Category: News & Updates

The whole manufacturing industry has embraced reaching net zero and becoming more sustainable. This is no small feat, as the industry is responsible for an estimated 20% of UK emissions.

European Springs is committed to supporting a more sustainable and ecological industry, developing strategies to ensure future generations have a greener future. We’ve collected some ways the spring manufacturing industry can help companies reach their net-zero goals.

1. Sustainable Materials

One of the most critical ways spring manufacturers can help other companies reach their net zero goals is using sustainable materials. Sustainable materials, such as recycled steel and other metals, reduce the energy consumption required to make a product by up to 40%. Options such as these help minimise a company’s carbon footprint and are much more environmentally friendly. It will also reduce the need for mining, depleting an already limited source of metals and destroying the habitats of animals and wildlife.

Another example of a sustainable manufacturing process is the closed-looped industry. It is an optimised process that minimises the negative environmental impacts and conserves energy and natural resources. It also enhances employee, community and product safety.

2. Energy-Efficient Processes

Energy efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to reaching net-zero goals. Due to the increasing knowledge of the industry’s environmental impact, the focus has shifted to creating more energy-efficient processes. The benefits of energy-efficient processes include lowering greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants and decreasing water usage.

Additionally, manufacturers are intensive energy users that can gain significant savings by decarbonisation. Switching to low-carbon technologies, such as solar panels and biomass systems, supports both the net zero strategy but can also support the financial optimisation of a business. Renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, can help eliminate additional toxins and gases expelled into the environment. Toxins like these can harm vegetation and life, causing health implications and adding to the greenhouse gases. By reducing your facility’s output, you can assist in maintaining a healthier environment for future generations and create more energy-efficient processes.

3. Lifecycle Analysis

In the manufacturing industry, a product’s lifecycle needs to be analysed. A life cycle analysis measures the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle, from the resources used to create the product or service across its use by the user to its end-of-life destination. Analysing a product’s life cycle helps us compare products, materials, and methods used, providing helpful information to make decisions that could help the environment. It is a standardised method to assess environmental impacts quantitatively.

The lifecycle assessment can be used for different products by different people. But it is all about the environmental impact and performance. What can you discover by using the lifecycle analysis?

• Design. What changes can you make to the product to lessen its environmental impact?
• Purchasing. Which product has the most negligible ecological implications?
• Marketing. Is this product ‘greener’ than a competitor?
• Benchmarking. How’s our company doing next to all the others in our industry?
• Tracking. How’s our environmental performance this year compared to last year?
• Policy. What initiatives will help improve overall ecological outcomes?

4. Innovative Technology Which Reduces Waste

Reducing the amount of waste a product produces is an innovative way to help the environment. As a UK spring manufacturer, we know that one of the most successful ways that improvements can be made in your company includes the waste hierarchy in your work process. While not a piece of technology, the waste hierarchy can be used as a stepping stone for your company to manage the waste it produces effectively. These steps are:

• Prevention. Preventing materials from becoming waste means preventing any problems pre-emptively.
• Reuse or recycle. Reusing applies to refurbishing and repairing objects to extend their life. Recycling waste materials focuses on ensuring that any materials designated for waste are recycled for new uses.
• Recovery. Recovery is the process of incinerating waste materials to regain some of the lost energy used in the collection. Often, these materials are burned to produce electricity and, in turn, reduce the number of fossil fuels burnt.
• Disposal. The lowest step in the hierarchy and arguably the worst option environmentally. This choice means that all of the waste produced from manufacturing will end up in a landfill site.

Additionally, many manufacturers invest in innovative technology, such as air source heat pumps, for their building heating and cooling needs. These new alternatives to conventional systems are significantly more environmentally friendly. By choosing these alternatives, manufacturers can open more possibilities for using green electricity tariffs, which many energy suppliers offer.

5. Collaboration With Sustainable Companies and Initiatives

The future of the manufacturing industry is green. As the UK’s 2050 deadline for net zero approaches, it is essential that companies and eco-initiatives can collaborate and are committed to sustainable strategies. In many ways, we can only reach this net zero goal by working together to achieve it.

The net zero strategy’s overall essence is to balance the carbon emissions produced and the carbon removed from the atmosphere. This balance makes it net zero. It will benefit the environment, society, economy, and your business individually. By promoting a collaborative environment, you are driving and enabling sustainable practices.

