News & Updates Archives | Page 15 of 75

As one of the leading spring manufacturers in Europe, we understand just how important it is to continually invest and update our spring production machinery. In order to continue providing our customers with the very best spring and wire form products, we are constantly on the lookout for the very best CNC coiling machines to optimise our existing processes.

To showcase our commitment to continually improving our offering to clients, we take a closer look at our vast array of spring machinery. In this article, we will be placing focus specifically on our products made from wire.

Compression Spring Manufacturing Process

When it comes to manufacturing compression springs, we have the production capability of manufacturing up to 400,000 units a day. This is achieved by only investing in the very best in spring manufacturing technology.

In total, we have over 20 coiling machines, including the likes of Wafios FUL and FES making up the majority of those.

Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director at European Springs & Pressings, discusses why we chose to predominantly invest in Wafios technology for our spring operations.

He said: “Wafios is widely regarded as the best of the best when it comes to spring coiling technology within the industry.

“Boasting unrivalled levels of efficiency, high-speed production and stability and reliability like no other in the industry, we have chosen to invest in this technology to consistently give our customers the very best products at all times.”

Back in 2018, European Springs & Pressings became the first company in the UK to invest in the state-of-the-art Wafios FUL166. At the time, this high-end spring coiling machine was one of only two in use in the world and helped us to expand our already vast spring portfolio.

Speaking at the time of the investment, Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings in Cornwall, said: “Investing in this quality of machinery is testament to our dedication of being a world-class spring manufacturer.

“Lesjofors, our parent company, is committed to investing in the UK and has consistently recognised the forward-thinking nature of our management and the unrivalled quality of our production and lean manufacturing processes.”

Following production, our springs will go through a number of other steps to ensure they are ready to be shipped off to customers. With springs going through a stress-relieving procedure, then on to tunnel ovens, pre-setting, aqua grinding and then in-house powder coating. Of course, the process that each spring follows is dependent on the requirements of our client, but we do take great pride in our capability to meet any client demands when it comes to producing compression springs.

We have the capability to add a range of finishes to the springs we produce, with a large number of our springs having a powder coating of zinc phosphate, but our customers can request a wide range of finishes depending on the spring’s final application.

Wire Forming

We also have a full range of wire forming capabilities, which generally refers to the production of the torsion springs, tension springs and wire forms we manufacture at European Springs & Pressings.

Speaking of our wire forming manufacturing process, Managing Director Stuart McSheehy, said: We predominantly utilise our arsenal of industry leading Wafios FMU machines to manufacture torsion and tension springs, along with wire forms.

Thanks to its unrivalled efficiency, we are capable of producing up to 80,000 units per day within a single shift. To increase productivity, we have paired these spring coiling machines up with a number of ABB Robots to aid with the automation of our spring manufacturing capabilities.”

As with our compression spring process, each customer’s requirements are different, so each of our springs and wire forms will receive a different finishing treatment based on the specific needs of our clients.

In late 2019 we invested in a brand Bennett Aqua Grinder at our Redruth site, which completely revolutionised the grinding capabilities for European Springs & Pressings. Coming with eight heads and a water-cooled grinder, this machine quadrupled our output by not only enhancing our large wire grinding quality but grinding overall.

Inevitably, this addition enabled European Springs & Pressings to continually grow our offering for both compression spring manufacturing alongside wire forming, as we were now capable of ensuring that our grinding processes were not only of a higher quality, but also more efficient.

At European Springs & Pressings, we take great pride in being the UK’s biggest spring manufacturer, and our commitment to each valued customer is second to none. We will take care of every aspect of the spring making process; all you need to do is let us know what you’re looking for! Once we have this information, we will cover everything from the concept and mock-up right through to production and technical support.

With thousands of customers from a huge range of industries, we are capable of meeting even the most unique of customer requirements, thanks to our in-house tooling department. Our tooling experts have years of experience dealing with everything from run of the mill orders to more bespoke projects, so no matter what you’re looking for, we have you covered. Contact us today to see how we can help with your next project.

Significant changes are coming to manufacturing in the UK. With both Brexit and the aftermath of a pandemic on the horizon for 2021, the focus for the manufacturing industry is going to be on reshoring to the UK from abroad.

