European Springs Web Team, Author at European Springs Ireland

With 5G set to revolutionise the manufacturing industry, there is much speculation on the importance of manufacturers adopting the technology as early as possible. Here, we will consider the benefits that 5G is likely to bring, when it will be rolling out, and what this means for manufacturing.

What Is 5G?

5G is the latest upgrade to mobile data. If you have used 2G, 3G or 4G on your phone, then you can imagine that, but much, much faster. While the general consumer only handles 3G or 4G for sending and receiving social interactions on their mobiles, there are significant repercussions for its fine-tuning for technology, including for those working in the manufacturing sector.

Mobile data works using radio waves, and 5G data will be transmitted over a section of the available bandwidth. It will be transmitted via phone masts and similar, with greater coverage occurring initially in cities where higher numbers of people can make use of the technology. As 5G becomes more popular and more technology is created that can use it, it will spread throughout the nation until it becomes the new normal.

What Are the Benefits of 5G?

This new mobile data is substantially faster than its predecessors, offering substantially faster download and upload speeds. Not only is this a great asset for downloading movies, but it will have a significant impact on the future of important society-changing technology, such as the development of driverless cars.

For an insight into the speed of 5G, it is ten times faster than 4G. Where is would previously take fifteen minutes to download a film on 4G, it will take you three minutes on a 5G connection.

When Will 5G Be Here?

5G is already here! In the UK, EE and Vodafone were the first to introduce a 5G plan back in May 2019. Since then, all major phone service providers have rolled out 5G packages; however, for consumers to make use of their package, they must have access to a phone compatible with translating 5G waves into data.

The same goes for smart technology and the internet of things. To make use of this improved speed, your technology may need updating or replacing. As such, 5G has already arrived in our country, but it is still gaining traction with industrial, commercial, and domestic users.

How Will 5G Affect the Manufacturing Industry?

The main ways in which 5G will affect the manufacturing industry is through improving the developing technology used in industry 4.0. Through 5G, smart machines will be able to communicate more information with each other, faster. This has great implications for the predicted efficiency of this technology but will also increase the amount of data that they can process, analyse, and report on.

If you are struggling to envision what this will really mean for your factory, then try to visualise your production line as a series of solitary, hygienic machines, communicating statistics to each other and your staff. For example, if machine A is running out of material, it will communicate to machine B to order in new materials. Machine A might then calculate the speed at which it will completely run out of materials to make your product and to warn staff in your office when to expect a new material shipment.

In the case that the material shipment runs late, machine A could be programmed to request machine check-ups during its downtime, ordering in parts and relying on human engineers to repair any burgeoning problems.

One of the primary roles of your staff in this situation will be to oversee the machines’ performance, to study the data they send back, and to formulate plans which will help to improve your business’ productivity. With technology like this, your staff will likely be able to work fewer hours for better pay. The evolution of the smart factory is good news all round.

We are spring manufacturers with decades of experience. Our smart machines help us to engineer precise parts of consistent quality for other businesses and industries. We can supply springs for household appliances to aerodynamic vehicles. With the introduction of 5G technologies and industry 4.0 being the inevitable future of manufacturing, we look forward to seeing how our productivity, and ability to provide for our customers’, changes.

The manufacturing industry has grown significantly in recent years, and despite recent struggles due to Coronavirus, the sector is seeing some promising signs and appears to be bouncing back.

With the ongoing digital transformation of the sector, along with Industry 4.0 now being fully incorporated into most businesses, there’s now room for the next big deve
lopment in the sector.

With the sector coming on in leaps and bounds in recent years, you can be forgiven for getting excited about what the future holds for the industry; and in this article, we take a closer look at some of the key things to keep an eye out for in the coming years.

3D Printing

It’s no secret that 3D printing has been steadily growing over the years, with the industry set to account for more than $20 billion in spending by 2025, according to GlobalData. 3D printing offers manufacturers a huge amount of flexibility, and with advancements set to be made in prototyping, firms are genuinely encouraged by the potential ability to better visualise future products ahead of mass manufacturing.

3D printing has become something of a staple with many manufacturing companies around the UK, and with steps forward being taken with automated assembly integrating seamlessly with 3D printed metal and plastic parts, we could see 3D printing as part of the assembly line in a matter of years.

