Author: European Springs Web Team

Here at European Springs Ireland we pride ourselves in providing high quality products for all of our customers, which is why we ensure that the designs of our springs allow them to be created from many different materials. One example is the project we recently completed with Liberty in London, which allowed us to take on a more creative task – our success with unique projects such as these didn’t stop here, however.

Our location in Beckenham was contacted by James and Taylor Ltd in London (experts in terracotta cladding and façade engineering) to produce a spring mechanism for the new Tate Modern, a gorgeous, world-renowned art gallery – and we couldn’t have been more excited about this!

The Project Itself

The Tate Modern opened its doors on the 17th June 2016, complete with an anti-climb zone to which we contributed our reliable springs. More specifically, the project entailed the manufacturing of retaining clips for holding face plates onto corbels on the building. This anti-climb area covers approximately the first 15 metres up around the base of the Tate Modern, and James and Taylor were in charge of completing this project.

 

Where Did We Come In?

We were previously approached by James and Taylor in 2013, when we designed, developed and sampled a design for the fixing clips. Due to the fact that the scaffolding in the building was set to come down sooner than expected, the client came back to us this year saying that we only had ten days to finish the spring mechanism.

As Stuart McSheehy, Managing Director of European Springs, said, ‘this really was a race against the clock as the scaffolding on the Tate Modern was being removed and James and Taylor’s anti-climb installation had to be implemented within days.’ And this is exactly what we did.

It wasn’t a straightforward task, though. We had to modify the design slightly from the original sample and, once that was done, we got the news that our material suppliers didn’t have the necessary resources ready to deal with a project like this – but they worked overtime and managed to provide everything we needed! Then, we laser-cut the blanks for the spring clips and tested them, and the final product was a two-part mechanism with a top and bottom spring.

Because this was so urgent, John Champion, Design Director at James and Taylor, came personally on Saturday morning to collect the 650 springs for the project. He was really happy with our work which, in turn, made us happy as well!

In his own words, ‘Stuart and his team could not have been more dedicated to delivering our brief. We appreciated it was a really tight turnaround but they were fearless and achieved the near impossible – securing high numbers of an exceptional quality of products and in a matter of days too.’

 

We love it when our clients are satisfied with our work, as we take great pride in manufacturing the best possible springs and wire forms out there. Assignments like this only add to our knowledge and experience, and allow us to learn more each day, so we relish the opportunity to be involved in these one-of-a-kind projects!

European Springs Ireland understands the need to have the highest quality springs and wire forms at all times, no matter the requirements of your project. For this reason, we strive to provide all of our customers with quality services and products they can trust and benefit from. These products can be used in a large range of situations, as they’re incredibly versatile, and are created from many different materials as well.

We work together with clients from different sectors and industries, such as the automobile and engineering – one of our most recent projects, however, involved our English office and the luxury retailer Liberty in London, a project unlike any other. This was a fantastic endeavour that baptised us into the world of retail, an experience we thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to do again.

Our location in Redruth partnered with Liberty to create a stunning window display and bespoke frames used in their shop. For this, European Springs made sure to provide high quality, specially made springs and wire forms that could meet the client’s needs – in this case, 80 springs were used to put on an amazing window display!

Compression Springs

While compression springs are typically used in mechanical engineering projects that require parts in movement – and which can benefit from the springs’ ability to be compressed and expanded without becoming damaged – Liberty’s request was the complete opposite. The unique shape of these types of springs makes them versatile and capable of being used a thousand different ways, which was why we chose them.

The client needed springs that could be functional and decorative at the same time, and couldn’t be happier about the final product – which, in turn, makes us happy as well! Our reliable, two-metre springs were used to display the client’s products, such as shoes, sunglasses and luxury purses, and provided the chic and modern look Liberty is known for. Doing the brand justice was one of our main goals, and we felt the springs really emphasised Liberty’s luxury and style to perfection.

Wire Forms

At European Springs we’re also known for our superior wire forms. To meet the client’s requirements, we created several frames that formed the chandeliers in their haberdashery section and ensured they could be functional and stylish at the same time, just as with the springs. The high end store was capable of showcasing their yarn and strings in the light fixtures, a contemporary design that perfectly matched the retailer’s design.

While springs, wire forms and retail might not seem compatible at first glance, turns out they’re a match made in heaven! Our partnership with Liberty has clearly proven that springs can be used for pretty much anything you wish, and that our focus on quality is the key to do it. By adding the perfect finish to our products, we make sure they look good while being practical and useful at the same time.

At European Springs Ireland we’re proud that our office in Redruth was chosen to be part of this creative project. We believe that new ventures are not just exciting but also allow us to deepen our knowledge: we can use our experience to help our clients achieve the results they’re looking for, and in return we also grow and learn from them!

If you’d like to learn more about our products and services, or would like to engage us for your own exciting project, don’t hesitate to contact us today on 0044 7889171165 and discuss your needs with us.

You wake up in the morning. It’s still very early and you don’t feel much sympathy for the singing sparrows beside your window. You take a shower, have a nutritious breakfast if time allows you to – if not, you just grab a slice toast and a coffee in your thermal mug. You run to your car… And sit inside, sipping your coffee and watching the latest episode of your favourite drama series whilst the car drives itself to your job.

