Category: News & Updates

One of the most common springs is the compression spring. The helical shape of this spring is probably what comes to mind when you think of springs. So, while we know that there are many applications for the compression spring, do you know what they are?

Suspension Compression Spring

Pens

On a small scale, you are likely to find a compression spring in the pens you use every day. If they have a click top, they will contain a small compression spring which provides the tension necessary to keep the nib inside the casing when it is not in use and to push it out when the click top is pushed.

Suspension

Compression springs are often used in suspension systems as they are capable of compressing when a load is applied. This means that they are perfect for acting as shock absorbers so they are often used in cars and other vehicles to provide suspension.

Oil Rigs

You will be able to find a specific type of compression spring, the garter spring, on an oil rig. This spring is used here to ensure that underwater oil pipes keep the oil in and the water out. As they provide an inward radial force, they are able to secure a joint in the pipe.

Switches

Just by looking around the room you are in, you will probably be able to spot plenty of switches. Compression springs are present within these switches as they keep the switch in the ‘on’ or ‘off’ position.

Keyboards

When you type on some computer keyboard, you are pressing the keys down onto tiny compression springs known as buckling springs. The springs allow the key to spring back up and pushes a hammer which strikes the electrical contact, telling the computer which key has been pressed.

Compression springs are used in more applications than you may think! In fact, you can probably a lot more just by looking around the room that you are in. If you are interested in finding out more about any of our products or would like to talk about your next project, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team who will be more than happy to advise you further. You can contact us by calling 028 9083 8605, emailing ieinfo.bec@europeansprings.com or by filling out our online contact form.

In the meantime, make sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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All over the world, there are groups of knowledgeable individuals and teams on a constant search for new and innovative solutions in science, engineering and technology. Here at European Springs Ireland, we love to keep on top of it. We have a great piece of news for all those interested in related news and research, and this one is sure to put a spring in your step. That’s right… Energy recycling stairs which are spring-loaded! But what is this innovative technology and how will it work?

stairs1

Research from the US

Researchers in the US have built energy recycling stairs that can store the user’s energy during their movement, returning the energy to the user during the ascent. This ultimately makes their trip easier and could be a potential way to improve health and help certain injuries and mobility issues.

Easy on the Knees and Ankles

The invention of these stairs can not only save energy through impact but can brake forces from the ankle by 26%. When a person is ascending the stairs, the technology will give the user a boost as it releases the stored-up energy from the descent. It will make it 37% easier on the knee compared to conventional stairs. This lower power device doesn’t require a complete separate staircase but can be placed on an existing one. It also doesn’t have to be permanent.

stairs2

Spring in Your Step

When we thought going up stairs was a bit too difficult, springs come to the rescue! It works through each and every step being tethered by springs and also equipped with pressure sensors on each step. When the walker descends the staircase, each step will slowly sink until it locks and is level with the next step. The stair then stays this way until someone walks up the stairs.

When someone then goes to ascend the staircase on the sensor, the latch on the lower step releases and the energy which has been stored in the springs are released, lifting the back leg.

The research was published in a journal in the US in PLOS ONE, where the author explained their initial idea to use energy recycling prosthetic shoes to assist in going up stairs. Karen Liu, an associate professor in Georgia Techs school of Computing, states:

“Unlike normal walking where each heel-strike dissipates energy that can be potentially restored, stair ascent is actually very energy efficient; most energy you put in goes into potential energy to lift you up”

 “But then I realised that going downstairs is quite wasteful. You dissipate energy to stop yourself from falling, and I thought it would be great if we could store the energy wasted during descent and return it to the user during ascent.”

She worked alongside a professor in Biomedical Engineering at the same university to develop the research and prototypes.

stairs3

The Story and The Benefits

When conducting the research, they didn’t expect, prior to the design, that their invention would actually see ease of impact. The professor initially got the idea when she attended an industry conference where she saw an ankle brace that did a similar thing using springs, to store and release energy. When she thought about her 72-year-old mother and her difficulties upstairs, she knew that she would never wear the brace. Then came the idea of smart stairs.

The researchers believe that the stairs could have numerous health benefits and also be extremely helpful to anyone recovering from surgery or for pregnant women. It could be useful for people who only need assistance for a short amount of time.

This is proof that with innovative thoughts, an engineering mindset, some springs and some research, you can conjure up an engineering marvel!

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Referring to an intelligent system, artificial intelligence seeks to recreate the human brain and provide a complex but efficient technology that will innovate the way technological industries work. In recent years, artificial intelligence has seen a big development, with more self-aware robots that are increasingly more capable of performing difficult tasks.

