Leeds manufacturer creates 35 new jobs and growth after press investment

European Springs & Pressings Ltd, the spring and pressings specialist, has announced 10% growth in 2016 and the creation of 35 new jobs, after investing in a new high-speed precision press.

The Leeds-based manufacturer, which provides springs, wire forms, pressings and assemblies to a global client base, has secured a string of new orders after installing its first Bruderer high-speed precision BSTA 500-110 press.

This investment gives the manufacturer a much larger press bed area (1.1metres) for multi-progression tooling of complex processes and the high precision construction of the machine offers reduced die wear, especially on high tensile spring quality materials.

The B control system of the press has also reduced set-up times, which shortens time to market on new products and improves efficiency on small volume production batches.

This capability has already seen the firm, which is located on Lowfields Business Park, win new business in automotive, aerospace, electronics and power distribution sectors.

Stuart McSheehy, managing director of European Springs, which is part of the Lesjöfors group, said: “We have experienced significant growth through the acquisition of a number of new product programmes, requiring us to invest in a more flexible machine that offered speed, accuracy and repeatable quality.

“I gave a ‘wishlist’ to Bruderer UK, who sat down with us, examined what we needed from the new press and recommended the BSTA 500-110, promising it could be operational from January 2016.”

He continued: “The machine worked straight out of the box, which is rare in our industry. Performance has been very impressive and not only are we delivering on orders already won, but actually going out and competing for work that we couldn’t previously have taken on.

“Sales are up to £16m across our three sites in London, Cornwall and Leeds, and our workforce now stands at 170, five of whom are apprentices going through a training programme that has been tailored to suit our current and future needs.”

The BSTA 500-110 is recognized as one of the world’s most advanced high-speed precision presses, and comes with semi-automatic stroke length adjustment, the latest in control technology and dynamic ram correction.

European Springs was able to work with Bruderer UK to make slight modifications to the machine, including the addition of an acoustic sound booth and integration of ‘Unidor’ tool and press monitoring technology.

Adrian Haller, managing director of Bruderer UK, commented: “Our BSTA 500-110 has been developed to tackle complex production processes, which makes it ideal for prototyping or the introduction of new products.

“This is clearly evident with European Springs & Pressings and I’m delighted to see it has had an immediate positive impact on new business secured in a relatively short period of time.

“2016 has also been a good year for our order book, with more than 15 machines sold and the UK launch of the BSTA 410-110 at the ‘MACH Show’ generating a great deal of interest.”