There’s also hope that advancements in software and data management will have a profound effect on 3D printing moving forward. With improved system management and part quality expected from these changes, the expectation is that manufacturers will be able to deliver more individualised, purpose-built products for customers, at significantly lower price points.

Wearable Technologies

Wearable technologies have been incorporated into manufacturing over the last few years, and there’s good reason to believe this type of tech will continue to be used throughout the sector for years to come. It’s important to remember that wearable technologies go far beyond eye-based units, with the likes of smartwatches quickly becoming a key part of employee welfare in manufacturing settings.

Wearable tech has two main uses, VR and AR are mainly used for training purposes, as the wearer can safely get to grips with how to work key components in the supply chain. A VR or AR headset allows the user to enter a fully augmented space where they can carry out tasks exactly as they would in real life.

Smartwatches are mainly used for ensuring the welfare of all employees, as they can be used to detect fatigue, high heart rates and other abnormalities. This information can be relayed back to a duty manager who can then check in on employees if any potential issues are flagged.

With multiple benefits already being seen from wearable tech within the industry, their use is only expected to become more commonplace over the coming years. The technology used in wearables has come on in leaps and bounds in such a small amount of time, so it’s only a matter of time until the next big wearables hit the market.

Embracing 5G & Investment in IoT

It doesn’t feel like that long ago that the industry was excited about 4G and all of the benefits it would bring to the sector, but now we are already looking ahead to how we can harness 5G to its full extent. 5G is roughly 100 times faster than 4G, with speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second ready to be harnessed.

With the IoT taking up an ever-increasing amount of bandwidth and demands for data creation constantly on the rise, 5G comfortably satisfies the growing need for reliable, high-speed connectivity. It’s extremely important that businesses take steps to futureproof their current processes with 5G in mind, and that inevitably means investment in IoT technologies.

IoT tech has been a staple within the industry for a number of years now, and its influence over the manufacturing sector doesn’t look set to diminish any time soon. With automation and robotics within smart factories relying heavily on this technology, now is the time to invest and embrace IoT, along with 5G. Doing so will enable your business to work faster, create more high-quality products and reduce bottlenecks in the supply chain.

As a whole, the industry seems ready to invest in IoT technologies, as many within the sector have first-hand experience of just how much of an impact it can have on workflows and automation within the workplace.

At European Springs & Pressings Ireland, we are constantly looking for the next big technology in the manufacturing industry. By continually investing in our existing processes and technology, we are able to maintain our position as one of the top spring manufacturers in the UK.

Be sure to keep an eye on our blog page for the very latest information coming out of the manufacturing industry, as well as expert sector insights!

In last year’s Annual Manufacturing Report (2019), it was revealed that more than half of businesses in the industry believed that the education system was failing the industry. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the government is doing much to change that, so it is up to the business owners to change perceptions.

If you are a business owner hoping for talented, passionate, and promising new hires in the future, we have some advice for how you can improve the education of young people.

If you are a young person hoping to get into manufacturing, then we also have some suggestions that may be able to help you achieve success. Following the standard education route isn’t always the fastest, or best, route into our industry.

What Exists Now

In terms of the education that already exists, many businesses believe that much of the skills training is outdated and impractical. It is thought that not enough students are being taught to think about the exciting potential of 3D prototyping, or where their future careers might lie in respect to these advancements.

Despite being surrounded by smart technology, young people are not being taught about the future of connected product manufacturing, so they aren’t considering roles in maintaining those technologies. This means that individuals aren’t training to fulfil the roles that we need in our society.

This doesn’t mean that young people are ignorant of automation in factories, however, but they are getting the wrong message about it. Instead of being inspired to create the next automating machine, or learning the skills required to fix and understand automation, young people are hearing about how these machines are cutting jobs from the sector and panicking. We need to teach young students that a future in manufacturing isn’t closed to them because of automation, but that the skills we need are changing to be more exciting because of it.

One way to help young people realise the future of industry is to show it to them. An apprenticeship can offer students the hands-on experience they need to understand what is required from today’s manufacturing scene. If they are looking to further their education after their apprenticeship by taking on a degree, they will be better prepared for which courses can really benefit the companies of today, and may return to you in the future as an ideal candidate.

