European Springs invests in prototyping proficiency

Ensuring it maintains its position at the forefront of prototyping in the industry and is able to deliver industry leading laser-cutting speeds, European Springs and Pressings has purchased a Bodor i5 2KW fibre laser-cutting machine.

Upgrading from its previous laser-cutting equipment, the Bodor i5 has a bed size of 1000x1500mm, which will allow European Springs to continue using its stock materials while increasing the speed of cut and efficiency, as well as widening cutting capabilities, with the inclusion of bright metals.

The Bodor i5’s extended gauge range increases the number of materials and thicknesses that the company can cut, including carbon steel to 18mm, stainless steel to 8mm, aluminium to 8mm, brass to 6mm and copper to 1.5mm, as well as providing the capability to cut copper alloys and super-alloys.

The Bodor i5 has an increased power output, which allows for improved cutting speeds, with cutting times decreasing by at least 30% on thin materials and 80% on thicker materials. Alongside this, the ‘Bodor Pro 2’ software gives us the option to cost jobs in a dry run mode, allowing for more precise quotations.

Working with clients to optimise production or find solutions to manufacturing process issues, European Springs and Pressings knows that no two jobs are ever the same, so delivering the best outcome for the customer’s application often requires the most up-to-date expertise and equipment.

The company sees customers’ challenges as opportunities for blue sky thinking, where its design team can collaborate with the client to assess the design’s practical requirements and weaknesses, then work together to identify the most efficient, and cost-friendly, solution.

To ensure that it can work with our clients this way, European Springs and Pressings is dedicated to continuous development through investment, improving its technical and design capabilities. Its prototyping expertise is an area of the business that the company is particularly proud of. European Springs and Pressings has a fully-equipped tool room, where it can design and manufacture progression tools to suit any manufacturing firm’s needs.

Investment in the latest technologies ensures that the company can offer advanced prototyping, using processes including but not limited to laser-cut, chemically-etched blanks or simple blanking tools. Forming can be achieved with standard tooling, offering a low cost option where the final part design has not been established or for low volume parts where investment in tooling is not required.

The company’s engineering and production facility is fully equipped to supply one-off prototypes or low volume parts for testing, and when producing prototype springs and stampings, several materials can be selected for testing until the ideal material and finish is proven.