European Springs Web Team, Author at European Springs Ireland

Our gas spring range is unique and renowned for the diversity that we can produce. Our standard collection of gas springs comprises of over 900 different items that can be combined with approximately 100 end fittings and accessories.

We design and create a complete selection of springs that can be used for various applications, across virtually every industry, from aerospace to marine application.

This blog will look at exactly what a gas spring is and how we design these powerful mechanisms.

What is a Gas Spring?

A gas spring is usually made up of a cylindrical body filled with nitrogen gas, a piston rod, a seal and a guiding function that allows the mechanism to extend and compress as required.

In contrast to most other spring types, gas springs have a built-in pre-tension force and a flat spring characteristic. This means that there is only a small difference in force between full extension and full compression.

The pushing force is powered as the nitrogen gas exerts pressure on the piston from inside the cylinder. The exact force is set by the dimensions of the spring and the specific internal pressure.

Due to gas springs’ versatility, they are regularly used for car hatches and hoods or other adjustable applications, including tables, chairs, ventilation openings, and hospital beds.

Types of Gas Spring

Gas springs are incredibly varied in form, and here at European Springs and Pressings, our standard range adds up to over 770 different products.

We’re proud to stock the highest quality conventional, lockable, standard and bespoke springs. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can design and manufacture bespoke items.

If you already know the type of gas spring you need, then take a look through our spring catalogue (PDF). From page 152, you’ll find a range of sizes, force and diameters.

Gas Spring Applications

The unique spring and dampening characteristics of our gas springs mean that they can be used for several applications.

One of the most common uses is lifting and unloading or controlled opening and closing of doors and hoods. Springs can also be installed to control parts of equipment, such as beds, windows, tools and machinery. Heavy items can also be lifted by hand with the help of a gas spring.

We have plenty of experience in choosing the right gas spring for various requirements. If you need a specific force or alterations to any other elements, we offer many custom variants, including adjusting the length and force, movement and dampening, connectors, as well as the tube colour and finish.

Design and Technology

We regularly train our experienced team, who are not only designers but also act as problem solvers, ensuring we reach quality for every design. Whether your application requires a standard gas spring or a custom gas spring, we can help you find the best solution.

We’ve been designing gas springs for over 70 years, and so we believe our range is exceptionally varied and technologically advanced. Our skilled design team can determine a suitable gas spring to solve any problem, even if you haven’t decided upon the exact specifications.

We have a proven history when it comes to problem-solving. So regardless of whether you need an almost conventional spring with slightly adjusted capabilities, a lockable gas spring, or a unique product, we’re able to cater to the needs of virtually any project.

Using a software package that has been developed in-house, we can simulate any type of application, which enables us to quickly calculate the force required for your particular design.

If you’d like more information about our range of gas springs, please contact European Springs Ireland with your enquiry. Our experienced team will be happy to answer your questions.

Updated in July 2024

Springs and pressings are often overlooked yet critical components to many applications across many industries. The energy sector is one such area; with its unique dynamism and complexity, it heavily relies on the substantial contribution offered by springs and pressings to ensure the efficient and safe production, distribution, and consumption of energy.

From traditional power plants to advanced renewable energy technologies, understanding the key role of our manufactured springs and pressings, their varied applications, and the unique challenges our designs overcome is indispensable. In this blog, we will take a closer look at how springs and pressings are used in the energy industry.

Powering the Future: Springs in Energy and Renewables

Springs are everywhere in the energy sector and can be found in a wide variety of equipment and machinery. As leading spring suppliers, we are extremely proud to provide over 700 high-quality springs and wire forms throughout the industry, supporting specific applications in electricity, wind, solar, and nuclear power.

But what are the functions springs are successfully employed for? The primary function of springs here is to absorb energy, provide mechanical support, and maintain tension or pressure in systems. In fact, the most common spring types we found in the energy sector are compression springs, torsion springs, and tension springs. Let’s take a closer look at specific applications.

In power plants, springs are essential in turbines to maintain the precise alignment of blades and absorb vibrations. This results in reduced wear and tear, a longer lifespan for machinery, and continuous, efficient operation.
In renewable energy, the springs found in wind turbines effectively absorb fluctuations in wind speed so that the blades rotate smoothly.
In solar power systems, springs track mechanisms that adjust the angle of solar panels throughout the day to make the most of sun exposure. These systems improve and optimise the overall efficiency of solar systems.

