Category: News & Updates

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.     

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.

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.”

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.

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.

It’s fair to say there has been a genuine issue with getting young people involved with the engineering industry over the past few years. With dwindling numbers of skilled workers within the sector, more must be done to change the image of engineering for young people.

There is a common misconception that most young people simply do not have the skills or required grades to become a high flying engineer – whilst some simply believe that the engineering industry will be ‘boring’ to work within.

In this article, we take a closer look at just how important it is for the engineering industry to appeal to young people and some of the ways businesses can ensure they are doing their bit for the industry as a whole too.

The Importance Of Appealing To Young People

It goes without saying that it is absolutely vital to work on changing the image of engineering as a whole for young people. Ensuring that enough young workers are interested in working with the industry is vital to the growth of the sector as a whole in the coming years.

With a significant skills shortage already plaguing the engineering industry, and more skilled workers expected to be lost following Brexit, there is a genuine need for more young people to start considering engineering as their career of choice. Whilst young people certainly couldn’t be expected to come into businesses and fill the shoes of seasoned industry professionals, there is hope that following a few years of intensive training, through apprenticeships and entry-level roles, that the skills gap will begin to close.

It’s fair to say that some progress has been made in making the industry appeal to a younger demographic in recent years, with the introduction of apprenticeships enabling young people to come into the engineering industry with little to no previous experience. There has also been a focus on introducing and encouraging STEM subjects for students from schools around the UK over the last couple of years, which has allowed students to gain the skills required to have a solid footing within the engineering industry.

How To Change The Image Of Your Business For Young People

In recent years, a lot has been made about the importance of changing the image of individual businesses within the engineering industry. The thinking is that if each engineering business appeals to younger people, the engineering sector as a whole will. Here’s a few simple ways to enhance your company’s reputation with young people:

Carry Out Workshops in Local Schools – Engaging young people by encouraging participation in fun engineering-related activities, workshops within schools, colleges and universities is a great way to get young people involved in engineering. Simple activities complemented by some of the key facts on employment within the sector, potential earnings and career paths can be a fantastic way to enthuse young people about engineering as a career in the future.

Introduce Work Experience Opportunities – Many businesses within the industry are reluctant to allow young people into the business for work experience. Whilst it can be seen as an inconvenience, work experience is a fantastic way to engage young people and get them seriously considering a career within the engineering industry. Constantly shutting down any applicants for work experience can have a significantly negative effect on the engineering industry as a whole, as the sector can appear closed off and unfriendly to young people.

Introduce an Apprenticeship Scheme – Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to introduce aspiring engineers into your business, whilst also giving your business the opportunity to gain a potentially skilled worker at the end of the course. Apprenticeships have been reshaping the industry over the last few years, and businesses who are taking part in the schemes have seen apprentices learn their trade on the job, gaining valuable skills, which has led to the vast majority of apprentices taking up roles within the business on completion of the scheme.

Attend Job Fairs – Whilst it’s likely that your business already does this, it’s worth considering how you are communicating with the young people you come into contact with at these events. If you are simply setting up a stall at the job fair and discussing opportunities within the sector, you may find that you are struggling to engage young people, so you may want to consider including some interactive elements within your stall. Getting young people engaged by having some simple engineering puzzles or quizzes could be a great way to help your firm identify young people who have potential too!

As experienced custom spring manufacturers, we are committed to ensuring we do our very best to encourage young people to enter the wonderful world of engineering. That’s why we have been running our very own apprenticeship for the last few years, which has proved to be extremely successful. We have seen several of our apprentices blossom into fantastic spring manufacturers of the future, and we look forward to our current crop of apprentices having a long and successful career within the engineering industry.

To what extent is the manufacturing environment still a male-dominated environment, and how can individual businesses make a positive change to the industry’s gendered landscape? In this article, we’re talking about why gender equality in the workplace is vital to the success of businesses everywhere.

Women are Critical for Your Company’s Success

This year, IndustryWeek released an article titled ‘women are critical to manufacturing’s future’. Incorporating women into your business isn’t simply a matter of equality – important though that is – it is a pre-requisite for your company’s success.

Research has found that equal gender distribution amongst low-skilled workers is more likely to improve their productivity, dependent on the size and type of the firm. It’s not all about productivity, however, improving gender equality is going to save you money in the long term because better gender equality means better employee retention rates, which translates to fewer expenses on recruitment, interviews, hiring and training.

There are plenty of benefits you could be reaping from improving diversity in your workplace, starting with women. By employing a variety of people, you are going to be encouraging greater perspective in your business which will help with problem-solving.

If we step outside of the individual company and turn to look at nations as a whole, then we can see that the employment of women in skilled roles across a range of disciplines is vital for staying at the top of the market. The World Economic Forum has found a correlation between a country’s competitiveness and how it educates and – more importantly – how it employs its female talent. If equality is so vital on the global front, then it surely affects businesses at lower levels too.

Introducing Women into the Workplace

Women were first properly introduced into previously male-only territories during World War I when manpower was being diverted into the armed forces. Today, women in the workplace don’t arise out of national necessity, so women are still fighting for places in work.

IndustryWeek looks at American studies, which are somewhat comparable to the British workplace. They quote a study from Women in Manufacturing, finding that only 7% of respondents thought of manufacturing as a field that offers opportunities for young women. To bring more women into the manufacturing environment, it is vital that we start by changing perceptions of our industry.

We can see similar efforts being made in STEM at education-level as our nation attempts to shift perspectives on vocational learning and apprenticeships for the better. For individual businesses, similar initiatives may need to be employed to make a real change. We’re thinking about offering equal opportunities apprenticeships to encourage women from a young age, as well as working to provide stunning female role models within the industry that young women can look up to and work towards.

This means encouraging your current female workers to pursue the skills training that they need to achieve higher roles. By promoting your female workers and placing them in visible roles, you will find it easier to recruit more women in the hiring process because they will see that yours is an environment which will allow them to grow and achieve.

European Springs and Equality in Manufacturing

Discussions about improving gender equality are only the beginning; improving the face of manufacturing and encouraging productivity in your business will require effort, planning, and dedication.

At European Springs, we have great staff retention and plenty of initiatives to encourage diverse members of today’s youth to start their career in manufacturing. As a nation, we need to aim to achieve 50/50 by 2020 if we want to pull ahead of the global competition.

If you’re keen to start actively participating in diversity equality, then take your business to the annual Diversity & Inclusion in Manufacturing summit on November 14^th in Liverpool this year. There is plenty more to be done, so learn from the best at the summit where you can participate in lectures and discussions. A good place to start learning is with McKinsey & Company’s Diversity Matters report.

European Springs are reliable spring manufacturers dedicated to improving the face of manufacturing. We believe in delivering the highest levels of dedicated service with unbeatable prices; you can find out more about our products by contacting us.