Over the last 12 months, European Springs & Pressings, has invested over £2.5m in their factories with a further £1.5m invested more recently in a number of new advanced technologies. A new powder-coating line has been installed in a 700 sq. metre extension, a new heat treatment oven acquired and two high-performance spring-end grinding machines complete the recent purchases in Cornwall.
Following a record year for progression and multi-slide tooling orders, further investment continues in the Beckenham factory with £500k invested in a new wire eroder, increasing press tool making capacity by an additional 30%, further enhancing European Springs & Pressings ability to produce bespoke stampings and fasteners in low, medium and high volumes. Work is also currently under way on a new extension, expanding the premises by a further 30%. Three new spring coilers, operating at twice the speed of previous machines, have exponentially expanded production times; securing outputs in the millions in half the time.
Additional new equipment, spread across the Cornwall factories, has doubled the grinding capabilities in the company’s industrial sector and expanded the automotive sector grinding facilities by 400%. The new heat treatment oven and powder coating line increases automotive production infrastructure by 200%.
Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of the Cornwall operations concludes: “Developing enhanced manufacturing capabilities through investment in high-tech infrastructure and education, enables us to sustain manufacturing competitiveness. With a global market place across multiple industries, it is essential that we maintain our reputation for innovation and manufacturing excellence.
“We’re accelerating our expertise in direct response to customer demand and our programme of financing is strategic, reflecting a number of years of record growth.
Our parent company, Lesjofors, has just reported its strongest year ever with €255m in sales in 2018. Together, we’re set to enhance our global positions.”
2018 was an incredibly positive year for European Springs and Pressings; we announced we’d be expanding our Cornwall operation, started up our very own apprentice scheme at our Beckenham branch and even invested in a UK first CNC coiling machine, the Wafios FUL 166. But our success last year didn’t end there; we also had the pleasure of working alongside some of the most innovative up-and-coming companies in the UK, helping to provide component solutions for their products.
In this article, we will discuss some of our biggest achievements in 2018, highlighting some of the incredible products we have played a role in manufacturing.
Designing the Most Beautiful Gin in the World
In 2018, we were invited to design a bottle top for what is probably the most beautiful gin in the world. We were approached by Tinkture, a new and exclusive drink manufacturer who are devoted to delivering a pure, clean element to beverages. We were tasked with creating a signature bottle top like no other. For European Springs, the brief was simple: create a stunning bottle top design, in keeping with the wider brand ethos.
The family-run firm created a world-first by using the finest organic roses to create a rose gin, which can be found in some of the most exclusive drinking establishments across the UK.
Speaking back in August 2018, Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings said: “Working with innovators like Tinkture is everything we love about engineering and manufacturing. To be part of their passion, to be part of a family so focused on achieving exceptional results, helping bring to market a new way of thinking about how we drink, has been a true privilege. Our bottle top design seals an extraordinary journey that simply gets every element right from the clean, organic contents to the processing, right through to the reusable packaging, environmental refills and of course, the taste! Tinkture and their rose gin really is something very special – I drink nothing else now.”
Heating Up One of Britain’s Top Inventions
Here at European Springs, we take great pride in being the spring manufacturer of choice for some of the most incredible new inventions coming onto the market in the UK. We especially love working with individuals who come up with their very own inventions after they spot a gap in the market, and this was just the case with yoomi.
Inspired by a shared frustration of heating up bottles in the early hours of the morning, new parents Jim and Farah Shaikh came up with the concept of a self-warming bottle which warms milk to perfect breastmilk temperature. The pair approached our Kent branch, looking for high-quality clicker spring stamping prototypes to include in the product. After working alongside the company over the course of a few months, we were able to develop the design of our clicker spring stampings in line with Jim and Farah’s exact requirements.
The product couldn’t have been a bigger hit if it tried, as the product sold out within 10 days of being stocked in John Lewis stores. This resulted in an initial order of 3,500 clicker spring stampings being upped to a huge 250,000 and counting, as the product is now available in 24 countries around the world, with sales growing each year.
Our Springs Help Monitor the Health of the Nation
If we are able to ease the pressure on our NHS in any way through the manufacture of springs, then we are more than happy to help. Last year we had exactly that opportunity when Sanandco approached us, requesting assistance in producing several sample prototypes for their new product, MonitorMe. The product is a vital-signs monitoring device and telephone, which comes equipped with sensors, sending temperature, heart rate, blood oxygenation and a proxy for blood pressure to monitor patient’s well-being from home.
The main aim of this product is to reduce the ever-increasing pressure on the NHS, as the product can predict if a patient will become unwell before their condition deteriorates further. Early intervention is a key to ensuring the longevity of the NHS, and MonitorMe is playing a key role in freeing up bed space and allowing the NHS to focus on those who are most in need of care.