Pressings: Precision and Strength in Energy Applications

Pressings are other major players in the energy sector due to their remarkable strength, precision, and versatility. They are chosen when manufacturing components requiring particular durability and resilience, like connectors, brackets, and enclosures essential to various machinery types and critical equipment used in power generation and distribution. In renewables, specifically, pressings enhance both wind turbines and solar panels, making them strong, reliable, and capable of withstanding harsh operational demands.

In wind turbines, high-strength pressings are employed in the construction of the turbine housing to resist mechanical stresses and harsh environmental conditions.
Pressings are also key elements in solar panels‘ frames, which hold the photovoltaic cells. These need to be lightweight yet strong enough to support the cells and protect them from the elements.

How Springs and Pressings are Essential to Improve Safety

Due to the sector’s nature, safety is a paramount concern; here, both springs and pressings are real enhancers, and we find them in different types of mechanisms to prevent equipment failure and other potential risks. For example, in pressure relief valves, critical in both traditional power plants and renewable energy systems, springs are calibrated to maintain the correct pressure levels and prevent over-pressurisation, which could lead to terrible catastrophes.

Pressings are just as important. Their precision and strength are paramount to make protective measures effective and resistant. In fact, these components are designed to protect sensitive equipment from dangers like physical damage, environmental hazards, and unauthorised access. In particular, in electrical systems, pressings are successfully employed to produce enclosures that prevent electrical shorts and fires, ensuring safety and reliability.

Advanced Materials to Enhance Efficiency and Durability

Like in many other industries, in the energy sector, whatever type of energy is used, cost savings and reduced environmental impact are two of the most important aspects to consider. Thanks to the innovative materials they are made of, springs and pressings emerge as fundamental to improving the performance and durability of energy systems.

Advanced materials in spring manufacturing, such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, and super alloys like Inconel, Hastelloy and Nimonic, have created lighter, stronger, and more resilient springs and pressings, resulting in machinery and systems operating more efficiently and with less maintenance.

Durability is another crucial aspect, which results from a series of in-depth, thorough tests for factors like stress, temperature, relaxation, and fatigue. A durable spring must maintain its force and resist deformation under load, ensuring better functionality.

To achieve this, all springs initially undergo elastic deflection, returning to their original shape after load removal and avoiding plastic deflection that causes permanent deformation. Addressing these through advanced engineering increases the reliability and efficiency of springs and, subsequentially, of energy systems, leading to longer lifespans and reduced maintenance costs.

Need High-Quality Springs and Pressings? Choose European Springs IE

With over 70 years of experience as a leading spring manufacturer, we have the right expertise to provide a wide range of springs and pressings to suit any application across a variety of industries, including the energy sector. All of our compression springs are quality-assured and comply with ISO 9001 standards. Whether you’re looking for a specific body size, force, length, pitch, or wire diameter, we can provide you with spring dimensions from 0.1 to 65 millimetres for your individual use.

Download our stock catalogue, and if you need more information about our services or products, please feel free to contact us; we will be happy to assist you.

Here at European Springs & Pressings Ireland, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide as much assistance as possible to those who need it during the pandemic. We believe in supporting those in need during tough times, and we’re extremely proud of our team’s efforts over the course of the last 12 months.

We’ve been looking at the work we have been doing to help produce ventilators, as well as exploring how we have helped SME manufacturing firms to keep on making products throughout the last year.

Providing Parts For Ventilators

In the first few months of the Coronavirus pandemic, there was inevitably a huge increase in demand for ventilators across the world, and European Springs & Pressings Ireland were delighted to play a role in ensuring manufacturers had access to vital springs and pressings for these machines. Prior to the pandemic, we supplied around 6,000 parts for ventilators every year, but with the increased demand, we saw a surge in orders.

Speaking of the spike in demand from one client, European Springs & Pressings Sales Manager, Simon Taylor, said: “They started to ramp up about four to five weeks ago, and we suddenly started to get larger orders from them. By the time they had finished their most recent ordering cycle, they had put in orders for 29,000 parts.”

Our team had forecasted a huge uptake in parts for ventilators and thankfully prepared a carefully considered plan to ensure we could cope with increased demand for our products. Ensuring we had access to the raw materials that are required to create a whole host of springs and pressings helped to guarantee we could fulfil orders with no issues.

We had a number of other businesses approach us looking to more than double their usual order of springs and pressings for ventilators – but could comfortably cope with demand, even with social distancing measures in place to keep our employees safe whilst at work.

Through a combination of innovative thinking, forward planning and an exceptionally driven team, we have comfortably met every challenge set out to us as we look to support the medical industry right around the world.

Helping SME Manufacturing Firms

It’s no surprise that many SME manufacturing firms have been hit hard by the pandemic, with the supply chain being adversely affected and customers pausing orders at the height of Covid-19. Despite the challenges faced over the past 12 months, manufacturers across the UK have remained resilient, and most have bounced back with relative ease.

