Author: European Springs Web Team

We at European Springs Ireland are excited to announce that we will be attending Medical Technology Ireland; a high-profile event which is helping attract global suppliers to the Irish Medical Device Industry. This year’s event has drawn in over 200 exhibitors and will feature presentations from leading international medical device experts.

But what exactly happens at Medical Technology Ireland? And how can a company like ours benefit from attending? More importantly, why should you attend? Here’s a quick look at what this event has to offer.

European Springs Ireland at Medical Technology Ireland

Medical Technology Ireland

Medical Technology Ireland is an event showcasing the latest technological developments from the world of medicine right here in Ireland. Over two days, products and solutions for the Irish medical technology design and manufacturing industry will be on display, with expert talks, interactive demonstrations and key-note speakers all making up the jam-packed schedule.

Taking place on the 26th and 27th September in Galway, this exciting event features over 200 exhibitors, promising a high-level conference with potentially fascinating new initiatives. This two-day conference features a host of exciting activities, from medical experts giving informative speeches, to on-stage interviews with professional executives.

What Does the Event Entail?

With over 1,500 attendees, there is much to be expected from this event, including over 30 hours of informative content to educate businesses and ultimately assist them with their development. Day one of the event features a number of fascinating talks regarding relevant subjects within the world of manufacturing, from The Future of 3D Printing to Current Challenges and Opportunities in the Irish MedTech Landscape.

The excitement continues on the second day, where some of the interesting seminars include Smart Technologies for Medical Device Manufacturers to Man & Machine – The Five Stages of Man/Robot Collaboration. The first day of the event focuses heavily on the medical industry, with the second day looking more at the manufacturing side of the latest in medical technology.

There is a diverse range of professions from all over the world visiting this fantastic event, including product design engineers, consultants and research developers. This is not only your chance to learn from experts in the field of medical technology, but it is also a way for you to gain potential customers and connections. From these interesting talks, we can broaden our own knowledge, as we communicate with a vast array of individuals who share the same passion for excellence.

The event has been met with tremendous success; reviews from previous years include:

 ‘’The show has all the hallmarks of being Ireland’s premier event…we will be back!’’

 ‘’We found this year’s Medical Technology Ireland exhibition at the Galway Racecourse to be a very positive event, with a high footfall and high level of visitors…this event will be a major contribution to our growth in the Irish MedTech market.’’

 ‘’The show exceeded our expectations with many new contacts made and subsequent good quality new business enquiries have been received. The show allowed us to raise our profile amongst the key players in the Irish Medical Sector.’’

Whether a company in the industry or even an individual wanting to increase your knowledge of this fascinating sector, there is much to be learned from the two-day event.

Don’t Forget to Come and See European Springs

Events like this are an amazing opportunity for those within the industry to raise their profile whilst learning a great deal from the experts. As spring manufacturers, we at European Springs Ireland work closely with the medical industry, providing high-quality springs for a wide range of life-saving and highly sophisticated medical equipment.

Expo

For businesses who have the opportunity to attend events like this, it is greatly important to do so, as it can help your business progress, giving you the chance to widen your connections and learn about the latest innovations. We are excited for the Medical Technology Ireland to begin.

For more information on the event, take a look at their website here: Medical Technology Ireland.

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People may not notice just how much of a role springs play in our day-to-day lives. Everything from your coffee maker to your car brakes, your toilet to your remote control – all these everyday products rely on the humble spring. The history of this revolutionary technology dates back longer than you might think.

Everything from tools, such as hammers and spanners, to small components, such as springs and hinges, are just as important

Early Spring Technology

What do we classify as a ‘spring’? The helical shape of a compression spring (a coiled spring) is well recognised as the ‘standard’ spring shape. However, this design was not humanity’s first introduction into this life-changing technology.

An early example of spring technology is the bow and arrow. This prehistoric weapon works using a simple non-coiled spring, in the same way as a modern-day tension spring. When the bow’s string is pulled back, it tightens and creates a bounce when released; this is considered a ‘spring’. Given that bone arrowheads have been discovered dating as far back as 61,000 years ago, this suggests that this form of spring technology is at least this old.

