Shimcup

European Springs recently collaborated with Ed Houghton on his innovative, sustainable, and all-around incredible Shimcup, the world’s flattest cup!

Shimcup is a groundbreaking product that aims to redefine how we carry and enjoy beverages on the go. With its unique design and compact form, Shimcup offers convenience, portability, and sustainability in a single package.

European Springs were eager to get involved when Shimcup creator, Ed Houghton, introduced his design to us at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition in 2022. Since then, we have collaborated to create a truly outstanding product that both parties are incredibly proud of. Let’s uncover the story behind Shimcup and what it means for European Springs to have been involved with its journey.

Shimcup: What Is the Product?

Shimcup is a revolutionary drinks container that boasts the title of being the world’s flattest folding cup. It is designed to provide users ultimate convenience and portability without compromising functionality. The unique folding mechanism allows the cup to collapse into an incredibly compact size (so flat, you can use it as a bookmark), making it easy to carry in pockets, bags, or even attach to keychains.

Constructed from durable and eco-friendly materials, Shimcup offers a sustainable alternative to single-use cups, one of the many goals of creator Ed Houghton as an eager sustainability enthusiast.

Also a keen explorer, Ed designed the product with his love of the outdoors at the forefront of his mind, making the Shimcup perfect for camping, hiking, or travelling. Shimcup aims to redefine the way we carry and enjoy beverages, promoting a more sustainable and convenient lifestyle, and we couldn’t have been happier to have been involved with its creation.

Sustainability and Ergonomic Design

Sustainability lies at the core of Shimcup’s design philosophy. The cup is constructed from durable high-yield strength stainless steel, making it a long-lasting and heavy-duty alternative to disposable cups made from paper or plastic.

Its compact and foldable design encourages portability and reuse, minimising the need for single-use cups both on the go and in the comfort of your own home. With its easy-to-clean materials, Shimcup promotes sustainability by providing a practical and environmentally-conscious solution for on-the-go hydration. Therefore, by supporting Shimcup, users actively contribute to a greener future by reducing plastic waste and embracing a more sustainable lifestyle.

Prototypes, Materials, and Testing

The team here at European Springs were onboard with Shimcup instantly, recognising its groundbreaking and revolutionary design immediately and quickly realising that it was a suitable project for our expertise. We were in conversation with Ed for the following months, as, of course, the creation of Shimcup involved a series of prototypes and testing to ensure its successful design.

Initial concept drawings and sample pieces were provided by Ed, with alterations back and forth until our prototype team started work on producing tangible designs using laser cutting capabilities.

After this, material selection and finishes were determined based on discussions with Ed, with our team advising the use of a higher yield strength stainless steel to ensure excellent durability.

The manufactured samples were then tested, and we received fantastic feedback from Ed, who asked for an initial quotation for 2000 Shimscups, indicating the success of the final design.

European Springs: Enabling and Encouraging Young Engineers

At European Springs, we’re always keen to get involved in projects like these, encouraging and enabling young engineers to kickstart their careers. With our expertise, over seven decades of experience, and strive for positive change, we’re the best choice for your manufacturing or engineering design project.

Want to start your own project and need our help? We’re more than happy to help. Please get in touch today to discover how we can work together.