Exhibition season will soon be in full flow and European Springs & Pressings will be flying their flag across a number of UK exhibitions this year.

Reaching audiences across a large number of sectors including agriculture, rail, electronics, mining, construction, lighting, power generation and medical technology, to name a few, European Springs & Pressings are on exhibition across the UK throughout the year.

Exhibition

Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director says: “We are quite unique to other UK spring makers in that we cover a whole variety of disciplines. Manufacturing tension, torsion and compression springs with diameters from 0.03mm to 65mm, pressings and multi-slides up to 130 tonnes and by having an unlimited design spectrum of wire forms, places us in a prominent position. With the stamping, coiling, multi-slide, heavy coiling, high speed stamping and assembly facilities, as well as both high and low volume production capabilities, we have a lot to be proud of, to market and shout about.

“Serving clients from across the pharmaceutical to heavy plant and equipment sector to major blue-chips to specialist niche companies, we’re active across numerous sectors and where better than to communicate our diversity than across a wide reach of exhibitions targeted at the sectors we specialise in, showcasing European Springs & Pressings as innovative, lean manufacturers with exceptional engineering expertise in the spring coiling, wire forming and pressing industries.”

European Springs & Pressings upcoming exhibitions include:

29-30 Jan, National Manufacturing & Supply Chain conference & exhibition, Dublin, Stand F04

11-13 Feb, Southern Manufacturing Show, Farnborough. Stand A135

27 Feb, Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain conference, Belfast Stand E7

12 Mar, FAST live, British Motorcycle Museum.

20-24 Apr, MACH, NEC. Stand 6-712

28-30 Apr, CV Show, NEC. Stand 4A02.

McSheehy concludes: “These exhibitions will enhance European Springs & Pressings provenance, open up new opportunities, enable us to introduce our newly expanded sales team and add value to the sector through our quality tailored service.

“Come along and meet the team, discover our product range and explore what European Springs & Pressings can do for you.”

As another year comes to a close, we would just like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

We can’t wait to work more closely with you in the New Year, and hope to see plenty of new and existing clients returning with a whole host of design requirements.

We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to highlight just a few of our main successes throughout 2019 too, so sit back, enjoy a mince pie and read on!

European Springs Christmas

European Springs & Pressings Investment

Throughout the last 12 months, we have extensively invested in both our Beckenham and Cornwall sites to ensure we are capable of meeting our client’s demands on a regular basis.

Throughout 2020, we invested in three new coiling machines to treble our spring production rate per hour at our Beckenham site.

We also spent €1 million on a brand new Wafios FUL 166 at our Cornwall factor, the first of its kind in the UK and one of only two in the entire world. This innovative piece of equipment has allowed European Springs & Pressings to create CNC coiling wire diameters from as small as 0.03mm right up to 17mm.

In September 2019, we invested in the an Aqua Grinder, which has been brought in to enhance European Springs & Pressings large wire grinding quality and quantity. The installation has enabled us to increase our output capabilities by 400%, which will enable us to fulfil even more orders in the New Year.

Our final addition of this year was a 700sq metre powder coating line, which has allowed us to double throughput, improve the end quality of our products and enhanced our spring manufacturing process.

If you would like to learn more about our successful year in more detail, be sure to check out our blog that takes a look back at 2019 in more depth!

Spring Manufacturing Facility ES

If you require an experienced spring manufacturer in 2020, be sure to get in touch with our expert team in the New Year. We have over 70 years’ experience within the industry and take great pride in ensuring that we offer a whole host of bespoke services to meet our customers exact requirements.

With the New Year just around the corner, we thought now would be the perfect time to take a look back at 2019, highlighting some of the very best stories that came out of European Springs & Pressings. From vast investment in our current operations to huge success from our exhibitions this year, we will take a closer look at major events in 2019 in more detail.

Investment In New Technologies

As one of the most trusted spring manufacturers in the UK, we take great pride in ensuring that our design and assembly processes are as slick as possible. That’s why we are always on the lookout for new and innovative technologies to enhance our internal processes, so we can then pass on the cost and time savings to our valued clients.