Coiled springs, on the other hand, are a much more modern invention, appearing as late as the 18th Century.

Bronze Age

Springs began to take on a more sophisticated form in the Bronze age, shown through the spread of tweezers in many cultures during this time. A type of chariot created in 1333 BC, which was popularised by Tutankhamun, featured an early suspension system designed with leaf spring shock absorbers. This type of spring technology was also used during the Roman era for their chariots.

The Renaissance

Leonardo Da Vinci was the mastermind behind springs being employed into the design of pistols. In 1493, Da Vinci discovered that the use of a small spring would allow a pistol to be shot using just one hand, completely altering the way firearms were used.

Hooke’s Law

Hooke’s Law, devised in 1676 by British physicist, Robert Hooke, is a physics principle which states that the extension of a spring is proportional to the load applied to it, so long as this load does not exceed the material’s elastic limit.

The force is equal to the ‘spring constant’ in Newtons per metre, multiplied by the extension in metres. This equation was, and still is, paramount in the creation of objects that use springs.

Industrial Revolution

The original coil spring was patented in 1763 by R. Tradwell; it was considered revolutionary since, unlike the leaf spring, it did not need to be lubricated or spread apart. It was during this era that new forms of spring technology began to crop up, such as balance springs, clock springs and mattress springs. They were more accurate and inexpensive to replace, which led to the mass production of metal springs.

Today

The advancement of spring technology came on leaps and bounds as time went on. Now springs can be found everywhere, from bikes and cars to watches, toys, door locks, trampolines and even jet skis. Here at European Springs Ireland, we work with a wide range of different springs, including: spring clips, torsion, tension, compression, gas, motor and more – all of which can be used in a number of industries.

If you would like to speak to us about how our springs could be used in your next project, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will be more than happy to advise you.

Get In Touch

Since the UK voted to leave, Brexit has been an inevitable topic of conversation across numerous industries. With a disconcerting degree of uncertainty in what the future holds for various business sectors, many within the manufacturing industry are wondering how it will affect daily operations.

Manufacturing contributes greatly to the UK’s gross domestic product, accounting for 5% of businesses and contributing £169 billion – that’s almost 10% of the UK economy! Although Brexit will undoubtedly impact manufacturing, is it possible to predict exactly how much?

Here are some of the predicted changes, as well as a look at how the manufacturing industry is already being impacted.

What Does Brexit Mean?

Simply put, Brexit is the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union. It has been two years since the UK voted to leave the EU, with the official date of commencement proceedings scheduled for 29th March 2019.

As 55% of our imported goods are traded with the EU, the move will have a considerable impact on the UK economy.

Over the last several months, terms such as a ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ Brexit have been bandied about in the media. In its simplest form, a soft Brexit means that the UK will continue to have close ties with the EU. Even after leaving the customs union, we would still remain in the single market, retaining the free trade agreement (FTA), similar to what Norway has.

Hard Brexit, on the other hand, means that the UK will move further away from the EU, and will cut all main ties with the European Union, making any trade deals much more unlikely, if available at all.

The Changes So Far

Changes are to be expected across all industries.

In May 2017, the UK became bottom of the G7 Growth League, where we registered a growth of just 0.2%.

On the other hand, there have also been positive changes since the landmark vote happened. Whereas many assumed that the worst scenarios would hit the UK immediately, in actual fact the opposite happened, with the UK economy estimated to have grown 1.8% in 2016.

This, unfortunately, does not appear to be the case in the automotive industry, where uncertainty about Brexit has already put thousands of jobs at risk, making them one of the most vulnerable industrial sectors. One of the main reasons behind this is that investors are now choosing to go elsewhere in Europe due to increased costs.

How Will this Affect the Manufacturing Industry?

Research suggests that the impact of Brexit within the UK could trigger a downward spiral in UK GDP growth. On the other hand, many believe Brexit will make UK manufacturing more profitable. EU membership is a beneficial factor, with prices of manufacturers in the UK domestic market falling by 20%. This would increase competition which in turn would push productivity higher across the economy.