With the evolution of the Internet of Things and the rise of automation, artificial intelligence will play a growing part in all processes of design and manufacturing involved in a wide range of engineering industries.

IoT, The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things is allowing for an interconnected world, where devices connect everyone from everywhere. This connection allows for engineers from all over the world to collaborate and minimise errors in projects. This ease of collaboration also permits for students to easily develop their skills by learning from the best, regardless of where they are situated.

Technological advances have transformed manufacturing, which has increasingly more cognition. The Internet of Things is opening the way for manufacturers to simplify all processes, with the transfer of information made easier in a continuous flow. This will permit real-time and informed decisions to be made, and for engineering projects to benefit from the input of several industries across the globe.

 

Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution, which relates to the rise of artificial intelligence and robots. With the integration of these machines, their cognitive and physical abilities are progressively being developed and innovated. Robots are increasingly more and more able to perform repetitive and heavy tasks, which allows them to perform at high capacity in automated and sophisticated environments.

Behaviour-based robots are permitting an Artificial Intelligence revolution, with engineering industries becoming more organised and more able to perform at higher, optimised rates.

 

Automation

In manufacturing, for example, this rise in automation and increase in robots with better cognitive skills will transform the industry in varied ways. Robots will be able to function semi-autonomously, providing support through a wide range of tasks in all projects. They will be able to draw expert knowledge from cloud-based databases provided by the Internet of Things’ connectivity.

They will be able to recognise all components within specialised equipment and apply different behaviours according to necessary tasks to perform and apply the correct tools. Through the database, robots will also be able to rapidly correct errors and provide suggestions to engineers, so that these are able to perfect their projects.

Through analysing global databases and applying that knowledge, robots will be able to identify opportunities and optimise all tasks within engineering projects and design. In this rapidly changing and evolving environment, engineering expertise is essential in order to adapt to technological developments.

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Industry is constantly evolving has been over thousands of years, from the Bronze and Iron Ages all the way to the Industrial Revolution and the modern day. We have seen some truly amazing things come out of the industrial sector, and it’s important to understand how things we take for granted were initially developed.

As such, we’ve come up with a small list of scientific breakthroughs that were incredibly important in the industrial sectors, but also to modern day society.

The Internal Combustion Engine

If this wasn’t invented at the time, then we might not be able to see the magnificent automobiles that we see daily. The internal combustion engine is a heat engine that uses thermodynamics to achieve the correct results.

The internal combustion engine is constructed so that when fuel enters the engine block, it reacts with the air inside and is then ignited by a spark plug, which then provides power to the camshaft, and this the transmission and the vehicle chassis.

This type of engine was invented in the mid 1800’s, and it wasn’t until the late 1850’s when it was used commercially for the first time. After this, Nikolaus Otto perfected this engine and developed the Otto engine, which was a four-stroke internal combustion engine. This became the starting point of the invention of the automobile, which was vital since there are now over one billion vehicles on the road across the world.

Technological engine

The Steam Engine

Even though this type of engine is used as frequently as it was in the past, it was still a massive breakthrough when it was patented by Thomas Savery in the late 17th century. The steam engine was an external combustion engine, meaning that the fluid that undergoes work is separated from the products that undergo combustion.

When the steam engine was put into commercial use, it was generally used as a water pump and was then developed into an atmospheric engine, which used half as much coal as the leading engine at the time.

After this, more people began to understand the possibilities that could be achieved through steam engines; this is when they became popular in steam locomotives, paving a new age in transportation across the country.

Steam power was one of the most efficient ways of providing energy to a process, and it was only beaten by electrical powers in the 19th and 20th centuries, meaning that it was a massive breakthrough indeed.

Steam Trains On Parade

The Birth of Electrodynamics

When comparing this to what we see in the modern age, this is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs. This began in the early 19th century with Sir Humphrey Davy inventing the first incandescent light by supplying a current from a battery through a strip of platinum.

After this, William Sturgeon invented the electromagnet and then, in 1831, Michael Faraday developed his theory of electromagnetic induction, which is the principle that is used to operate transformers and all modern electrical generators.

In the 1860’s, Michael Faraday added to this theory and came up with the four Maxwell equations that used to govern the behaviour of electricity and magnetism. These equations have helped us to develop some of the world’s most widely used products, from smartphones to the very best televisions.

Electrical spark

The industrial sector is one of the world’s most important sectors, as it’s a sector that is constantly developing. As specialists within this industry, we understand how important the industrial sector is, which is why we are so proud of being a part of it.

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As a paid job incorporating training both on and off the job, apprenticeships lead to nationally recognised certifications. From electronics to construction and to other engineering industries, apprenticeships allow for apprentices to acquire a wide range of skills.