The pandemic has highlighted the instability of producing goods abroad that cannot make it to UK shores in the event of a crisis. Brexit also looks set to make transporting goods from the rest of the EU more difficult and/or costly. Many manufacturers have already moved their production lines back to the UK, and many more are set to do so in the coming years.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we are proud to be a British-based manufacturer, as demonstrated by our official Made in Britain accreditation. Here’s a look at the Made in Britain organisation and what we can expect from the manufacturing industry over the next years.

What is Made in Britain?

Made in Britain is an organisation that brings the British manufacturing community together under one registered collective mark. This mark can only be used by members of Made in Britain that meet the criteria of being a British manufacturer. The mark helps consumers and buyers identify products that are made in Britain.

The Made in Britain mark is used by accredited businesses that sell goods that have been manufactured or undergone a final substantial change in Britain before going on sale. It is an internationally recognised trademark that helps to promote the very best in British manufacturing.

We are proud to be one of the thousands of manufacturers that are part of the Made in Britain organisation. The mark assures our customers that our products are British-made and that all of the labour that goes into the creation of our products is in Britain.

What are the Benefits of Reshoring?

The challenges brought by COVID19 and the concerns over Brexit has increased the importance of bolstering the UK manufacturing industry, ensuring that supply chains are ready for an uncertain future.

Manufacturers moved production to countries like China to produce their goods more competitively. Still, as the overseas price advantage dwindles, more focus is being put on local products, face-to-face personal contact, and quality assurance – and that is driving business back to the UK.

The recent crisis has illustrated how many companies struggled to get crucial components from existing supply chains when their offshore suppliers were unable to ship them out. It’s highlighted that UK manufacturers need to be more adaptable. Suppose the UK moves more towards domestic production. In that case, it will reduce the likelihood of shortages caused during a crisis, which will be necessary for the future resilience of the UK economy and the manufacturing industry.

Reshoring can also benefit delivery times, as businesses will not have to factor in waiting times for deliveries across the globe, which can be anything from a few weeks to months. Due to the small size of the UK, fast delivery times are almost guaranteed, and issues like returns can be resolved much more quickly.

Lower labour costs from offshoring was an attractive prospect to many businesses. Still, a British manufacturing survey conducted by Lloyds Bank found that 71% of companies intending to bring their operations back to the UK were doing so as they wanted to improve the quality of their goods. It’s a good indication of the high standards upheld by British manufacturers, and it has positive implications for the UK manufacturing industry and supply chains.

Reshoring can improve a company’s ability to be flexible, due to there being less order quantity limitations. There’s also more scope to develop a relationship with local suppliers, which is easier to do from the UK than with a seller overseas. Reshoring manufacturing can improve the UK economy, the job market and the overall quality of products produced.

Is Reshoring Happening Right Now?

The pandemic has highlighted just how reliant UK manufacturers are on overseas supplies, so re-establishing UK production is more critical than ever.

The Lloyds Bank survey showed that 37% of UK manufacturing firms said that they were planning to move manufacturing operations back to the UK that had previously been offshored. More and more manufacturers are joining Reshoring UK, a collaboration of industrial engineering associations that assist manufacturers with connecting to suppliers in the UK to help them transition their business operations back to British shores.

Industrial hardware specialist Albert Jagger re-shored to the UK after conducting a risk assessment of their supply chain and evaluating the financials of the process. They found that once they factored in shipping, handling and the environmental impact, the overall terms were better for the customer, and the outgoing costs would be cheaper for them. They invested in the equipment needed to manufacture in the UK and reskilled their workforce. The benefits for them moving operations back to the UK was that they could take complete control of their products from start to finish; they expect a significant increase in the number of units they produce each year and they saw a substantial rise in sales.

We can expect more manufacturers to make similar changes over the years as the instability of the pandemic and Brexit causes people to think more about the future.

Here at European Springs & Pressings, we are expert spring manufacturers offering a bespoke spring and pressing design service that is manufactured in our factories in Cornwall and Kent. Contact us today to find out why we are the largest manufacturer of springs in the UK and discover what we can do for you.

Who would have thought, that the ground breaking design and manufacture of expansion and movement control joints, enabling the world’s buildings to stand the force of earthquakes, all begins in Cornwall and Devon?

European Springs & Pressings in Penryn, Cornwall, manufactures springs for South Brent based Vexcolt, one of the world’s leading producers of expansion joints and movement control joints.

Covering every continent across the globe, including buildings as iconic as Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia to The Shard, to Jewel Changi airport in Singapore to the O2 arena, Vexcolt design and manufacture joint systems that enable buildings to absorb up to one metre of movement, when an earthquake strikes.