Some examples of current and ongoing ecological initiatives that you could use:

• Using circular manufacturing to save energy and reduce waste
• Implement safety measures by utilising automation tools
• Digitise internal communication

European Springs is a leading manufacturer of custom springs in the UK. We are constantly working to improve our high-quality spring manufacturing process so that they continue to have a minimal environmental impact. Contact us to discuss our working methods or any bespoke spring designs you need for your next application.

A supply chain within manufacturing is an essential element for sourcing raw materials for final products. In order to create a final product which is both reliable and profitable, the entire supply chain must be consistent and strong. This process may include various services from many areas of expertise, so when choosing which suppliers you work with, you must ensure you make the best choice for your business. As spring suppliers, we explore the various elements of a strong supply chain and the issues faced without one.

What Makes a Strong Supply Chain?

A strong supply chain is a system of companies and businesses that deliver goods to customers consistently, with excellent communication and promptly. There are some key elements which make a supply chain strong and successful:

Transparency. A strong supply chain is transparent to all involved. This means there is a clear path and visibility of goods from raw materials to finished products. Transparency is vital for shareholders, business plans and operations for all the businesses involved to make informed decisions about changes to their companies, which may have a knock-on effect on others in the chain.

Reliability. Delays at the start of a supply chain significantly impact the entire system, which could prevent others in the chain from meeting their own deadlines. So having reliable trust in the businesses to supply their goods on time and in the required condition is crucial for a strong supply chain.

Flexibility. Having companies in a supply chain is vital for the success of each of the businesses involved. Adapting to changes quickly allows companies to grow to the demands of a varying market and respond rapidly to unexpected events.

Communication. The most vital element of a strong supply chain is communication. Being able to successfully communicate with each of the stakeholders in the supply change allows them to share industry knowledge, expectations and demands which could affect the production rates of companies in the chain and enables them to grow and develop products to meet the needs of the chain.

Efficiency. A strong supply chain provides efficiency throughout, which minimises waste, keeps manufacturing costs down, and allows each stakeholder to provide competitive products and services, increasing profit margins and allowing a company to grow with further investment up the chain.

The Advantages of Having a Strong Supply Chain

A company or product is only ever as good as the suppliers, so ensuring a strong supply chain is vital for the success of any final product and service your business offers. A strong supply chain will offer consistency of high-quality raw materials. If a supplier is inconsistent with its raw materials, this will create a weak link in the supply chain which will cause issues in the final installation. For example, as experienced bespoke spring manufacturers, we work closely with our supply chain to ensure that our product sees the exact quality required whilst meeting the needs of our customers. We make recommendations based on our years of expertise to guarantee the materials used will perform as expected for long periods. To do this, we also require high-quality raw materials consistently to provide reliable services.

Quick turnaround on products is essential to meet supply and demand needs. Having a supply chain which is timely in their delivery also puts a company at an advantage over competitors. If a supplier cannot provide products or services promptly, it can cause significant delays in the outcome. For instance, if a supplier is delayed by a day, it will also postpone the next chain in the link by a day, and eventually, the service which is further along in the supply chain could be delayed by a more significant time as the rest of the chain has to delay their work to accommodate the original supplier. This can impact the supply chain’s finances, reliability and ability to provide the excellent reputation they have spent time building. So ensuring you have a strong supply chain ensures your business has the opportunity to remain reliable and consistent, allowing for expansion and success.

Strong Management Within a Supply Chain

Supply chain management is the coordination of the processes and operation involved in the production and delivery of products. Each chain link requires strong management to be a successful element within the supply chain. Managing the logistic within a manufacturer can be challenging, but each individual responsible must be able to problem-solve efficiently to meet demands. In addition, efficient management will pre-empt events which will affect the delivery of goods.

For example, during the pandemic of 2020, there was a significant impact worldwide on the manufacturing supply chains as factories closed to protect the health of their staff. This caused a ripple effect on the manufacturing industry, which is still catching up in 2023. Although events like these are unforeseen, being able to adapt and manage the demand for products quickly was something many supply chains had to develop. This includes assessing the risks and adjusting staff on rotation to ensure that output remains as close to expected consistency as possible. Companies that can manage their logistics and processes to adapt to events like these are examples of strong links in a good supply chain.

Managing Good Relationships in a Supply Chain

Relationships within a business are essential to the success of a supply chain. It allows for good communication and collaboration to help each stakeholder in the chain work to the best of their capabilities efficiently. Good relationships help to promote trust and open communication, which can lead to better collaboration, more effective problem-solving, and improved coordination between all parties involved. In addition, it can help to minimise risk amongst the supply chain and prevent unforeseen events, which can then be managed and adapted to prevent letting other links in the chain down with delays.