There are further positive factors to consider once Brexit takes effect. The UK will no longer be constrained by existing regulations, after leaving the EU. This means the UK may have more freedom in the market, gaining potentially better tariffs for trade, which could ultimately help boost manufacturing.

Although this is a tough time for the UK manufacturing industry as it prepares for change, it’s important to remember that we have already seen some of the positive benefits of Brexit.

As spring manufacturers, we at European Springs Ireland believe that we can continue to be one of the leading figures in the field of springs and high-speed press technology. Although it is uncertain what the future holds for the UK manufacturing industry, there are still numerous opportunities for the UK to move forward.

If you would like to find out more about our products and services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today, and we will be happy to help.

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Ireland is known for being a proud and passionate nation, steeped in history and tradition, with stunning landscapes, accommodating people and of course, a love of sport.

In this blog, we look at our historic national stadium and the engineering that influenced its award-winning redevelopment.

The existing arena has come a long way from humble beginnings and the very first All-Ireland finals held at Jones’ Road, site of today’s state of the art ground, in March 1896.

It was some seventeen years after this, in 1913, that the Gaelic Athletic Association (the GAA) were able to purchase Jones’ Road using the gate money from the Croke Memorial Tournament.

It cost them the princely sum of £2,400 and was renamed Croke Memorial Park in honour of one of the GAA’s original founders – Archbishop Thomas Croke.

Completed in 2002 by Irish architects Gillroy McMahon, in conjunction with international sports facilities designers HOK Sport, the newly-developed Croke Park had a number of briefs to fill.

As a sporting venue it had to accommodate huge numbers of visitors at any one time – over 82,000 in fact – and critically, had to provide those paying guests with a full, clear view of the sporting action yet retain the sense of community for which Irish Sport is known.

Being the flagship centre of Gaelic Football and Hurling, it had to reflect this status whilst also being appreciative of the history and culture of the GAA in general.

It was also important that it looked good given the effect such a big stadium would naturally have on the Dublin landscape.

The Perfect View

Aesthetics are integral to the approach taken by the architects and a key part of the Development Control Plan was to involve revolving the pitch by eight degrees so that effectively it should track the line of the railway and the canal that passes immediately to the south of the ground.

Unique to Croke Park is the leaning structural frame with the tiers of seating pitching out towards the field of play. This creates an effect of communal intimacy amongst the spectators in affording them the same focal proximity to the pitch across four tiers of seating.

It was a conscious decision to abandon the European tradition of segregating fans vertically and adopt an American approach to site fans across horizontal lines.

This gives the impression of one huge room and enables fans to walk from the Cusack Stand all the way to the other end of the Hogan Stand, over half a kilometre around the horseshoe.

A Sense of History

In the original plans for the stadium, it was proposed that Hill 16, with the exception of a few rows, would be removed.

Historically and culturally significant, the terrace was both a physical and a subconscious representation of a turbulent past that many would have been keen to retain but did not seem at first architecturally possible. In part, this was due to the fact that the GAA did not own all of the land behind that area of the ground.

Thanks to a touch of engineering ingenuity, however, namely a ‘Y’-shaped structural support system providing a central support column for the seating and catering for a concourse and the cantilever roof, the much-revered stand at the Railway End of Croke Park was saved.

This is a significant deviation from the more traditionally-used ‘H’-framed, post and beams model of structural support.

In addition to being able to accommodate over 13,000 people in the newly-built stand, this revolutionary engineering design solution has also afforded bigger pitch dimensions: the new pitch is a whole seven metres longer and three metres wider than the previous one.

Shane O’Toole, writing for Archiseek in 2002, describes the GAA as “..not just a game, but a culture” and this sense is retained with references to historical events throughout the stadium.

The new Cusack Stand, now with space for 27,000 people compared to the 5,000 it originally held, is of course named after Michael Cusack one of the original GAA founders with the Davin Stand commemorating the first GAA President, Maurice Davin.