Arun Kingwell, Technical Specialist at Vexcolt says: “The UK is often misrepresented for its manufacturing capabilities, let alone Devon and Cornwall. However, here we are with two SME’s, working together, making a product that significantly contributes to the safety of infrastructures around the world.

We have technical sales offices in the UK, Europe, India, China and South-East Asia but we manufacture in the South West. It’s great to work with European Springs & Pressings as it enables us to not only deliver a high-end quality manufacture message but also a Made in Britain status that we’re very proud of.”

Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings concludes: “It always surprises people how much a spring is depended on for multiple functionalities across so many diverse industries.

Vexcolt’s global influence in construction management, delivering solutions to complex building movement problems across all building types, is an engineering feat to behold. It’s an honour working with them and it puts a huge smile on the team’s faces, knowing their spring production is at the centre of safety for so many buildings across the world.”

The manufacturing industry accounts for a large proportion of the economy in the UK, so it’s fair to argue that it could well hold the key to the economic recovery of our country in the coming years. We take a look at some of the most compelling reasons behind the argument that the manufacturing industry could well hold the key to the UK’s economic recovery. We will look at data which highlights just how important the manufacturing industry is to the UK’s overall recovery, whilst also addressing some of the key things manufacturers in the UK can do to make a genuine impact.

The Facts and Surveys

With any popular argument, there are sure to be an array of stats and surveys trying to prove different sides. On the other hand, it appears that most of the information available in this case does indeed point towards the manufacturing sector as the key to the UKs recovery. Let us observe some of the data we have publicly available:

Manufacturing accounts for two thirds of R&D
Manufacturing accounts for 45% of exports
Manufacturing accounts for 15% of business investment
Manufacturing holds 2.7m high-value jobs, better paid than the economic average
The UK remains the ninth largest manufacturing nation, globally

(From Make UK and Santander)

To boot, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that the 1.4% sustained yearly growth since 1948 in the sector can be attributed to a workforce that has more skill than it used to, a shift in production to focus on more high productivity goods, and a better integrated global economy.

The Annual Manufacturing Report from 2019 has further findings to indicate the relevance of the manufacturing sector in our current ecological climate:

81% of manufacturing companies want to invest in new technology to boost productivity.
71% find that Brexit is damaging planning and business prospects
55% believe the government could do more to promote exports.
66% believe the British people at large do not understand the importance of manufacturing to the global economy.

(The Annual Manufacturing Report 2019)

Results

One thing is clear, from spring manufacturers to car creators, the manufacturing industry is, undoubtedly, key to the recovery of the UK. Making this dream become reality, however, requires a united front, innovative practice, and national support.

The question, then, is how to implement this. Most of the aims and struggles faced by the industry at large can be traced back to one key problem; that most companies believe that manufacturing is under appreciated by the British people. You might ask yourself what understanding this possibly changes, but we think that it could be integral to the improvement of the sector and the UK’s recovery.

The national lack of respect for manufacturing’s place in the global economy has repercussions. 57% of manufacturing companies believe that the education system is a disappointment for the sector. With the onset of the fourth industrial revolution, it is paramount that the industry secures passionate, talented new workers with cutting-edge ideas.

As automation becomes more and more prominent, the skills gap grows ever wider and ever ominous. Young people simply aren’t aspiring to manufacturing anymore, but this doesn’t mean that the sector can survive without the workers. No, instead of the national education system directing a healthy percentage of our youth towards the industry responsible for two thirds of R&D, the businesses themselves are having to suffer the strain of creating their own training schemes and academies to attract new workers.

European Springs

Like many other businesses in manufacturing, we also believe that the future rests on the shoulders of the younger generations. To give them the best chance to succeed, it is vital that they are trained with the skills this country needs to excel.

Apprenticeships can bring great benefits to the companies who employ them, too. Skills Training UK stated that each apprentice has the potential of bringing gains to productivity of more than £10k per year for their employer.

Not only do apprentices bring immediate gains for their employers if properly trained and taken care of, another finding of the same study revealed that 80% of customers preferred to buy from companies that support apprenticeships.

Over the years apprenticeships have been extremely important to us. We’ve been proud to support a number of upcoming engineers in the past and look forward to the days when we can return to college careers fairs to extend our visibility to the people of the future.