Commuting turned into spare time… sounds like a dream? In that case, you’ll be happy to know that self-driving cars are not a fantasy from science fiction movies anymore but something very real. In fact, Google has decided it will open a self-driving car engineering centre in Michigan.

Selfdriving car with navigation sensor and satellite vector illustration

How Does a Self-Driving Car Work?

You might be wondering how it’s possible that  a self-driving car knows where to go and, at the same time, can avoid unexpected obstacles. Well, this is doable thanks to the Velodyne 64-beam laser that allows it to generate a detailed 3D map of its environment. The software in the car compares this information to its own high-resolution maps, producing the data that allows it to drive itself.

In this way, the car will be able to detect the colour of the traffic lights and also react if there are any unexpected obstacles in the middle of the road.

What Are its Advantages?

Perhaps you love driving, and you indulge in it as a hobby and a way to relax and forget the tensions of the day whilst you listen to your favourite band. But if you’re one of these people who just sees their car as an appliance – and get stressed whenever they have to drive somewhere – you will already be counting the days until you’re able to purchase your own self-driving car.

1. The End of Selfish Driving

It has been proved that traffic jams are a direct consequence of selfishness. If drivers allowed at least three to four car lengths of space between the car that is in front of them, traffic would flow smoothly – regardless of the quantity of cars on the road. But because people are anxious to arrive at their destination on time, they tend to drive very tightly together – which ultimately causes traffic congestion. Self-driving cars can be programmed to space out automatically, though, so this problem will be solved.

2. Protecting the Earth… and Your Pocket.

In an age when everyone is concerned about preserving the environment, a decrease in the use of fuel would be ideal to protect the natural resources of the planet – and your finances. A self-driving car can literally anticipate if the car in front of it is going to brake, and, ideally, this will allow all the cars following to brake simultaneously, too. This will protect the car’s engine and save fuel.

Fuel Pump

3. Cars Will Be for Everyone 

If you are blind or suffer from a disability, you might not be able to enjoy the benefits of having your own vehicle to travel whenever you need to go the healthcare centre, the mall or to visit your children living down south. Driving is also not accessible for children or elderly people. A programmed self-driving car, though, can pick up people and bring them to specified destinations. This will indeed bring freedom and better quality of life to many.

3D Printing Technology Car

Technology is evolving constantly, but here at European Springs Ireland we don’t want to be left behind. That is why our assorted catalogue of products is always being updated to make sure that every time you come to us you find exactly what your project needs. Contact our expert team today and we’ll be delighted to help. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep updated with the latest news.

The MacRobert Award was established in 1969 by the MacRobert Trust and is now presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering. This year’s awards will be presented on June 23rd and, according to the chair of the judging panel Dame Sue Ion, each of the nominees will “have a positive impact on millions of people and bolster the UK economy”.

This year’s nominees are examples of excellence in engineering.

Blatchford’s Prosthetic: The Linx

The Linx Limb system from the company Blatchford monitors and adapts to movements to automatically adjust to the environment. This is the first ever prosthetic limb with integrated robotic control of the knee and foot, a system that works together like a human leg.

Previous prosthetic limb models are limited, and their wearers have to plan their days and activities. A pioneering software called Mi2, or Motion Integrated Intelligence, helps the central computer act like the brain. With the Linx, sensors across both the knee and the foot act like human nerves that continuously collect data from the wearer, the environment, the activity, and the terrain.

 

Jaguar Land Rover

The Jaguar Land Rover team has designed and manufactured its own engines for the first time in a generation, having built an entire facility from scratch. A new family of Ingenium engines works towards the company’s goal of being completely self-sufficient by the year 2020 in the design and manufacture of engines.

These engines were developed after looking at almost 200 innovative ideas to help reduce emissions and weight while improving performance. Ingenium engines weigh up to 80kg less than present engines, even though they have more features and an increased power output. With the 4 cylinder Ingenium engine, the Jaguar XE is the first ever sub-100/km CO2 2.0L diesel saloon car (at 99g/km).

 

Magnetom Terra by Siemens Magnet Technology

The ground-breaking 7 Tesla (7T) magnet is at the centre of the first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system that is suitable for research and clinical applications. The Magnetom Terra has more than double the field strength of the majority of MRI scanners and it allows for images with higher resolution.

This new technology could aid in diagnosing illnesses like Alzheimer’s earlier than is possible now. Drug development would be assisted through the Magnetom Terra with improved pre-screening of clinical trial participants, which would ensure similar clinical characteristics.

Here at European Springs, being on top of cutting edge technology is essential. Our highly-skilled engineers ensure that our products are crafted to the utmost perfection. If you want to know more about what we do, you can contact us on 0044 7889171165.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ to keep up to date with our news and updates.

Scientific progress is being made at large scales, aided by the development of new and better technologies, which has a great positive impact on all fields. From the discovery of gravitational waves that prove Einstein’s theory, and which has been called the breakthrough of the century, to the constant advancements made in engineering, science is moving forwards at a fast pace. This leads to incredible discoveries that can make our lives better and improve society as a whole.