To ensure manufacturing SMEs have access to the parts they require to begin operations again, European Springs & Pressings Ireland have taken steps to help other businesses out by providing as little or as many parts as required.

Our flexible approach to manufacturing springs and pressings has helped to alleviate pressures on manufacturers who rely on the supply chain to provide them with the parts they require. With issues still prevalent in the supply chain, especially those that involve overseas trips, it’s essential that manufacturers work together and help out how ever they can.

We will continue to provide a flexible level of service, providing parts as required to any business that requires them. We firmly believe in playing a part in all manufacturers’ growth, so no matter how big or small your company is, we want to help you achieve your goals by providing key components for your products.

European Springs & Pressings Ireland – Open For Business

Our team have worked tirelessly to ensure that operations have run as close to normal as possible throughout the pandemic. This means that those who have been able to work from home, are doing so; whilst our key workers are all taking the necessary precautions to continue providing high-quality products, whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

We know just how important it is that our high standards don’t slip, and that’s why we have taken extra precautions around our facilities in the UK, to ensure our staff are able to safely continue providing the products you have come to expect from us.

We have introduced several Covid-19 safety measures around our offices and factories, to help minimise unnecessary contact between employees, whilst also installing several hand cleaning stations around our premises. In areas where close contact cannot be avoided, we have installed Perspex windows to help protect our engineers, who can still work together to produce high-quality springs and pressings for all of your needs.

As one of the leading spring manufacturers in Europe, we take our commitment to providing the very best service extremely seriously. No matter what world events are going on around us, our sole focus is on keeping our employees safe, but also providing our customers with a service that is second to none.

You can rest assured that we will continue to refine our processes, invest in the latest technology and keep servicing all of our clients to the very best of our ever-growing capabilities. Please do feel free to get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements, our experts would love to help!

It would be difficult to overstate the massive impact COVID-19 has unleashed on virtually every industry operating in today’s market. The manufacturing sector has been particularly hard hit thanks to logistical issues surrounding social distancing measures and quarantine protocols, as well as supply chain issues brought about by increased demand for certain products.

However, despite these significant challenges, a recent survey of senior voices in the manufacturing industry revealed that many companies had experienced revenue growth over the past year. Rather than crippling manufacturers, tough economic conditions have actually forced them to become more resilient and streamline their operational processes. In many ways, we are witnessing the beginning of a manufacturing revolution that will see the industry become more flexible, robust, and adaptive to shocks.

With this in mind, we’ve collated a heartening list of things to expect from the manufacturing industry in 2021 as it evolves in line with a complex socio-economic environment.

COVID-19 Vaccines Will Improve Output Levels

The most exciting recent development for the manufacturing industry is the speedy creation of a whole host of effective vaccines against COVID-19. As a range of vaccines is rolled out over the coming months, we can expect businesses and public spaces to gradually phase out distancing measures.

This means that factory floors will see an increase in staff members, and production will start to approach pre-pandemic levels. This is great news for businesses that rely heavily on workers rather than automated machines.

It is unlikely, however, that manufacturing companies will operate in precisely the same way as before COVID-19 struck, as many will already have invested in new technologies or systems designed to improve efficiency.

Manufacturers Will Adapt To High Demand From Clients And Consumers

Demand for some products is currently surging thanks to the pandemic’s impact on people’s lifestyle habits. This means that many manufacturers are under pressure to produce high-quality items in larger volumes than ever before. By extension, the relationship between manufacturers and their clients is likely to become ever more important, with the former prioritising total transparency and immaculate customer service to ensure they retain a loyal customer base. Many manufacturing firms are also likely to become more attentive to the needs of customers, placing a greater emphasis on data-driven insights to inform their operational strategies.

Production Will Become Increasingly Localised

The pandemic has prompted many people to think about their consumption habits more closely, particularly as they have had time to think about the environmental and ethical impacts of imported goods. This, combined with the fact that the world is experiencing a number of trade wars and tariff negotiations that are sending supply chains into disarray, means that the manufacturing sector is likely to place a greater emphasis on the importance of purchasing local goods.

There are many advantages to selling locally, including better resilience to economic shocks, faster time to market, and lower production costs. In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated a trend that was already taking place.

Manufacturers Will Invest In Digital Technologies

COVID-19 has exposed many of the shortcomings of manufacturing companies that rely on constant access to physical workspace and a large labour force. Fortunately, there are plenty of digital technologies out there to address such issues, including machine learning, robotics, edge computing, the 5G network, sensors, and cloud computing. Companies who invest in such technologies will see their supply chains become much more resilient in the coming years and, as a result, are likely to experience strong investment and growth.