Speaking after the product officially launched, Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director of the Beckenham office of European Springs & Pressings said: “Our production processes not only enabled us to supply multiple sample options at the prototype stage but also allowed for small and high-volume production levels and it was this methodology that won MonitorMe. So often the work we do for the medical sector is hushed by confidentiality agreements so, it is wonderful to share the success of MonitorMe.”
It’s fair to say that 2018 was an eventful year for European Springs and Pressings, as we were involved in a whole host of projects for companies big and small. We are excited to see what 2019 has in store and can’t wait to share some of the upcoming projects we’ll have the pleasure of working on throughout the year. If you have a project in mind that requires bespoke stampings and pressings or custom spring design, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team here at European Springs.
In the 21st century, there is an ever-increasing reliance on digital technology in workplaces across the world. On a day-to-day basis, employees across a wide range of sectors will have interaction with some form of digital technology and will be looking to safely store any data they have inputted; this has inevitably led to an increasing need for larger internal server farms and sustainable forms of data warehousing to store the mass amount of data being created across the world each day.
In this article, we will discuss exactly what data warehousing and server farms are and how European Springs and Pressings are helping to address the ever-increasing demand.
What is a Data Warehouse and Server Farm?
A data warehouse and a server farm are actually two separate things. Simply put, a data warehouse is a collection of data which is gathered from operational systems and external data sources. The main purpose of this system is to support business decisions by allowing data consolidation, analysis and reporting. The data warehouse is considered one of the core components of business intelligence, as it stores current and historical data in one place. The end use of all the data collated in a data warehouse is to help companies make informed decisions based on a whole host of data.
These systems are capable of pulling their data from several places such as internal applications like marketing, sales and finance, as well as customer-facing apps and external partner systems. There are a couple of main benefits to investing in a data warehouse, the first of which is their ability to gather a huge amount of reliable data, in one secure location. Thanks to their consistent formatting for data storage, these warehouses also enable companies to make faster and well-informed decisions.
A server farm (also known as a data centre) is usually a collection of servers which supply server functionality far beyond the capability of a single machine. Server farms often consist of thousands of computers, which obviously require a huge amount of power to run efficiently and keep consistently cool. To guarantee the security of the data stored on a server farm, backup servers are often used, which are capable of taking over the function of the primary servers in the case of an emergency.
The most common use of server farms is for web hosting, which requires a huge amount of space and data to effectively operate on a day-to-day basis.
How We Are Enabling Growth Within the Sector
You may have been wondering how a spring manufacturer like European Springs has any sort of effect over data warehousing and server farms? It all comes down to the range of connectors we have manufactured for our client.
One of the main issues surrounding data warehousing and server farms at present is finding a stable and reliable form of consistently powering these systems. With ever-growing strain placed on these systems, we were tasked with creating a connector which could withstand a huge amount of pressure, whilst also minimising the heat produced by the system.
After receiving the brief, we were able to develop a range of high conductivity, high tensile strength connectors for the power application, which are also capable of minimising the heat produced. Whilst our solution managed to significantly reduce the heat produced by the connector, we also succeeded at maximising the total number of connections it can continue to make, ensuring that performance is not hampered.
You might just be surprised at the huge number of sectors that we serve here at European Springs and Pressings. From the electronics and mechanical engineering sector to the aerospace and motor industry, our springs and bespoke pressings play a vital role in a whole host of products across the globe.
Investing in the future is vital to ensure that your company remains competitive for years to come, and the team here at European Springs have reaped the benefit of 2018’s preparation for a surge of new business this year. Regardless of the uncertain political climate in the UK at present, we are extremely confident that 2019 is set to be a positive year for our business.
Here at European Springs, we spent the vast majority of 2018 ensuring that strong foundations were laid to provide us with the platform we needed to excel throughout 2019. In this article, we will discuss all of those key parts which have gone into ensuring that we are set to have our best year to date.
Cornwall Expansion
Back in October of 2018, we proudly announced that we were doubling the size of our Cornwall operation with the purchase of a 2000 square metre site in Penryn. The site, which has been operational for a few months now, currently employs over 20 staff and specialises in the industrial element of European Springs operations, helping to supply springs across a variety of sectors, from the food and drink industry to aerospace and rail.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings in Cornwall said: “Purchasing the new Penryn-based factory is a really exciting new chapter for everyone at European Springs & Pressings and a fantastic achievement in our 70th year. This significant investment allows for continual growth across our industrial and automotive product divisions and affords new opportunities for expansion across the sites in Redruth and Penryn.”
Apprentice Scheme
Addressing the engineering skills gap is at the very top of our priorities and has been for some time. With this in mind, in September last year, we introduced an apprenticeship scheme at our Beckenham site, with five enthusiastic young apprentices joining our busy team.
To help kick start their engineering careers, we are currently putting the apprentices through a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering Operations and Maintenance, with an accompanying NVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering – all following the nationally recognised Mechanical Manufacturing Apprenticeship framework.
Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director of the Beckenham manufacturing plant said: “The importance of apprenticeships can never be undervalued. Training a new generation of manufacturing practitioners, offering them the opportunity to gain experience and qualifications in the workplace, establishes a secure foundation for their future, and it’s a part of our work we’re especially proud of.”
McSheehy concluded: “We recognise that apprenticeships are particularly beneficial to a broad section of our youth. However, they are also hugely beneficial to us as well, as they diversify the workplace, bring different talents and backgrounds to the business and create a dynamic workforce. We welcome the new faces and look forward to seeing their progression as they are given opportunities to shine.”
Investment in UK First
In our industry, a sure way to guarantee you’re ready for the upcoming year is to announce investment in a €1 million coiling machine. In early January 2019, we announced that we had purchased the Wafios FUL 166, the first of its kind in the UK, and only one of two in the entire world.
This state-of-the-art coiling machine was brought in to enhance European Springs’ portfolio, which now includes CNC coiling wire diameters from as small as 0.03mm to 17mm.
Speaking after the installation of the coiling machine was complete, Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings in Cornwall said: “Investing in this quality of machinery is a testament to our dedication to 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.”
A Great Start to the Year
We’ve already seen the benefits of having the infrastructure in place to succeed this year with January of 2019 proving to be a huge success. We put this storming start to 2019 down to all of the hard work our employees have put in throughout last year to ensure that our business is guaranteed to thrive throughout this year.
It’s fair to say that we have a real ‘spring’ in our step this year! If you’re in the market for experienced and reliable spring manufacturers, look no further than European Springs. With locations across the UK and over 70 years within the industry, our expert team will provide you with the very highest level of service.
Exploding in to the New Year, European Springs & Pressings, supported by their parent company Lesjofors, have invested 1 million euros in a new spring coiling machine, the first of its kind in the UK.
The Wafios FUL166 is one of the latest large-scale, high-end spring coiling machines to come out of Wafios’s German based powerhouse and European Springs & Pressings are one of only two manufacturers in the world to have one.
Enhancing European Springs & Pressings spring portfolio, which now includes CNC coiling of wire diameters from 0.03mm to 17mm, this new investment continues to secure the company’s position as market-leaders.
Michael Gibbs, Managing Director of European Springs & Pressings in Cornwall says: “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.
We have just opened a second factory in Cornwall, dividing our automotive and industrial specialisms across two locations. This recent expenditure is the next chapter of an ongoing improvement initiative, building our capabilities in line with demand, providing us with enhancements to maintain our and Lesjofors, global leading position.”
John Murley, UK Sales Manager for Wafios concludes: “Our machines are unparalleled. The state-of-the-art control technology offers interactivity at a level which is similar to an Ipad and the machines are designed with maximum productivity and quality in mind.
This level of machinery investment is unprecedented for most. European Springs & Pressings and Lesjofors engineering excellence has secured their heritage and will continue to un-lock growth opportunities as they harness technology allowing them to remain competitive and deliver the highest quality products.”
Sadly John has passed away since this photo was taken. We are fortunate to have worked with him and his memory lives on in all of those he worked with.
Now that we’re well and truly into the festive season, it seems only right that we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! As the new year rapidly approaches, we’ve been reflecting on our accomplishments in 2018, and we hope that your year has been as wonderful as ours.
This year has seen us embarking on new projects, expanding our operations and continuing to help make new innovations a reality with the latest technology. We’ve also been continuously updating our blog with news from the engineering sector, which we hope has been interesting and informative for you.
We have even more fantastic content and updates planned for 2019, so make sure that you keep checking back throughout the New Year to keep up-to-date with the industry and learn all about some of the most fascinating news from Ireland and around the world.
Rounding Up 2018 With European Springs
Here’s a recap of some of our biggest engineering stories of 2018:
European Springs turned 70 this year! Established in 1948 the company have grown into a multi-million-pound business with factories and offices across the UK, and we’re still growing!
We recently doubled our Southwest operations by acquiring a new 2000 square metre Based in Penryn, Cornwall, the new location will supply springs across several sectors ranging from aerospace to rail to the food and drink sector.
Just last month, we announced our investment in a unique invention, with the design and manufacture of an automated pre-stressing machine. The machine, which had conceptual plans drawn up by the team at European Springs, improves the life and load-bearing capacity of a spring and helps to reduce waste across multiple processes.
Back in September, we launched our apprenticeship scheme at European Springs and Pressings in Beckenham. Five new apprentices are currently studying a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering Operations and Maintenance, with an accompanying NV in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering. The scheme follows the nationally recognised mechanical manufacturing apprenticeship framework.
Whatever your plans are for the year ahead, whether you’re looking to embark on a career in engineering or have an invention that needs springs to become a reality, make sure you keep an eye on our blog to see what news and updates we will be serving up for another 12 months.
We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
As spring manufacturers, we are keen to keep our finger on the pulse of the manufacturing industry both in the UK and abroad and we will continue to do so through 2019.