Three New Spring Coiling Machines At Beckenham

At our Beckenham site, we took delivery of three new spring coiling machines, this enabled us to treble our spring production rate per hour. The new machines have enabled our team to win a contract for 2020 for 12 million pieces of single springs, an order that we wouldn’t have been able to accommodate in the past.

Investment In UK First Wafios FUL 166 Expands Production

At European Springs & Pressings Cornwall, we have also invested extensively in new equipment to enhance our output capabilities. Our first investment came in January with the addition of a €1 million coiling machine. The Wafios FUL 166, was the first of its kind in the UK, and one of only two in the world. With a capability to expand our portfolio of products, the introduction of the machine allowed us to create CNC coiling wire diameters from as small as 0.03mm right up to 17mm.

The addition of the Wafios FUL 166 was attributed to the storming start to 2019 that European Springs & Pressings had, with an increased capacity to meet customer demands.

John Murley from Wafios with Michael Gibbs MD of ESP - in front of the UK's first Wafios FUL166

Aqua Grinder Quadruples Output

In September 2019, we invested in the acquisition of a new Bennett Aqua Grinder, which was brought in to enhance large wire grinding quality and quantity. Since installing, the equipment has allowed us to increase our output capabilities by 400% and has vastly improved our level of service.

Michael Gibbs, Managing Director at European Springs & Pressings Cornwall factory, said “Adding the aqua grinder to our infrastructure of grinding production systems has raised our performance across multiple platforms.

“The quality of finish is exceptional, and we’re delighted to be able to strengthen the level of delivery we offer our customers and increase production alongside demand.”


New Powder Coating Line Doubles Production

In November, our Cornwall site also introduced a new 700sq metre powder coating line, which has increased our offering in terms of spring sizes and output capabilities. The installation of the new large-scale powder coating line has since allowed European Springs & Pressings to double throughput, improve the end quality of our products, whilst also to enhance the spring manufacturing process.

Speaking of the investment at our Cornwall location, Michael Gibbs, said: “Our parent company, Lesjofors, has invested millions across our Cornwall operations in recent years and this is a testament to the hard work of our team and the quality of our product lines. Bucking the widely broadcast reservation in investment, their response to our customer’s demands has seen our company turnover grow from £19m to £23m in the last two years.

Bennett Aqua Grinder 1200 (1)

Most Successful Exhibition Season Ever

Throughout 2019, the European Springs & Pressings team have placed heavy emphasis on ensuring we have a presence at all major manufacturing and engineering exhibitions in the UK. In total, the European Springs & Pressings team attended 14 events this year around the UK.

At each of the exhibitions, our team have been on hand to offer expert insight into commonly faced issues from businesses around the manufacturing and engineering sectors, with a real emphasis being placed on highlighting our vast capabilities as a bespoke spring and pressing manufacturer.

As 2019 comes to a close, we have seen a surge of new business from networking at exhibitions. In total, we have already secured orders in excess of £100,000, with an impressive pipeline of potential orders that should begin filtering through in the New Year.

Following the success of exhibitions this year, we will once again be identifying exhibitions that we will be attending throughout 2020, whilst also strategizing how to best approach industry events next year.

Exhibition

Finally, we would just like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of our valued clients for your support this year. We will continue our momentum into the New Year, where we have plenty of grand plans to ensure that our spring manufacturing capabilities are grown even more. We hope to see you in the New Year, where we will almost certainly have plenty of news to share with you about our plans for 2020!

European Springs & Pressings, one of the largest suspension spring manufacturers in Europe, has confirmed its position and commitment to the automotive sector with the recent purchase of a large-scale powder coating line.

Doubling throughput, improving quality, enhancing efficiencies and capable of managing a wider spectrum of spring sizes, the acquisition is a further investment in the spring manufacturers future.

Michael Gibbs, Managing Director says: “Our parent company, Lesjofors, has invested millions across our Cornwall operations in recent years and this is testament to the hard work of our team and the quality of our product lines. Bucking the widely broadcast reservation in investment, their response to our customer’s demands has seen our company turnover grow from £19m to £23m in the last two years.”

Additionally, new software and touch screen systems are being installed to further enhance the control, efficiency and productivity of the new line, alongside new digital response units which monitor and enhance the powder coverage across the spring units.