The Future for Businesses

Most companies in UK manufacturing have felt the impact of the skills gap on their business, and agree that while plenty of skilled workers are retiring, they are not being replaced by enough passionate young people.

To solve this problem, we first need to understand why young people aren’t as attracted to manufacturing as they used to be. The reasons for this could be down to education, or it could be due to uncertainty about the future of the industry. A study quoted by The Telegraph found that 40% of high school students believe that manufacturing is boring, and that only 15% of college-age students believed it had a good wage. Clearly, something needs to change to motivate the future of the manufacturing scene.

One way that businesses can change these views is by going to careers fairs and speaking to children face-to-face and offering them realistic information about the industry. This means talking to them about the kinds of skills that manufacturing is looking for, and the kinds of wages that can bring, compared to other jobs.

Another way to break down the myths surrounding our industry is to offer tours to local schools. These tours, however, need to be thoughtfully planned in order to have the right impact. You want to inspire young people with your business, skills and tools.

For Young People

If you are a young person considering what a future in manufacturing might look like for you, we recommend getting in touch with your local manufacturing company to learn what kind of apprenticeships are available. Experience in our industry is irreplaceable and will help you to secure work in the future.

Overall, we place importance on engineering skills and problem-solving attitudes. Engineering at GCSE opens doors to many wonderful careers and the skills that you learn will stay with you for life. Manufacturing is more than just skills; it is about living with a positive mindset dedicated to making the world around you better with innovative solutions. If this worldview appeals to you, then you might want to consider a career in manufacturing.

We are a springs manufacturer dedicated to supporting young people in the early stages of their career with our apprenticeship programs. If you are interested in our products, or in discussing the future of education and hiring in the industry, contact us.

We’re keeping our finger on the pulse of the very latest industry news. If you’re looking for information on the direction of our sector to help you plan for the future of your business, you can find it here.

Scottish Manufacturing in Front

In the last few months, the BBC has reported two stories on Scotland’s manufacturing front. In June, they reported the First Signs of Slump Show in Scotland’s Official Figures. According to the Scottish government economists, their economy fell by 18.9% in April overall. In the first quarter of the year, their biggest declines were in transport, manufacturing, oil and gas production and hospitality.

Since this report, more optimistic figured have been published for August, in an article titled ‘Scottish Economy ‘Approaching Stabilisation’:

‘The latest Royal Bank of Scotland purchasing managers index (PMI) found the coronavirus-related downturn “eased noticeably” in July.’

There are still worries that local lockdowns could delay further recovery, but nevertheless, these signs of growth are a blessing during the current confusion. The report’s Business Activity Index – a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output – registered 49.3 in July, up from 37.1 in June. Manufacturing is back on the rise, which is great news for employers and workers nationwide.

UK Manufacturing Front

It’s not only Scotland that’s experiencing gains after great loss during the pandemic. The BCC’s survey of 7,700 firms, representing 580,000 employees across the UK, found that economic conditions in the April-June quarter “deteriorated at an unprecedented rate”.

Looking towards the future, however, one focus is on securing apprenticeship places for young people during the approaching recession. The BCC is calling for wage subsidies for apprenticeships and work experience to support this goal.

It is important that the manufacturing sector is protected during the pandemic. The NewStatesman published an article detailing their thoughts on why manufacturing is key to post-pandemic recovery, and we agree.

Expanding Businesses in Manufacturing – Blends

Not every company has experienced the dramatic falls that are recorded by the media, there have been some successes during these tough times. Blends is one such company.

As a manufacturer of food colouring, Blends has created 70 new jobs to bolster the company’s rapid expansion during difficult times. As well as it’s 70 new jobs, this North West company is fundamentally changing the way their business is run as a result of the pandemic.

Plans include a £5000 investment on a new video conferencing room. They recognise the benefits that a more digital approach to business will afford them in the post-pandemic future, but the pandemic has made them ever more vital.

Here’s what Blends said about increasing their digital reliance:

“Don’t get me wrong, face-to-face meetings are still preferable when you’re negotiating, but having video conferencing equipment makes it easier to stay in touch with customers, suppliers and anyone working from home.”