Whiskers and Navigation

It’s not a surprise that animals have better navigational skills than humans. Birds can travel thousands of miles every year and still come back to the exact place they left, without getting lost, and cats can find their way around a room using their whiskers to paint a picture of their surroundings. They brush their whiskers against surfaces and are then capable of orienting themselves. Likewise, seals judge water currents by how the water flows through their whiskers.

Researchers from the US and Singapore have developed a system similar to animal whiskers, which uses elastic metal alloy wires covered in plastic straw-like structures. They’re capable of recording delicate movements, and those signals are then interpreted to form an image of the surroundings. The goal of this project is to eventually use these whiskers in robotics as an alternative to other systems, such as vision and sonar.

A Flexible Camera

Researchers at Columbia University have recently created a novel camera that works unlike any other. Due to its flexibility, this camera works by being wrapped around everyday objects and capturing images that other cameras are not able to. The lens array is capable of producing high quality pictures when the sheet camera is bent, and in the future it could be used to photograph everything – and with unusual fields of view.

Handheld Surgical Pen

Engineering is a vast field that has a wide range of applications, and one of those is in medicine. Australian researchers have now created a handheld 3D printing pen that is capable of drawing human stem cells in any pattern. These cells have a high survival rate and will enable surgeons to design customised cartilage during surgery. This pen has a huge potential, as it can revolutionise tissue engineering, since it allows cells to be printed at will. Surgeons will be able to treat defects by simply printing new tissue to replace the damaged or missing ones.

Here at European Springs Ireland we’re always interested when engineering takes a step forward, which is why we provide high quality springs, wireforms and pressings that can help you develop your scientific projects. We also offer bespoke solutions that are custom-made specifically for your needs, so don’t hesitate to contact us or call us on 028 9083 8605 and discuss your requirements with us. We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, so find us there to stay updated with our latest news.

 

The engineering world is huge, and deciding on a specific type of engineering to specialise in can often be quite a difficult choice for many young people.

Aerospace engineering is one of the most rewarding industries which focuses on engineering, but is often overlooked by many people as they feel as though a prestigious position in such a crucial industry is out of their reach.

However, securing a job in aerospace engineering needn’t be any more difficult than other engineering positions. Here’s our guide for all our young, aspiring engineers of the future on how you can land a position in the aerospace engineering sector!

What Does Aerospace Engineering Entail?

As the name suggests, aerospace engineers are tasked with designing, building and maintaining parts that belong to an aircraft.

Engineer Teaching Apprentices To Use Tube Bending Machine

Depending on the company, engineers may be required to build full scale aircraft parts from prototypes as well as repair any parts which may require it. You may work on fighter jets, helicopters, vehicles to be used in space or various instruments which are crucial for the flight success of an aircraft.

There are a variety of different roles within aerospace engineering, including:

  • Research and Development
  • Production
  • Maintenance and Repair
  • Testing.

You would be expected to work around 37-40 hours a week on average, and starting salaries for new aerospace engineers can be anywhere between £20,000 and £26,000 per year, rising up to around £65,000 per year depending on the role and experience as you progress through the industry.

What Qualifications Would I Need?

Like most engineering positions, you will need to have had some form of relevant training or education which covered some aspects of the aerospace industry. This could be in the form of an aerospace engineering related degree or college course which provides a Higher National Diploma or Certificate.

Group of Young People Studying in Park -iStock_000035621698_Large

You may also be able to gain access to the industry through apprenticeships. This gives a prospective aerospace engineer a valuable insight into the way that the industry operates and they will be trained on the job to develop and learn all the relevant skills needed to be a successful aerospace engineer.

What Skills Should I Already Possess?

Due to the critical nature of many aerospace engineering projects, it is important that you are able to think on your feel and have excellent problem solving skills. Hesitation can often lead to injury, and working with large, dangerous vehicles such as aircraft means that there’s very little room for error.

It is also advantageous to be able to communicate clearly and precisely to get the job done. You won’t always be working alone, so it is essential that you are able to communicate with the rest of the workforce in order to be able to advance through projects seamlessly.

Young woman in the office

You should also be committed; becoming an aerospace engineer doesn’t happen overnight. You will need to be fully invested in your work and be willing to continuously learn new things as technology is always advancing.

The aerospace industry is one of the most successful industries in the world, make sure you’re preparing yourself adequately if you are looking to secure a job in the field. With great career prospects available, we’d love to see more young aerospace engineers step up and fuel the next generation of incredible aircraft!

Here at European Springs Ireland, we work closely with the aerospace industry to provide them with the best quality compression springs for their crucial engineering processes. For more information on our services, please feel free to get in contact with us today and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

 

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

    Fields marked with an *are required

    If you would like to send drawings with your enquiry, please email us directly with your enquiry and drawings attached to ieinfo.bec@europeansprings.com

    This form collects your name, email, company name, phone number and your enquiry so that one of our team can communicate with you and provide assistance. Please check our Privacy Policy to see what we'll do with your information.