For both the apprentices and the businesses, apprenticeships are conducive of new skills and aptitudes, providing engineering with highly skilled and experienced workers.

Qualified Workforce

Through apprenticeships, engineering industries train an extremely qualified workforce with optimised skills. In addition, having a workforce who trains at a company ensures that the skills developed by the apprentices match the needs of the specific industry.

Future company needs can be addressed early on through apprenticeships, as businesses can source skilled future employees and managers from within. An apprenticeship can cement a young person’s career choice, which provides engineering industries with necessary resources for their continued development.

New Talent

Engineering industries require new ideas to ensure all processes are not only optimised but also revitalised. Bringing a new, fresh approach to each project and to the workplace itself, apprentices help in thinking about details that industries might not have considered before.

Showcasing their willingness and desire to learn, apprentices have a wide variety of backgrounds and aptitudes. With the probability of transmitting their excitement and eagerness to your staff, apprentices also highlight your concern over corporate social responsibility, which is likely to ensure future employees and customers’ desire to work with your business.

Increased Staff Loyalty

When employees are trained within a company, they are likely to be highly motivated and engaged with the well functioning of the business. Their commitment and support of the business that helped to train them are clearly shown in their work.

In your company and in all engineering industries, investing in apprentices ensures they associate their career with your business and will stay within it longer. Showcasing that you believe and invest in young people’s future guarantees that they are happy to work for you and that they, in turn, invest in you.

And for Apprentices?

Similar to companies, as an apprentice you will see a multitude of career skills become available to you and learn while you work and earn money. Your confidence in your own aptitudes will grow as you gain new skills, ensuring that you are aware of realistic job expectations and the required experience.

As you interact with experienced professionals in your preferred engineering industry, you will gain a better understanding of the field and which role better suits you and your skills. Communication and time management are also other important skills that you will develop, and hands-on experience will help you to stand out in the job market.

Choosing an apprenticeship to begin your career path can open a wide range of possibilities and knowledge, particularly important if you don’t wish to undertake a university degree.

At European Springs Ireland we believe in investing in young people and developing their skills. We understand the importance of apprenticeships both short and long term, and how these positively impact both our company and apprentices.

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This year marks the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week and it started on Monday 6th March and will finish on Friday 10th. The National Apprenticeship Service coordinate the week, and it is designed to celebrate how apprenticeships can make a huge and positive impact on individual people, companies, and the economy as a whole.

But why are apprenticeships important to our country? Well, as expert manufacturers that are at the forefront of the industry, we know a lot about this.

The Week Is Great for Confidence

National Apprenticeship Week helps to make a positive impact for people that are present in various industries around the UK. Because of this, the week includes lots of activities, events, drop-in sessions, and much more.

engineer and apprentices
Engineer Teaching Apprentices To Use Tube Bending Machine

These events can help to engage in apprenticeships that are currently working in the UK, as well as people that are interested in going into an apprenticeship, which can increase their confidence for the better.

Apprenticeships are Important to the Economy

In late 2014, it was reported by the Centre for Economics and Business Research that apprenticeships could contribute £34 billion to the UK economy, which is a staggering amount, considering that the total UK GDP in 2014 was equivalent to approximately £454 billion.

Therefore, apprentices in the UK contributed 7.5% of the UK’s GDP, and if the UK economy increases as it has done year on year, then the number of apprentices will increase, meaning that will become even more important than ever before.

It’s Great for Learning New Skills

If there’s one reason to joining an apprenticeship in today’s climate, it is to learn excellent transferable skills that you can take with you throughout your life. At the age of 16, you have two main choices when it comes to furthering your education; you can continue through to A-Levels, or you can join an apprenticeship.

student using a computer

By being a part of an apprenticeship, it can provide you with the skills that you will not have learnt if you studied it in a classroom. Apprenticeships are very hands on and it can be an excellent stepping stone in achieving the career that you’ve dreamed of being in for years.

It could be anything from manufacturing and technological development to cooking and construction, but either way, being an apprenticeship within these industries can be the perfect way to develop the necessary skills and go into the career you’ve always dreamed of.

Because of these aspects of apprenticeships, it is safe to say that National Apprenticeship Week is important in terms of awareness as it is for providing people with the information that they need to join the career path they’ve always wanted.

As specialist spring manufacturers, we understand how important apprentices are to the manufacturing industry, and it is vital to ensure that they are an integral part of our economy. The future of the economy is governed by the products that we produce, and if we continually bring in new apprentices that are eager to learn, we will flourish in the industry around the world.

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