This perspective could become more common in a post-pandemic UK.

Sustainable Businesses in Manufacturing – SeaMorgens

The pandemic has seen an increase in plastic waste with the nation’s reliance on single-use face masks, gloves, and similar equipment. Considering the sad but necessary environmental impact of all this plastic, it is good to see that more sustainable industries are succeeding in their goals to make things better for our planet.

Created by two sisters dedicated to saving the world’s shores, their eco-friendly designs are crafted from plastic bottles and fishing nets.

“What excites me most is launching a business that is going to have a positive impact on the ocean and the environment.” (Business Live)

High-Quality Tools in Manufacturing – Longcliffe

Other companies like Longcliffe Quarries are using the downtime of the pandemic to fundamentally improve their business. This company have invested no less than £3.5m on state-of-the-art equipment. Their new equipment will enable them to boost their efficiency as well as to achieve their environmental goals better.

Longcliffe Quarries are an example of how companies can rely on technology to improve their efficiency as well as reduce environmental costs. As the fourth industrial revolution grows ever closer, an understanding and willingness to embrace new technologies is vital. Longcliffe have shown time and again that they are willing to make those changes, the real question is whether the rest of the manufacturing sector in our nation can say the same about themselves.

The second quarter has been a tough one, but it’s certain that we’ll be wiser for it. The changes that we’ve had to make will have created important data that will ensure a smarter, more efficient future. For more manufacturing news, be sure to check back to our blog. As spring manufacturers with high hopes for the future of industry, we will always do our best to aid the wider sector in any way possible.

Following the peak of the UK Coronavirus pandemic many manufacturing and engineering businesses have been getting back to work over the last month or so. With the pandemic affecting nearly all businesses across all industries, there is likely to be a significant cut in research and development spending across most sectors.

With companies looking to cut costs and save jobs where possible, research and development is set to suffer, but this is likely to have a detrimental affect to the future of the manufacturing industry as a whole. Here, we take a closer look at just how important research and development funds will be to the UK’s overall economic recovery.

R&D Integral To Recovery Of Most Industries

As many businesses assess their options for a full recovery over the coming months and years, it’s no surprise that research and development spending is likely to be one of the main cuts made by most employers – though this may not be in their best interests.

According to a survey carried out by the Royal Academy of Engineering in April 2020, those surveyed believe that research and development will play a vital role in many industries finding a way out of the issues caused by the pandemic. There is a real belief that research and development in the manufacturing, engineering and healthcare industry will have a profound affect on just how quickly each of these sectors can recover.

Research and development is commonly funded through revenue brought in by businesses, however, with many companies experiencing cash flow issues in the past few months, the total spending on R&D is likely to take a significant hit. Research and development spending is also likely to affect partnership with educational establishments who would have benefited and been able to provide additional support for student work placements throughout the year.

It’s also worth noting that many businesses will have been some way through existing research and development projects when the Coronavirus pandemic hit, which in most cases, will have halted their progress indefinitely.

What Can Be Done?

First and foremost, it’s vital that the government do not ignore the need for urgent backing when it comes to research and development for all sectors, but with particular emphasis placed on the manufacturing and health industries.

Whilst the government spending in research and development has steadily decreased over the last few years, the importance of investing now cannot be understated. Failure to capitalise on this opportunity could see many industries, including the manufacturing and engineering sector, held back in comparison to other global competitors.

The Royal Academy of Engineering is calling for several interventions to support business research and development through this difficult time. Here’s an overview of what they believe needs to be done over the coming months, to minimise the impact on R&D for all businesses:

Expand the Made Smart pilot to support SMEs in adapting to thrive within the ‘new normal’
Make innovation a key component of the public procurement process, enabling businesses to bring the best value for money to the public
Use the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to stimulate pre-competitive collaboration to address future innovation needs and opportunities
Protect the innovation pipeline and future-proof it by taking the following steps:
- Front-loading public funding in multi-year research and innovation programmes
- Introducing agile and rapid Collaborative R&D programmes to promote industry-university collaborations and knowledge exchange
- Boosting support for late-stage R&D and demonstration
- Maintaining and improving the UK’s competitive package of tax incentives for companies to innovate
- Developing globally leading capabilities

President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Sir Jim McDonald commented: “A knowledge and innovation-led economy remains our best strategy for future prosperity and we know from previous economic downturns that companies that have continued their R&D activity have been much better placed to recover afterwards.