Communication and regular collaboration within the supply chain allows it to be resilient and maintain all the elements which make it stronger. Furthermore, it increases the efficiency of the processes and logistics and can even be a component of a business expanding into unknown territories. For example, suppose a company wishes to enter a new market with its products. Having a good relationship with the supplier may allow cooperation between the two businesses for them to share the knowledge they may already have in the area due to other customers.

For instance, as compression spring manufacturers, we know that our products can be used in various applications and being aware of the intended application makes us able to produce high-quality products. Suppose our customer wishes to trial these compression springs in an unfamiliar area. We can provide them with expertise from our experience with other customers. This relationship allows both companies to grow and demonstrates the importance of having a transparent and strong supply chain.

What to Look For in a Supplier to Create a Strong Supply Chain

Overall, the main elements to build on and seek out from a supplier are excellent communication, high-quality materials or services, good management and reliability. These can usually be found through a company’s testimonials, reviews and even by asking around within the industry through networking and recommendations. So, before choosing your new supplier, it is always essential to make the time to do your own research to ensure that adding them to your supply chain will only strengthen it instead of weakening it.

For any information on our products or how we can help you strengthen your supply chain as tension spring manufacturers, feel free to contact us. We have various products to suit different requirements and many years of expertise in producing high-quality springs.

With over 70 years of experience, we have worked with an extensive list of companies from a wide range of industry sectors. One of these sectors is construction, as our products are used in almost all mechanical equipment used within the industry.

So, today, we’re looking at just how our springs are used and the types of equipment and technology they are part of within the construction sector. Read on to discover more about our working relationship with construction businesses and what we can do to help your company with safety equipment, manufacturing machinery and more.

Types of Springs Used in the Construction Industry

Many of the springs we manufacture here at European Springs are used within the construction industry, but a few spring types are used much more frequently in machinery and other equipment across the sector; let’s take a look.

Compression Springs

Compression springs are one of the most commonly used spring types in the construction industry used in a wide variety of applications, for example:

• Doors and windows. This spring type is used in the hinges to ensure they close properly and maintain a tight seal. They are also used in window balances to help lift and hold windows open.
• Elevators and escalators. Compression springs are used to help absorb shock and vibration, provide stability, and ensure a smooth ride. They are also used in the braking systems of these machines.

• Bridge construction. They are used in expansion joints to allow for movement of the bridge due to temperature changes, wind, and other factors. These springs help maintain the bridge’s structural integrity and prevent damage.
• Building maintenance. Compression springs are used in various building maintenance applications, such as in the suspension systems for HVAC units and in the opening and closing mechanisms for large access panels and doors.

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs are essential in many mechanical systems used in the construction industry. They are used throughout the sector for various applications, primarily to provide torque or rotational force to various mechanical systems. For example, automatic doors such as in garages or warehouses. Torsion springs provide the necessary force and torque needed to move heavy objects, and they can be customised to fit the specific needs of each application.

Our bespoke spring manufacturing capabilities allow us to produce specific torsion spring configurations for an endless list of uses within the construction industry.

Clock Springs

Clock springs are used in the construction industry for various applications that require rotational force or torque. For example, they are used in various safety devices used on worksites, such as emergency switches or kill switches, activated by the clock spring being released.

In addition, clock springs are used to manufacture many of the retractable tools and equipment used by workers in the construction sector, such as measuring tapes, power cords, and hose reels.

Finally, like torsion springs, clock springs are used in automatic doors in construction warehouses and workshops.

Construction Machinery that Relies on Springs

Many types of construction machinery rely on springs for their operation. Some examples include:

• Excavators. Excavators use springs in their hydraulic systems to control the movement of the boom, arm, and bucket.
• Cranes. Springs are used in the suspension systems of cranes to absorb shock and vibrations caused by the movement of the load.
• Bulldozers. Bulldozers use motor springs in their undercarriage and suspension systems to absorb shock and vibrations while operating on rough terrain.
• Pavers. Screed systems in pavers use springs to maintain a consistent level and provide a smooth surface for the asphalt.
• Compactors. Compactors use springs in their drum systems to help absorb shock and vibrations while compacting soil or asphalt.
• Loaders. Suspension systems in loaders use springs to provide a smooth ride while operating on rough terrain.
• Backhoes. Backhoes use springs in their hydraulic systems to control the movement of the arm and bucket.

Overall, it’s clear springs are an important component in many types of construction machinery, providing a crucial role in their smooth operation and reliability.