This section of the ground also houses the Ali Tunnel, created as part of the redevelopment, to honour legendary boxer Muhammed Ali and his 1972 bout with Al Lewis.

It is impossible also not to make reference to the significant events of 1920 when thinking of Croke Park and the Hogan Stand poignantly pays tribute to Tipperary player, David Hogan, who was killed on Bloody Sunday.

A Regard For the Environment

A contributory factor to the architects being awarded a Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) was the ability to successfully manage the competing demands of a state of the art building, retaining a sense of the culture of the GAA and a sympathy to the wider Dublin landscape.

Indeed, the chair of the judging panel that awarded the medal, Joan O’Connor described it to the RIAI as “..a landmark in the architectural, historical and cultural landscape of Dublin. It relates well to its neighbours and environment while being an elaborate but delicate signature on the city’s skyline. Not only does it afford 83,000 visitors a full and clear vision of the field of play, it provides a sense of community within its audience and is as impressive when empty as when full to capacity. The secret of the design is in the carefully balanced Y section which elegantly supports the terraces, concourses and the magnificent cantilevered roof.”

Aligning the three demands was of key importance to the architects, who wanted to ensure that the stadium was as aesthetically pleasing when seen at a distance from across Dublin as it is within its immediate environment.

The choice of colours matches those of surrounding buildings and each face of the base of the ground has been designed for the specific context it faces, whether towards the canal or the residential aspect of Jones’ Road.

The Future

One of the most popular sports in Ireland in terms of attendance, Gaelic football shows no signs of slowing down. There was a 24% increase in 2017 spectator numbers compared to 2016 as reported in the Irish Mirror, and an extra €4m received in revenue and the interest in Hurling continues too. There’s little doubt that the redevelopment of our flagship ground has and will continue to contribute to this but it’s more than just facilities.

The stadium of today even hosts music events, with many world-class headline acts choosing Croker as their Irish performance venue. In fact the singer Taylor Swift recently made history by being the first woman to perform two shows in a row at the ground.

The care taken in the design to acknowledge the past whilst looking to the future engenders in us the relevance of our culture in a modern world and we here at European Springs Ireland are proud of the influence of engineering in preserving that for future generations.

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The world of engineering has impacted the way we work in our everyday lives. Everything we take for granted was invented by successful individuals and did not exist once upon a time. Can you imagine if we now lived without some of the world’s greatest inventions, such as the automobile? From ancient tools to the latest digital advances, humans have been inventing and engineering items which have been transforming our lives since we can remember.

Here are just some of the engineering inventions that have not only changed the way we live our everyday lives but have shaped the entire industry and have paved the way for a greater future.

The First Airplane

If it wasn’t for the invention of the first ever plane, would we now be able to travel across seas, venture to new countries or even carry soldiers, assist the injured and rescue mountaineers? On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first ever powered, sustained, and controlled plane, which has been evolving and changing ever since.

While these flying contraptions have been more than an idea ever since da Vinci’s time, the Wright brothers were the ones to make it a success! It’s fair to say that these siblings kickstarted the foundation for modern aeronautical engineering.

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first ever powered, sustained, and controlled plane

Compass

The invention of the compass can’t be traced back to a specific date; however, the earliest compasses were most likely invented by the Chinese around 1050 BC. Created for spiritual and navigational purposes, the first compasses were said to be made of lodestones as this is a naturally magnetised iron ore.

With the advancement in technology and the invention of the electromagnet in 1825, the compass was then developed into what we know today. If it wasn’t for the engineering marvel that is the compass, modern navigation wouldn’t have received the push it needed.

The first compasses were said to be made of lodestones as this is a naturally magnetised iron ore

Automobile

Although the basic foundations for the car were laid early in 1866 by German engineer and inventor Karl Benz, cars didn’t become widely available until the early 20th century. Mass production techniques for automobiles were invented by well-known engineer Henry Ford and are now standard practises with Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and more.

This evolution reflects a worldwide effort – it influenced other technological advances such as petroleum refining, steel making, plate-glass manufacturing, and other industrial processes.