Gibbs concludes: “Despite today’s political uncertainty, our faith in UK manufacturing is certain.”

 

The engineering industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies being introduced at an alarming rate. With so many changes within the sector, it can be difficult for young people looking for a career within engineering to know what skills they will require when they do end up starting their career within the industry.

In this article, we take a closer look at a study conducted by a prestigious company, highlighting some of the key engineering roles we are likely to see in the future. We will also delve deeper into some of the concerns young people have when it comes to taking up a career in engineering.

Automation

BAE’s Study Into Engineering Jobs of The Future

A recent study conducted by BAE Systems highlighted some of the issues young people are facing when it comes to future-proofing their careers, with just 18% of respondents feeling they have the skills required to ensure longevity within their career.

The study found that 47% of young people aged between 16-24 believe that they will one day work in a role that doesn’t yet exist. Further to this, a staggering 74% believe that they are not getting adequate information about a career that will be available in the future.

Young People Want Clearer Guidance

BAE Systems’ study found that 70% of young people felt that they needed much clearer guidance on the skills that will be in demand in the next 20 years in order to make better-informed decisions on further education and potential career paths. It’s fair to say that more must be done by all businesses within the engineering industry to ensure that any potential candidates are completely clear on what types of skills and qualifications they will require to be eligible for engineering jobs in the future.

If the engineering sector is serious about addressing the skills gap within the industry, then a clear progression path must be implemented. This progression path should show students the direction they need to take throughout their academic life in order to have a chance to take up a specific role within the engineering industry.

Augmented Reality

What Jobs Are Likely To Be In Demand in 2040?

Some of the top engineering careers likely to be seen in the future will obviously include AI, VR and robotics in some capacity. From their research, BAE Systems found that the following jobs roles are most likely to be in demand 20 years from now:

Human E-Sources Manager – Utilising performance-based wearables or e-textiles to measure data such as workload, wellbeing and output among other variables, a Human E-Sources Manager will likely be an integral part of the engineering workforce in 20 years’ time. It’s fair to say this role will be well received by many within the workplace, helping to identify if employees are becoming ill, whilst also being capable of offering occupational support or additional training to employees who require additional backing. Whilst this may seem like space-age stuff at present, the reality is that the technology is not far off being completed and rolled out.

AI Translator – With humans and robots inevitably working closer together in the coming years – AI Translators’ will be responsible for ensuring that both the human and robot are fully trained. The primary aim of this role will be to help develop an effective and productive relationship between human and robot. The AI Translator will be responsible for tuning the AI assistant effectively, completely tailoring it to the human worker’s exact requirements. By ensuring that human and robot are able to work in tandem from the off, companies will see a significant uptake in productivity and output.     

IIOT

Auto-Advisor – With more and more engineering firms placing emphasis on robotic automation, there will be a significant rise in roles which could be referred to as ‘Auto-Advisors’. With humans and robots set to work together closer than ever before, an ‘Auto-Advisor’ will provide advice to companies on areas of their business where robotic automation can be applied and provide fruitful results. They will also be in charge of ensuring that each business who does choose to utilise robotics in their day-to-day production is working in line with official guidelines set out in the future. The main role of this individual will be to ensure that robots and humans can work as efficiently and productively as possible in tandem.

AI Ethicist – As the years go by, AI is trusted to make more complex decisions, which could become troublesome in the future. AI Ethicists’ primary role will be to ensure that each AI is programmed, deployed and maintained in a responsible manner – all whilst ensuring that the AI does not display any biases or deviate from serving the needs of the company it works within. This role will become ever more important as AI begins to become more advanced, and we give it more responsibility in the coming years.

VR Architect – Responsible for using virtual and augmented reality to help map and monitor the lifespan of parts within applications – VR Architects are likely to be one of the most important employees within the engineering sector in 20 years’ time. With vehicles and electronic applications becoming complex with each passing year, it’s vital that we are able to accurately predict when parts require maintenance or when they are failing. By creating ‘digital twins’ (essentially an AI model of an actual vehicle or electrical product), the sector could benefit from proactive maintenance and upkeep, helping to save significant money and downtime issues.