Safety Equipment and Spring Technology

As mentioned, clock springs are used to manufacture a lot of safety equipment in the construction industry, such as kill switches activated as the spring is released. Also known as emergency stop buttons, kill switches are safety devices used to quickly shut down a machine or piece of equipment in the event of an emergency. The clock spring in the kill switch is released, quickly stopping the operation of heavy machinery and equipment, preventing accidents or injuries.

In addition, springs are used in retractable lifelines that protect workers from falls when working at heights. These lifelines use a spring-loaded mechanism to keep the lifeline taut while the worker moves around. As a result, if the worker falls, the lifeline will deploy, and the spring will absorb the shock, reducing the force of the fall and preventing injury. Using similar logic, springs are also found in safety harnesses for construction workers working at height, such as on scaffolding or roofs.

In all of these applications, springs help reduce the risk of injury to workers in the construction industry, making them a vital element in the manufacturing of equipment and tools. This makes our job as spring manufacturers incredibly important too. We work closely with those in the construction industry to design and manufacture springs used in all sorts of equipment and take each customer and their needs incredibly seriously.

We do so by listening to their order’s requirements and the intended use of the spring to ensure complete accuracy in delivering the springs they need.

So, if you work in the construction industry and need springs to help with your business’ safety equipment, tools, or any other application, we’re here for you; get in touch today.

Staying on top of trends is crucial for businesses in almost all sectors but is especially important for those, such as ourselves, in the manufacturing industry. There are constant changes happening all the time, and, as leading spring manufacturers, we must look at these changes and consider how we can implement them into our practices.

We understand that trends come and go, and things we thought would stick around may not have lasted more than a few months before something bigger and better came and took their place. However, others start as trends and remain staples in the industry for years to come.

So, today, we’re exploring this idea by looking into the top manufacturing trends of 2023. We’re predicting what we believe will be popular over the next twelve months, as well as what we’re taking with us and leaving behind from 2022.

Which 2022 Manufacturing Trends Will Carry Over Into 2023?

Last year, the industry welcomed a wide range of technology that we have been proud to implement into our processes here at European Springs. Here are a few of the manufacturing trends (technological and not) of 2022 that we believe will carry over into this year and become industry standard in the not-so-distant future:

• Big data. This improves efficiency, streamlines processes, and allows manufacturing companies to better their decision-making quickly.
• Smart factories. Whilst this isn’t an entirely new idea, smart factories developed in 2022, becoming more accessible for those in the industry along with a surge of new cyber-physical technology.
• Carbon neutrality. Again, this wasn’t new to 2022, but the ways in which it developed last year were impressive. Factories, warehouses, and workshops worldwide pledged to change their processes, use greener systems, and decrease their carbon footprint in line with industry standards.

Which 2022 Manufacturing Trends Will Be Left Behind?

2022 saw many significant changes to the manufacturing industry, and most of those developments were revolutionary, as discussed above. Because of this, there aren’t any stand-out trends that were found to be passing fads.

Trying and testing new practices is never a waste of time because it allows us to use an array of skills and helps us gain experience and develop ourselves and the company; however, we can’t help but feel relieved when no trends are left behind. Here at European Springs, this is always great news, as it means no time, money, or other resources were wasted in investing in trends that didn’t last longer than twelve months.

Manufacturing Trends to Look Out for in 2023

As mentioned, today we’re exploring some of the manufacturing trends we believe will significantly impact the industry in 2023. Whether it’s new technology, tech developments, or improved practices, we’re at the forefront of these changes that allow us to improve our services and products for our clients; let’s take a look.

3D Printing

3D printing has been a staple in the industry for years, but we believe that 2023 is when it will become even more popular. Recently, there have been significant advancements in 3D printing technology, with metal being used in the process in place of plastic. This means that items, such as hinges, screws, and other metal components that need to be durable, can be manufactured using 3D printing. This significantly increases the speed and efficiency of the manufacturing process, especially for bulk orders.

Who knows, perhaps one day we will be 3D-printing our compression springs?

Increased Automation

Automation is a broad term used to describe automatic equipment, for example:

• Robotics
• AI
• Sensors
• And much more

It is designed to streamline processes and speed up manufacturing procedures which is beneficial for many reasons. For instance, we could use automation systems for our bulk orders, allowing our technicians to work on other manufacturing areas while AI or robotic technology completes the orders.

In 2023, we believe that advanced automation will be used more frequently across the industry. This is because it means skilled workers can complete more fulfilling roles while AI works on repetitive practices, such as the bulk orders mentioned above.

AI

To further explore the previous point, we believe AI will become huge in 2023. We have already seen evidence of what artificial intelligence can achieve and are excited to see it advance over the year.

