Engineering Archives | Page 8 of 23 | European Springs Ireland

It’s disheartening to hear that 56% of female engineers reported that they felt the manufacturing industry in Ireland has not only more opportunities, but superior opportunities for men. Despite the statistics that show women are less likely to enter the field than men, it is unclear why there aren’t equal opportunities for each gender.

That is why, in today’s blog, we’re looking into the importance of inspiring women to choose a career in manufacturing. We’ll be exploring the idea of challenging stereotypes that women in this industry deal with daily and focus on why we should be encouraging women to join the manufacturing sector from a young age.

We’re proud to stand with women here at European Springs Ireland and offer an incredible support system for young people getting started in the industry as apprenticeships. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team for additional support or advice.

What Do the Statistics Say?

It may not be surprising to hear, but only 14% of bachelor’s graduates from engineering and manufacturing related schemes in Ireland are women. Young women taking their GCSEs have been found to steer clear from STEM-related subjects, meaning even at the age of 16, girls are put-off from a career in manufacturing.

But we want to know why this is. Is it a lack of support from the industry? An unmotivating number of opportunities to progress? A long list of damaging stereotypes and old-fashioned ideals?

Although the numbers are low, with women making up just 14.5% of engineering in Ireland, it is slowly on the rise, with a 25.7% increase in women in manufacturing roles from 2016 to 2021. This is hopeful, but there is still much more work to rectify the gender imbalance.

Challenging Stereotypes

One of the main reasons women tend to avoid a career in manufacturing is the stereotypes surrounding their gender within the industry. These stereotypes suggest that to take on a manufacturing role, you must fit into a particular category by looking and acting a certain way, and usually, this means being male. Another stereotype is that those who aren’t male are at least masculine-presenting and have typically masculine interests. This damaging stereotype means that feminine presenting women may be put off from a career in manufacturing due to the judgement and lack of support they receive from others.

These stereotypes can have a knock-on effect and mean that women interested in a career within the industry could feel excluded as they have little or no role models or people like themselves to look up to within their workplace.

Inspiring Young Women in Schools

To abolish the stereotypes of needing to look or act a certain way to work within the manufacturing industry, we need to start from the beginning. This means inspiring young girls from an early age before learning about outdated beliefs.

It’s vital that this education begins before children take their GCSEs, and they are taught that anyone can find success in manufacturing, no matter their gender. This way, they have time to consider it as a career option before making choices about their potential further education, such as university and apprenticeship schemes.

Apprenticeship Schemes for Women

Here at European Springs Ireland, we are proud to offer incredible apprenticeship schemes that follow the Mechanical Manufacturing Apprenticeship framework and award BTEC Level 3 certificates in Engineering Operations and Maintenance. Additionally, we provide an accompanying NVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering. We believe that a career in manufacturing is a great choice, and an apprenticeship is a fantastic way of getting your foot in the door and learning trade skills and getting paid at the same time.

We would never discriminate and are happy to take on anyone excited about the role and their career within the industry, regardless of gender. For more information on the fantastic opportunities here at European Springs Ireland, please get in touch with our team. We are more than happy to discuss your options and help you decide which path is right for you.

International Women in Engineering Day

International Women in Engineering Day is detrimental to the industry; it allows women worldwide to speak up about their experiences, good and bad, to inspire others to do the same. It lands on the 23^rd of June annually and is a day of celebrating the slowly narrowing gender pay gap and working towards a more inclusive industry. Companies worldwide take part in recognising their influential female workers – inspiring young women to consider a career in engineering and manufacturing.

Looking Into the Future

As disheartening as the statistics may be to read, we are working closer to a more inclusive community that supports both men and women in the manufacturing industry. We hope this blog has given those who need it some inspiration and drive to go for the career they wish to have and not feel like they can’t because of their gender.

If you’re interested in pursuing an engineering or manufacturing apprenticeship with us, please do get in touch, and we will provide you with everything you need to know to help get you set up. As leading spring manufacturers in Ireland, we have what you need to inspire and push you in the career that’s right for you.

European Springs and Pressings Ltd is one of the very best spring manufacturers in Ireland and across the globe. Over the last 70 years, we’ve built our reputation on quality, gaining certification at industry standard.

We believe that it’s our quality products, materials and efficient processes that help to maintain customer satisfaction, loyalty and reduce the risk and cost of replacing faulty goods.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of quality in manufacturing, including equipment and machinery, customer satisfaction and advancing processes.

Equipment, Machinery and Technology

By automating processes within our manufacturing facility, we’re able to create high-volume orders at speed.

Each of our manufacturing plants has the capacity to produce approximately 3,000,000 components per hour. Our CNC machinery boosts efficiency and productivity while also being reliable, accurate and fast.

We invest in the latest machinery for our facilities and adapt to incorporate the most innovative technologies and techniques. Our workforce is important to us, which is why we continuously develop and train our people. Our dedicated team is one of the most experienced that you could ever wish to see.

Reputation for Quality and Customer Satisfaction

As one of the oldest and most respected spring manufacturers globally, we’re able to provide you with a comprehensive assortment of springs. We believe what sets us apart is our ability to tailor our products, which gives you a choice from almost any custom specification.

Our springs are fundamental components in a wide range of industries, fulfilling essential roles in the automotive, telecommunication, pharmaceutical and offshore sectors. We’re capable of delivering products of the highest standard in accordance with the tightest of deadlines.

Our stock catalogue contains over 12,000 standard items, including universal compression springs, torsion springs and tension springs. We can also create bespoke springs that are suitable for any job or application.

Maintaining and Complying with Industry Standards

Our premises are equipped to support the needs of our clients operating within the aerospace, automotive, defence, domestic appliance, electronics, hydraulics, lighting, medical, nuclear, pharmaceutical, scientific and telecommunication industries.

We augment our spring manufacturing processes with a variety of on and off-site finishing techniques to provide the best quality for our clients. This includes treatments like plating, powder coating, polishing, shot peening and barrel rumbling to ensure that our springs are optimised to perfection.

We are also proficient in riveting, conventional and ultrasonic welding or brazing; giving you confidence that any final assembly will be just as superior as the individual components.

As an experienced spring manufacturer, we know how to design and produce springs to the best possible standard. We have a proven track record for delivering positive results during even the most challenging projects.

High Quality Materials and Advanced Processes

Our manufacturing process is centred around using quality materials. As such, we specialise in sourcing specific materials to meet the most demanding production standards.

By using quality materials, we can guarantee that each of our springs meets a uniformly strong quality level, and our manufacturing processes are just as advanced.

With over 70 years of experience as a spring manufacturer, we like to keep our finger on the pulse of the latest developments and sustainability practices within the manufacturing industry.

If you would like any more information about any of the services or products that we provide, 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.

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.

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.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Category: Engineering