Here at European Springs, we take great pride in ensuring that we keep on top of the very latest technological advancements in the engineering sector. With over 70 years’ experience as one of the leading spring manufacturers in the UK, European Springs understand just how important it is to future proof our business, taking advantage of the latest technologies available to us – that’s why we have continually invested in our internal processes and a number of newly available technologies in the last year.

An annual analysis of the world’s manufacturing landscape found that the UK’s manufacturing output is now worth £192 billion – making them the world’s ninth-largest manufacturer.

According to the research, the top ten largest manufacturers in the world are:

  1. China
  2. United States
  3. Japan
  4. Germany
  5. South Korea
  6. India
  7. Italy
  8. France
  9. United Kingdom
  10. Brazil

In this article, we take a closer look at the key findings from the report and explore some of the reasons that UK manufacturing has maintained its strong position despite the pressures of Brexit.

Spring Manufacturing Facility ES

Key Findings from the Report

The research, which was conducted by Make UK (formerly EEF) and Santander, highlighted just how important the success of manufacturing in the UK is to the wider economy as a whole. Delving deeper into the output of major manufacturing nations in the world, along with other key statistics, the research takes a closer look at the overall impact the manufacturing industry has on the UK.

Manufacturing now accounts for two-thirds of overall research and development in the UK, 45% of total exports and 15% of business investment. The study’s findings further highlight just how important the manufacturing industry is to the UK, especially during and after Brexit has occurred.

The North West of England has the largest output in manufacturing, with over £28.5bn worth of products being created – this was closely followed by London and the South East of England, with each region producing £28.1bn.

Since 1948, the UK’s industrial sector has increased by 1.4% according to a recent report from the Office for National Statistics. If the current growth trend within the industry continues, the UK will break into the top 5 manufacturers in the world by 2021.

It’s fair to say that the UK manufacturing industry has a whole host of positive statistics to boast despite the threats posed by Brexit. Along with fantastic growth figures in terms of output, the manufacturing industry can also be proud of its commitment to employing a large percentage of the population. Listed below are some more of the manufacturing industries

  • The UK manufacturing industry employs over 2.7million people
  • UK manufacturing provides 13% of all business investment
  • Employees earn an average of £32,500 per year
  • Accounts for 45% of total UK exports
  • Contributes to 11% of GVA

Speaking of the report, Seamus Nevin, Chief Economist at Make UK, commented: “These figures lay bare the overwhelming importance for manufacturers of trade with our closest market and the need to avoid imposing any barriers which will make this more difficult.

“The figures also provide an important reminder that we’re still one of the top ten biggest manufacturing nations and we want to see policymakers working with industry to help move UK manufacturing up the rankings.”

Robotics In Engineering

Why Are UK Manufacturers Performing So Well?

With all of the issues brought about by Brexit negotiations in the last few months, it’s fair to assume that the manufacturing industry would have suffered and potentially slumped in terms of output. However, the industry has continued to maintain a high production level throughout the year, which has led to some positive figures in the latest research carried out by Make UK.

The Office of National Statistics has attributed the sustained growth to a number of variables, including,

  • A better, more skilled workforce that is capable of producing quality products within tight timeframes.
  • A shift in production from low to high productivity goods, meaning that the UK’s workforce were able to produce more products within the last year.
  • Vast improvements in automation and technology – whilst it is no secret that many manufacturing businesses have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on enhancing the technology available to them, the research confirms that this investment is paying off in terms of productivity.
  • There is also an argument that increased investment in research and development within the manufacturing industry has played a role in the rise in output. With our manufacturers being afforded the time and given the budget to research up and coming innovations, the UK can stay one step ahead of other countries manufacturers.
  • The final suggestion is that there is a more integrated global economy this year.

Engineers Working

As one of the largest spring manufacturers in the UK, the team at European Springs take great pride in ensuring that we do our bit to maintain the UK’s productivity within manufacturing. By investing in the very latest technologies to maximise efficiency and maintaining our highly skilled workforce, we are capable of producing over 3 million components every hour. We will continue refining our internal processes over the coming years in a bid to become as efficient as possible, utilising a mix of highly-skilled workers along with the latest and greatest manufacturing technologies.

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