With the speed at which AI is advancing, we could use the technology across our company to assist us with spring design, manufacturing, and testing. For example, instead of manufacturing physical products to test for durability, we could program AI with the materials we wish to test and use digital testing. This way, we’re not wasting materials, and, at the same time, we’re speeding up the testing process.

As mentioned, we’re always thrilled to try out new manufacturing technology and see what is trending throughout the industry to see how we could use it to our and our client’s advantage. European Springs is always at the forefront of these industry changes, and it’s exciting to see where technological advancements take us.

To stay updated, please check our blog, where we post the latest industry innovations, and, as always, get in touch with our expert manufacturers for all spring manufacturing queries.

Many factors will help you make the final decision regarding finding a supplier. The task is important but challenging. Due to the continued global growth of manufacturers and the cheaper ability to import to reduce manufacturing costs, there are thousands of suppliers to choose from. Supplier and manufacturing companies need to be able to work hand in hand to offer the best of each service, but what should you consider as a retailer or supplier when choosing one to fit with your business?

As a leading manufacturer of bespoke pressings, we appreciate and understand the importance of finding the right fit for your business. We explore some of the most imperative considerations when choosing a supplier and how European Springs could answer all your wire form and pressing needs.

Expertise and Reliability

Having a well-established expert skill set is one of the main reasons many companies will favour a supplier. As a spring manufacturer with 70 years of expertise in the industry, we understand the importance of providing excellent products and services. Choosing a supplier with many years of experience will offer you the peace of mind that your supplier will deliver what you need. In addition, a well-established supplier will have worked out any kinks in their product designs and will understand the trends that come with each industry.

This extensive knowledge will serve any business well and offer the confidence that the supplier will provide satisfaction in all areas of their services. For example, at European Springs, we pride ourselves in providing our clients with the highest level of services whilst working with them to ensure they receive designs bespoke to their exact needs and requirements. This element of our services offers continuous reliability and is why many of our customers have a long-term loyalty to us for many years.

Quality and Quantity

Although many services will mass produce your desired design, consistency is key to being an excellent supplier. When considering a supplier, they must provide you with the high-quality detail you require and the capabilities to produce the quantity you need to the same standard. This fact is something we take very seriously at European springs.

As wire form manufacturers, we use the industry’s latest CNC automated spring coilers and wire forming equipment. This equipment allows us to generate generic and bespoke pieces without limitation. We produce the wire forms manually for smaller quantities, whereas, for larger orders, we will utilise our highly advanced machinery, which will autonomously make the same high-quality standard.

Knowledge of Various Industries

Unless your business is unique, offering very niche products and services, choosing a supplier with a broad scope of various industries is advantageous. This expertise will allow suppliers to help advise you on designs and strategies which may not be customary for your specific industry but may have worked well in other sectors.

A broad knowledge of various industries helps us stand out as spring suppliers. We can continuously adapt our products and services to our customer’s needs, which has been a leading attribute contributing to our 70 years of high-quality service. It has also helped us to adapt to our customers. The ability to adapt helps to grow a business, so having a supplier that can adapt with you is essential. We provide high-quality spring designs for the following range of industries.

• Electrical
• Automotive
• Agricultural
• Defence
• Medical
• Telecom

However, we also have experience with many more. We are proud to supply a range of industries and always strive to continue to grow into even more fields where we are needed.

Supplier Ethos

Considering the ethos of your supplier may not be a common factor amongst companies, but it is growing with concern. Consumers are becoming more conscientious when making their purchases, so ensuring your products are ethically sourced could be essential to success as a manufacturer. From paying more than minimum wage for their employees to investing in future improvements for their business, an ethical supplier is guaranteed to offer the best products and services. At European Springs, we are proud of our many processes that strive for a better future, including our apprenticeship schemes and strict vetting within our suppliers.

The entire manufacturing industry strives to improve its environmental impact within its supply chains. Many are choosing locally sourced recycled materials, which minimises the travel of products, reducing the carbon footprint. This can also help prevent disruptions with global issues and provide a more efficient service. For example, many manufacturers are utilising the benefits of heat pumps within their processes to help improve the sustainability of their services. This innovation is one-way manufacturers offer more environmentally friendly materials and products.

Finding the Right Spring Manufacturer

Although we have explored many elements of European Springs, which makes us a leader within our industry, there is so much more we can offer. We have complete in-house design facilities which provide the latest technologies for wire form and pressings and offer on-site powder coatings, shot peening, barrel rumbling and polishing. You can enquire online or speak to our team today about any needs, and our fantastic team will be sure to help.