If you’re looking for enthusiastic, talented, and precise spring and wire form manufacturers, you should contact us of look through our stock catalogue. We also offer bespoke solutions if you have specific needs that require expert attention.

Springs can be made from lots of different materials, and not all are made from metal. The end-use for the spring will inevitably decide its form and the materials it is made from. Learn the difference between a titanium spring and a copper alloy spring here.

Steel Springs

Steel is one of our favoured materials for creating springs. Steel is iron alloyed with elements like carbon, to create a strong yet pliable spring. Of course, steel isn’t a one-size-fits-all for springs; the purpose of the spring will dictate the percentage of the alloy, as well as how it is treated.

We can produce steel springs for a range of purposes. Here are just a few of the steel types we create springs from:

Cold drawn low-alloy steel
Hardenable spring steel
Stainless spring steel
Stainless spring steel with anti-corrosion
Stainless spring steel for high temperatures
Stainless spring steel, non-magnetic
Combination steel; non-magnetic, anti-corrosion, acid-resistant

Each of these steel types must be carefully chosen, created and modelled into the spring of your choice, and each subtle adjustment to the make-up of the material must change how we approach the spring-making process, too.

We have been spring manufacturers for many decades, however, and are well experienced with the intricacies of spring formation. We also understand that every spring matters, and when it comes to springs for motor industries or healthcare industries, a slack in quality at any point could become dangerous. As such, we pride ourselves on our deep understanding of spring engineering and its value to society. We concentrate on providing springs of a consistent quality for our customers.

Cold drawn low-alloy steels have the benefit of improved tensile strength, and often has a brilliant finished quality that makes it aesthetically pleasing. This could be important if your springs are going to be on show. The low-alloy nature of our cold drawn steels is created by adding in elements such as nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, and depending on the percentages used can grant your average steel spring with greater creep strength.

Our range of stainless steel springs are created from steel with a high percentage of chromium. Regular steel has 10%, but stainless steel uses 17% and some nickel. Stainless steel is best used in applications where yield strength is an important factor, but stainless steel also has high anti-corrosion properties. These properties can be strengthened through subtle tweaks made to the alloy percentages and the finishing of the metal spring.

Stainless steel is almost always cold worked, which can result in magnetism in the spring. This can be an issue in some devices, so it is important to specify or talk to us about whether you will need us to undertake extra work to achieve non-magnetic springs.

More Information About Additional Alloyants

Chromium is a popular alloyant that is used to improve strength, ductility, toughness, and hardness and is present in most types of steel as a result. Other incredibly popular alloyants that are used in carbon steel, which is sometimes referred to as spring steel, includes molybdenum, silicon, nickel, and copper.

We take these for granted, but each of these elements provides their own unique traits. For example, copper is one of the best electrical and heat conductors available on the planet, and silicon is incredibly effective at absorbing shock loads. European Springs also holds the largest stock of silicon chrome wire in the UK, so we’re able to create a wide range of products for a variety of industries and applications.

We understand how the make-up of your springs’ materials will benefit your end project:

Copper Springs

Copper is known for being a fairly soft and ductile metal, which means that it isn’t nearly so suitable as stainless steel is for bearing heavy loads. On the other hand, when the spring also needs to carry an electrical charge, beryllium copper springs might be able to provide the impact strength and anti-corrosion properties that are just right for the product you have in mind.

Primarily used in electrical applications, copper springs can be vital to your final product.

Titanium Springs

In healthcare, the hypoallergenic properties of the metal used might be of the greatest importance. In this case, titanium springs can prove to be the most effective for the end purpose. In contrast to some metals, titanium can be considered a little brittle for everyday use, and it can also be difficult to mould into the desired shape if wielded by an inexperienced company.

When calculated against the pressures it needs to withstand, however, we can figure out how best to solve your problems through the design of our springs.

At European Springs, we test every single type of spring that we manufacture to ensure its strength and durability are up to the mark and can withstand any type of stress and strain.

If you would like to know more about the processes that we use within our spring manufacturing procedures or any of the springs we make including compression springs, tension springs and torsion springs, then you can contact us today on +44 208 663 1800 and one of our incredibly friendly members of staff will be more than happy to help.

The UK manufacturing industry is continuously churning out fantastic innovations. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, this industry has stepped up and continues to make great strides in innovation.

