industry 4.0 is here to stay – and will have a major impact on the future of manufacturing. This digital revolution has also allowed for increased innovation and creativity, something that will continue to lead to improved machines and solutions.

Our premises are also smart, as we invest a great deal in automation led by humans. This, combined with our modern, cutting-edge machinery, allows us to carry on providing our customers with the best springs, wireforms and pressings in the market.

Get in touch with us to learn more about what we can do for you.

The UK manufacturing sector is constantly changing, and this is especially true amid the current healthcare crisis. Every month, we look at the latest news from this industry in order to showcase what’s been going on; there have been plenty of developments in April, so take a look below at some of our favourite news stories from the last month.

UK Manufacturers are Helping Healthcare

One of the best bits of news to come out in April was the fact that many UK manufacturers have chosen to help the NHS deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. They are contributing to the production of ventilators and other essential tools and equipment, which have helped countless professionals and patients across the nation.

For instance, AE Aerospace produced over 6,000 ventilator parts in less than a fortnight, which was achieved by the staff working 24/7; Composite Integration are using their design and manufacturing capabilities to create face visors. There are plenty more examples of UK companies helping the medical industry.

European Springs are also doing our best to help out – from springs for ventilators and syringe drivers, we’ve been busy contributing to this sector and are thrilled to be able to help professionals across the UK. You can read more about our work in our article “Our Small Medical Components Are Playing a Large Role in Today’s Healthcare Climate”.

Make UK Say Apprenticeships Need to Continue

The manufacturers’ organisation has said that care needs to be taken not to keep the ‘next generation on lockdown’. Make UK believe that engineering and manufacturing employers shouldn’t postpone their apprentice recruitment plans, since more than 2,000 young people are looking for placements.

With many companies considering delaying or cancelling such programs due to the current situation, Make UK knows that manufacturers should look at the future of their business, especially considering how apprentices can offer new ideas that are key for growth.

Vauxhall in the Wirral Might Reopen with Social Distancing in Place

With some countries already easing their lockdown measures, it stands to reason that the UK will follow, sooner or later. So, many companies are already preparing for the inevitable and thinking about how they can ensure production while still obeying safety rules that will, no doubt, remain in place for a while.

The Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, Wirral, is leading the way with its social distancing plans. The company wants to ensure that their employees have a safe return to work, so it has added signs of physical distancing throughout the plant, from the factory floor to rest areas and bathrooms.

Other measures include separate entrances for different groups of employees and the compulsory use of face masks and eye protection.

Re-Energising the UK Aircraft Industry

Founded to re-energise the UK aircraft sector, AERALIS will build innovative aircraft using a modular design in order to motivate a generation of young people to train in aerospace engineering, manufacturing and STEM subjects.

The company plans to provide a modular fighter trainer aircraft range to many air forces around the world, including the Royal Air Force. It’s important that the aircraft have the ability to be repaired several times in a fairly easy way, since they will be used for training. The outer wings, the empennage and the nacelle are likely to be made from composite.

AI is Helping Coral Reef Conservation

Technology is a key part of manufacturing, especially due to the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. Artificial Intelligence is just one of the important technologies that are transforming the sector and the world. From helping to improve manufacturing processes to helping people with disabilities, AI can be used in a range of different ways.

Coral reef conservation is a great example of that. The technology is being used in the Philippines to monitor, characterise and analyse the resilience of coral reefs in an effort to preserve them. Corals create a habitat for many marine species, and are incredibly important for the planet’s ecosystem, so it’s vital that they’re protected.

They are currently being harmed by the effects of overfishing, bottom trawling, rising temperatures and coastal development, so projects like these may be the answer to help coral reefs.

Airbus Will Swap Seats for Cargo to Help Businesses and Trade

Airbus is already looking to swap seats for cargo in order to help airlines and global trade, which are suffering from the effects of lockdown measures everywhere. The aerospace company is developing a modification for their A330 and A350 family of aircraft to allow airlines to install freight pallets onto the cabin floor.

This is aimed at helping airlines to remain afloat and to help curtail the global shortage of cargo capacity. With the modifications, it will also be easier for medical equipment and supplies to be transported. The alterations include increased fire protection and 9G load-resistant capability, so that nothing moves while the planes are in the air.

European Springs are leading custom spring manufacturers, and we believe it’s important to stay on top of the latest industry news. You can also keep up to date with these and other items of news by checking our blog page, where we publish articles related to manufacturing and engineering on a regular basis.

Get in touch today if you’d like to learn more about our products and how we can help you remain competitive in the current global situation.

Category: News & Updates