At the same time, tech companies will keep improving their offerings and cater to manufacturers intent on diversifying their operations.

Sustainability Will Become Ever More Important To Consumers

In recent months and years, consumers have become very aware of the manufacturing industry’s contribution to climate change and environmental pollution. This awareness has become very acute throughout the pandemic as people have had more time to reflect on their consumption habits.

As such, manufacturers will need to think about selling themselves as green companies. This could be done by cutting back on waste, using recycled materials, or switching to green sources of energy. In the long term, manufacturers will likely try and move everything under one roof to ensure maximum efficiency. Having one factory, rather than several scattered across the country can help to reduce transport costs, materials, storage and duplication, as well as having a number of environmental benefits.

Companies Will Create Better Jobs

Thanks to the introduction of new technologies, manufacturers will be in a position to offer better-paying and more rewarding jobs in the near future. Workers are likely to become more involved in the logistical, technological and strategic tasks rather than in manual jobs.

As one of the most reliable and highly praised spring manufacturers in Europe, we at European Springs & Pressings are excited to see what 2021 has in store. We are confident that we will go from strength to strength as the manufacturing industry evolves. If you have any questions about any of our products and services, do not hesitate to contact us.

2020 has been an unusual year in many ways, largely because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and many who are involved in the manufacturing sector may have found themselves operating differently to usual. Whilst things may have seemed very distinctive in 2020, it’s also the case that much of the manufacturing sector has been proceeding as normal.

Not even a pandemic can hold back the overarching trends that define an industry. All of this means that 2021 is likely to be an exciting and innovative year for the sector. As one of the leading spring manufacturers in Europe, the team here at European Springs & Pressings Ireland, are expecting some big changes to come in the new year.

This article will explore what opportunities these developments will hold for the sector, and how those in the manufacturing industry can best prepare for them and mitigate any risks or challenges.

Welcoming 5G

The rollout of the 5G network is on the radar of many individuals across a number of industries at the moment – not just in the manufacturing sector. The infrastructure updates and building work required to make the rollout happen is in the news on a regular basis, and many people live or work close to a site that is part of the important development.

This new technology will be an upgrade to the existing mobile network infrastructure and is expected to provide users with a speed of 1Gbps for downloading on average – a big improvement on the current experience of many. For manufacturers, the 5G rollout could bring a huge host of advantages. Factories which currently rely on less sophisticated Internet connectivity tools for data transmission, such as 4G, will soon be able to cut lead times and enjoy improved communication between devices, products and offices.

“Industrial digitalisation”, as it is sometimes known, can help leaders in the manufacturing sector do everything from providing more targeted, data-driven maintenance solutions to deep-diving more effectively when it comes to monitoring the supply chain process. In short, 5G offers manufacturing leaders the chance to really turn around their business and identify key areas in which there are efficiency problems – whether that’s on the production line or later in the chain.

According to a small minority of people involved in a conspiracy theory, the 5G network causes ill health and suffering. While this claim appears to be largely baseless, those involved in the supply chain manufacturing (or even usage) of the new 5G network may want to ensure they have a communications plan in place in order to address any concerns from customers.

Industry 4.0

When most people hear the term “Industrial Revolution”, they often hark back to the Victorian age and the development of railways and factories. But what many people do not know is that analysts in the manufacturing sector have actually identified several industrial revolutions – and the current one, Industry 4.0, is actually the fourth. It is a catch-all term designed to cover the impact that technology is having on sectors like manufacturing, including in fields such as artificial intelligence.

Industry 4.0 poses a variety of opportunities for wire form manufacturers like ourselves, and indeed other sub-sectors too – not least when it comes to reducing friction in the production process, and reducing the risk of dud products or breakdowns affecting the customer experience. There will be some challenges for manufacturing leaders to overcome, of course. The sheer amount of data required to make the most of the connected factory or warehouse will mean that upgrades to existing enterprise computing systems may be required, and it could involve initial outlay. But with so many cost-related benefits to embracing Industry 4.0, it’s likely that these costs will be recouped over time.

Smart Factories

One specific sort of development offered by Industry 4.0 is the smart factory. Smart factories could well become a key part of a manufacturer’s life in 2021, and it pays for manufacturers to be aware of what potential they hold. Whilst there has already been huge investment into smart factories for most manufacturers, it’s expected that those that have not yet invested in the technology required, will do so in the new year.