“Now is the time for government to set out a powerful vision that both demonstrates its commitment to R&D and provides certainty to the businesses that will shape our economic destiny. Investing in R&D is investing in the future.”

As one of the UK’s leading spring manufacturers, we believe in the power of research and development to ensure businesses within the sector are able to continue going from strength to strength. The last few years have been testing for all manufacturers across the UK, and whilst the Coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread problems over the last three months, there is a genuine optimism around the industry that targeted research and development could pave the way to the sector thriving once again as all of our businesses enter working in the ‘new normal’.

As businesses around the UK do their best to adapt to the ‘new normal’, manufacturing companies are quickly finding that IoT technologies will play an integral role in their business over the coming years. In particular, augmented reality (AR) has already shown just how important it is for many manufacturers, with experts from the sector extensively using the technology during lockdown.

In this article, we will take a look at what augmented reality is, how it works in manufacturing and the role this technology is set to have in the coming months and years as we all adapt to the ‘new normal’.

What Is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image of the real world. It allows the user to make real time interactions with the real world environment that is being mirrored in AR, and is increasingly used in a number of sectors.

It’s fair to say that many people still associate augmented reality as a pretty futuristic technology, but in reality, it’s actually been around for a number of years now. Augmented reality has grown in recent years and has allowed millions of people to continue operating in their roles completely remotely.

It is easy to get augmented reality and virtual reality mixed up, but the easiest way to differentiate the two is by remembering that virtual reality refers to computer-generated environments for the user to interact with, whereas augmented reality actually adds to the reality you would see, rather than replacing it altogether.

How Does Augmented Reality Work In Manufacturing?

There is an ever-increasing market for this technology in the workplace. Manufacturing has already seen a huge uplift in the number of companies utilising augmented reality regularly in the workplace, and with the coronavirus pandemic hitting the UK in late March, even more businesses have been forced into using the technology extensively.

With some manufacturing experts being forced to work from home, augmented reality allowed these remote employees to see the physical world on video. During these sessions, the employee using augmented reality technology was able to annotate physical objects by simply using either their smartphone or wearable technology.

All of this means that despite the majority of the workforce being forced to work remotely, there was no need to furlough some staff who could continue to carry out their day to day roles from their own living room. Augmented reality allows companies to have employees right across the world be involved in the build and assembly of any products. If proper processes are put in place in terms of using augmented reality, such as giving employees a set agenda to follow during their augmented reality sessions, it ensures they run as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Moving forward, with augmented reality proving a success in the manufacturing industry already, it’s fair to say that this could lead to businesses conducting more of their work remotely where possible. For example, traditionally engineers and technicians would have to travel between sites to resolve any issues with equipment, but augmented reality is capable of cutting out needless travel, enabling these experts to give front line workers a step by step guide to resolving any problems.

The Future Of Augmented Reality & Manufacturing

It’s clear to see that augmented reality and IoT technologies in general are already having a profound effect on the manufacturing industry. All signs suggest that there will be an increased reliance on augmented reality technologies as the years go by, but of course this will be rolled out across the industry slowly and incrementally.

At present, augmented reality is mainly used in the design, training and routine maintenance of equipment, but there is scope for this to be expanded into the assembly and manufacturing processes too in the near future.

One of the main things that companies who wish to adopt this technology need to remember is that high-quality data management will hold the key to augmented realities overall success. With augmented reality relying solely on data to feed into the support technology, businesses will need to invest heavily in ensuring that all the data required is readily available for the software to operate effectively.
At European Springs & Pressings Ireland, we pride ourselves on being part of the largest spring suppliers group in Europe. That’s why you can always rest assured you’ll receive the very best service and products when you work with us, and why we’re always keeping our finger on the pulse of the very latest news surrounding the manufacturing industry. Our experts are consistently keeping a close eye on the latest developments in the manufacturing sector, and we are always sure to invest in the latest technologies that can help us better serve our customers, from new spring coiling machines to integrating the latest IoT technologies into our existing processes.

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Author: European Springs Web Team