Empty car body shells on production line

Light Bulb

Indoors right now? There’s most likely a light bulb powering the room. The energy we use today and use to light up our offices and homes with was a bright idea from way over 150 years ago. Pioneered by Humphry Davy, he set off on his journey in the 1800s and ended up being one of the most influential and greatest inventors of all time. While Davy began this invention, the first light bulb was patented by Edison and Swan in 1879 and 1880. The invention of the lightbulb electrified new business and led to numerous exciting breakthroughs such as electric transmission lines, home appliances and power plants!

The energy we use today and use to light up our offices and homes with was a bright idea from way over 150 years ago

Small Tools and Components

We may consider planes, trains, and automobiles to be some of the greatest accomplishments from the world’s engineers, but do we ever stop to think about the smaller parts? Everything from tools, such as hammers and spanners, to small components, such as springs and hinges, are just as important, perhaps even more! The first ever coiled spring was invented by R. Tradwell in 1763 and was a British patent.

This stems from the research British physicist Robert Hooke carried out in 1676 on Hooke’s Law, which explores the force which a spring exerts.

When you think about how many products, machines, and household items we couldn’t have if it wasn’t for the nuts, bolts, wire forms, screws and springs, we would have very empty homes and businesses!

 Everything from tools, such as hammers and spanners, to small components, such as springs and hinges, are just as important

This list is by no means comprehensive; these are just a few of the marvellous inventions which have shaped everything we do in our day-to-day routines. You are probably reading this on a PC or phone; both which wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for an engineer or inventor who conjured up the idea.

As spring manufacturers, we are in awe of these engineers – and, of course, the ones we haven’t been able to mention. If you would like to know more about our products and services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with European Springs Ireland today.

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Springs come in a huge range of different shapes and sizes, each used for their own specific purpose. Within numerous industries, springs are a huge part of how a product functions, playing a huge role in some of the things we use every day.

Wire forms are one of the types of spring we have available at European Spring Ireland. Let’s take a look at why wire forms are so valuable and what they bring when used within different industries.

Wire Forms 1

What Are Wire Forms?

Wire forms are one of those essential component types that rarely ever gets acknowledged for their utility, but which has a profound impact on the world. Commonly used in headsets, computer brace devices or sometimes even in the manner of a simple pin, no two examples of a wire form need ever look alike.

Wire forms can be manipulated into certain shapes and sizes and configured to fit the need of any design a seller wants. They can be made in simple beams or a cantilever design and can be made in coils or springs using various thicknesses or small rings in differing diameters.A common wire form is a spring, though any shape that a wire takes is technically a wire form. Other often seen wire forms include hooks and certain clips.

The wire used in wire forms can be made of any suitable metal; however, the type of metal used can vary based on specific needs. A wire form could be made from the following metals:

  • Stainless steel
  • Copper
  • Aluminium

What Industries Use Wire Forms?

Wire forms can be found in almost every industry, including:

  • Agricultural
  • Construction
  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Electronics
  • Medical devices

Within the construction industry, wire forms are most commonly used for the equipment. They are created and designed for power tools and hand tools that can withstand the tight tolerances this type of equipment experiences.

Within the lighting industry, CNC wire forms are commonly used. This is due to their durability and meeting tight tolerances. Light fixture wires are common; these simple wire forms are designed to safely hold a lighting fixture in a ceiling.

 Wire Forms 2

The Value of Custom Wire Forms

At European Springs Ireland, we use 14 of the very latest CNC automated spring coilers and equipment, meaning we can create these forms according to almost any design that you can think of.

Our advanced machinery has had a great effect on the production of wire forms, as we are now able to manufacture them in huge quantities, although we still hand fashion wire pins when an order is only relatively small in size.

We also make use of manual processes to offer specialist hand cooling treatments, and it is this wealth of experience, combined with our knowledge of spring wire properties, that enables us to make wire pins of exceptional precision and quality. Customising your wire forms means we can create the perfect fit for your needs.

As spring manufacturers, we deliver a professional service designing and supplying springs. If you would like to find out more information about our wire forms, or any of our other springs, do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our expert team today.

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