While there have been decreases in the manufacturing of the likes of vehicles throughout lockdown, the manufacturing industry has found new outlets in the form of manufacturing PPE and medical equipment to help the nation fight the virus. Here’s a look at what’s been going on in the manufacturing industry from June to August.

Packaging Giant Confirms UK Investment

The European market leader in the production of recyclable, reusable and returnable plastic packaging, Schoeller Allibert, recently confirmed a multi-million investment programme at its site in Winsford, Cheshire.

According to the Senior Regional Director, the increased adoption of e-commerce and the complex retail supply chains in the UK has shown that customers are seeking new, innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in their warehousing and logistics operations. The investment is fully automated injection moulding technology, which frees up employees from manual roles and allows them to upskill and develop within their businesses.

Automation puts the focus on quality consistency, which drives innovation and improves health and safety, all while offering new opportunities for both employees and customers. The investment is part of a five-year plan at the site to develop the technical flexibility and capability of the factory.

Antimicrobial Technology to Make Air Travel Safer

The aviation industry has been in turmoil in recent months thanks to COVID-19, but now Addmaster has developed an antimicrobial technology to make air travel safer.

In a succession of discussions with the aviation sector, Addmaster is working with the world leader in advanced passenger upholstery systems (MGR Foamtex) to develop MGRSafeWall. This will utilise the proven properties of Biomaster to provide long-term protection against viral and microbial threats on soft furnishings.

Surfaces treated with this technology have shown to reduce the microbial load and reduces the chance of cross-contamination to provide a second line of defence in addition to current cleaning protocols. The technology will address the current COVID-19 threat and deliver long-term value through enhanced hygiene in aviation cabins.

OWR Opens Europe’s First Robotics Demonstration Centre

OW Robotics has launched the first Robotics Demonstration Centre of its kind in Europe for customers and businesses to observe logistics and manufacturing operations through automation.

Based in their Lincoln HQ, the centre will allow UK businesses to replicate their processes in a sandbox environment to get a first-hand experience into how tailored automated robotics solutions could impact their business. Business owners will be able to get a clear understanding of how robotics could meet their requirements, the scalability and how it can reduce training, safety, recruitment and absence costs, and improve accuracy rates. All this can be done before they invest.

The centre is a fully functioning robotics centre with pick stations, multiple rack combinations and an A-to-B robotics grid. Hence, customers can see an estimation of what their solution will look like as the robots mimic their own processes in a simulated environment. OWR owner Greg Downey has already had positive feedback about the centres, with visitors finding the experience “impressive” and “incredible”.

BAE Awards £1 Billion in UK Supply Chain Contracts

BAE Systems has awarded another five contracts worth more than £100 million to suppliers, supporting 250 jobs and helping the nation’s economic recovery by maintaining much-needed skills and capabilities. More than £1 billion has been invested across its Type 26 frigate programme’s supply chain, with more than 100 suppliers globally.

The suppliers awarded contracts will contribute essential work to the programme as the HMS Glasgow enters the water for the first time. The contracts involve companies that provide surface preparation and painting, vessel load out and float off, cable and association work, insulation products and access and containment.

The Type 26 programme has made significant contributions to the UK economy by providing a stable platform for the UK’s industrial skills base. Each Type 26 will be equipped with a range of world-class capabilities, and its close ties with the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy support greater operational, training and intelligence ties between the three nations.

COVID-19 Rapid Antibody Tests Approved for Production

The rapid COVID-19 antibody test developed by Abingdon Health has been approved for professional use in the UK and the EU. This means that the test is now available for distribution for professional use; it will be mass-produced and rolled out from the end of August. Healthcare professionals can administer these tests.

The tests were performed at Ulster University and in Abington Health laboratories, and have shown to be 99.40% accurate. Named the AbC-19TM Rapid Test, it uses a small drop of blood from a finger prick and displays results in just 20 minutes without the need to send the sample to a lab.

The test can help build a picture of how the virus has spread throughout populations, and could also help establish the effectiveness of vaccines, which is critical information to managing the current and future outbreaks of COVID-19.

The process of the development was fast-tracked in just 14 weeks, a process that would typically take ten months or more. Abington Health will produce 500,000 tests a month from October and a million a month from January 2021.

As leading spring manufacturers, we like to keep up to date with everything going on in the manufacturing and engineering industry. We frequently update our news page with industry roundups, so check in regularly to find out what’s been going on in the UK manufacturing industry, and contact us today for information about how we can provide you with springs and pressings.

Category: News & Updates