Smart factories are environments in which production processes as they currently exist are either replaced or combined with some element of automation and so-called “big data”. Information is the main driver of the smart factory: when every part of the smart factory has the power to gather data, manufacturing leaders – and the systems themselves – can analyse it more effectively to improve workflows and uncover inefficiencies.

Smart factories are also an example of how the different strands of the revolutionised manufacturing sector will work together. The introduction of 5G into a factory setting, for example, is likely to mean increased communication between different nodes in the production network. A production schedule can be updated in real-time as the supply levels are checked, and the actual assembly work is monitored. More accurate information, delivered faster, is likely to be the main benefit of the 5G revolution.

Those are just a few of the main changes we expect to see throughout 2021, but there are sure to be many more. Check in on our blog regularly, as we are constantly updating our visitors with the latest news breaking from the manufacturing sector.

The environment is an incredibly hot talking point these days. With growing concerns about the impact of climate change on the planet, the conversation often steers towards the matter of gas-guzzling vehicles, and how long we can really sustain our current lifestyles while the carbon emissions pumped out by cars cause further damage.

Electric cars have been creeping into the mainstream for many years now, and this is only set to keep increasing as the vehicles become cheaper and more charging points are installed across the country. But how long before we can expect every vehicle on the road to be completely clean and free of carbon emissions?

Petrol and Diesel Car Ban

One of the most extreme acts to come into force in the UK regarding changes to vehicles is the ban on new cars and vans that are wholly powered by petrol or diesel.

The ban is set to come into effect in 2030 – five years earlier than the previous plan of a ban by 2035 – and excludes some hybrid models. It’s part of what the Prime Minister is calling a “green industrial revolution”, with £4 billion being set aside for the project. Some critics of the plan claim the amount is too small for the scale of the challenge.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma, also president of the COP26 international climate summit, said that the funds would support the creation of 250,000 green jobs, 60,000 of which will be in offshore wind.

With the 2030 deadline in place, the UK has bumped up to second place in rising to the challenge of cleaning up motoring. First place belongs to Norway, which has their own fossil fuel abolition date set for 2025.

Car manufacturers in the UK have been warned of the upcoming changes. Still, the Prime Minister insists that forcing them to change will give them a competitive edge and that the plan will support and protect hundreds of thousands of green jobs. All in a bid to strive for the UK’s target of having net zero emissions by 2050.

Demand for Electric

There’s growing evidence to suggest that electric cars are the future of transportation, while it was at one time considered a race between electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, electric has clearly won the race.

The National Grid has predicted that there will be 36 million electric vehicles on UK roads by 2040, with the market growing more quickly than ever. More than 164,100 pure-electric cars were on UK roads by the end of September 2020, and over 373,600 plug-in models including hybrids.

According to Zap-Map, there are over 30,000 charging connectors in the UK across 10,000 locations, and research suggests that around 43,000 charging points will be needed by 2030. At current rates with 200 charging points being added in 30 days, this demand could be easily met. Of course, the implementation of home charging points will also be required to cope with the growing demand for electric vehicles.

How Long Until Electric Ousts Petrol and Diesel?

So, we have seen how electric vehicles are increasing in popularity and petrol, and diesel vehicles are set to be banned in the new decade, but how long will the process take? When can we reasonably expect electric cars to take over the roads entirely?

According to research, electric cars could become as cheap to manufacture as conventional cars by 2024, which should help to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. The current difference in costs for manufacturing is cited as the biggest reason why some car manufacturers have been reluctant to shift production away from internal combustion engines to electric models. The car batteries account for a quarter to two-fifths of the cost of the entire vehicle.

The reduction in battery costs is set to trigger a faster switch to electric vehicles, as their sales continue to boom across the UK. Attitudes are also beginning to shift, with a 2018 survey finding that 30% of Brits would consider buying an electric car, compared to just 25% in the previous year. However, research by Ford suggests that Brits are also hesitant about electric vehicles, worried about their affordability, access to charging points and the number of miles they can run on a single charge.

The transition to electric vehicles is set to be a slow one, though as battery technology improves, electric vehicles could become the preference for many people. The battery life and charging times will improve, and costs for these vehicles will reduce, meaning more people have access to electric cars in time for the petrol and diesel ban.

But the growth of electric vehicle sales is just one part of the step to reducing emissions. Real change depends on individuals, businesses and policymakers working in tandem to create more sustainable practices that are still accessible to the everyday driver.

At European Springs & Pressings Ireland, we like to keep our finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the manufacturing industry. We are expert spring manufacturers leading the field in spring and high-speed press technology. Contact us today to find out more about our bespoke design and manufacture service.

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Author: European Springs Web Team