The Spring Industry Newsletter
from the Institute of Spring Technology
April 2026 Edition
Welcome to the newest issue of the Institute of Spring Technology Newsletter. In this edition, we bring together a wide range of industry insights, technical updates, and sector developments. As engineering requirements shift and market expectations evolve, we take a closer look at the innovations influencing how springs are designed, manufactured, and optimised—ensuring you stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges.
One of the standout features of this issue is the progress made across our software portfolio, particularly within Spring Calculator Professional. We’re excited to highlight the advancements introduced in the version launched in November 2025, including refined analytical capabilities, a more intuitive user experience, and extended design features. These improvements represent a major step in giving engineers access to the most reliable, high‑performance tools available.
In addition, IST has strengthened its engagement with members to better understand the challenges you face and to focus our efforts where they make the most difference. Your input continues to shape our priorities—which led to the creation of the IST Technical Committee, a twice-yearly forum dedicated to addressing matters that influence your operations.
The committee gives members a platform to bring forward topics requiring deeper technical consideration. One recent discussion centred on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—a regulatory framework with potentially significant implications for the spring industry.
As a result, an IST working group was formed to develop a technical report explaining the core principles of CBAM and outlining what these rules mean for spring manufacturers and related businesses.
You can find part one and part two of these reports below—an essential read to help you stay informed and ready for the changes ahead.
In this newsletter - Skip to.....
Carbon Border, Adjust Mechanism (CBAM) Reports
Reporting Requirements for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
SCP Software - Important Update
**IMPORTANT SCP SOFTWARE UPDATE**
We will be demonstrating the new release of Spring Calculator Professional at our stand at Wire Düsseldorf on 13-17th April, we will be in Hall 16, Stand F01, which will be available shortly after the show. This will be a free update to all customers with an active support and maintenance contract.
There are a number of changes to SCP itself, and we will also be demonstrating the new Enterprise Server, including a first look at its design revision control functionality.
The new features in SCP. which include amongst other things some really useful changes to the way legs are specified and calculated, were put forward by our SCP Working Group, which meets several times a year to discuss how we can make SCP even better. Get in touch with john@ist.org.uk for more details or to get involved!
Youth Guarantee
The Youth Guarantee – External Briefing
BUILD YOUR FUTURE WORKFORCE AND SHAPE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
The government has committed more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years to support every young person aged 16 to 24 to earn and learn. This includes £820 million for the Youth Guarantee and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
The Youth Guarantee offers employers fully funded training, financial incentives and a pipeline of young talent to help you fill skills gaps and build your future workforce.
To sign up to be part of the Youth Guarantee, please visit business.gov.uk/recruit. We will discuss opportunities for collaboration and connect you with the right teams across DWP and DfE to ensure your opportunities are connected to young people across Great Britain.
IST Events - Upcoming dates for your diary
20th May 2026 | Back by popular demand… IST Golf Day
Join us for a day of swings, sunshine, and sportsmanship, taking place at Whittlebury Park Golf Course.
Includes:
- 18 holes of golf
- Breakfast butties on arrival
- 3 course dinner
- Awards and presentation
– Overall team winner
– Individual best score
– Longest drive
– Nearest pin
Members Pricing:
Team of 4 – £450
Individual – £120
Non- Members Pricing
Team of 4 – £550
Individual – £150
*Accommodation is available on first come first served basis, please contact the course direct to arrange using this number 01327 850490 or visit www.whittlebury.com
Additional IST Events
13th-17th April 2026 | Wire 2026 Dusseldorf
Come and visit the team at the world’s most important trade fair for the wire and cable industry – we will be in Hall 16, Stand F01
13th May 2026 | Webinar – How to Design a Compression Spring Using SCP
Join the FREE webinar hosted by the IST team and learn how to design compression springs effectively.
20th May 2026 | IST Golf Day
Join us for the IST golf day, taking place at Whittlebury Park Golf Course.
27th May 2026 | Webinar – Why a Spring Fails?
An overview of our metallurgical investigations – a look at the most common causes and what measures you can put in place to prevent future problems.
3rd – 4th June 2026 | Practical Spring Design – Join us in Sheffield for Training (Face to Face Version)
Join us in Sheffield for this two-day course covers key spring types, materials, and failure prevention, with practical exercises to apply your learning by designing springs
7th – 9th October 2026 | Spring World Expo & Symposium in Chicago
Come and visit the team at CASMI’s SpringWorld 2026, renowned for bringing more spring-related business people together
15th April 2026 | ESF – European Spring Federation Invitiation
ESF invite you to their International Spring Makers Conference. April 15th 2026, 4:30 pm – 6 pm. Room 15, hall 1 in the CCD – South Congress Centre Duesseldorf South.
For more information please click here
Shot Peening of Springs - Part One
Here at IST, we have accumulated over 50 years of experience in shot peening, specifically applied to springs. The aim of this guide is to help advise our customers while providing the background information required to assist spring manufacturers and their clients to develop an appropriate shot peening specification.
Shot peening is one of the most effective techniques for enhancing the fatigue performance of springs and is a critical manufacturing step for applications where springs are exposed to high cyclic stresses over long periods. However, achieving optimal performance depends heavily on adhering to a precise and well‑defined process.
Shot peening is a line-of-sight cold forming process relying on the impact of hard shot particles on the surface of the spring to generate a beneficial sub-surface residual stress profile in the spring. To achieve this, the springs are continuously tumbled in small batches beneath a curtain of high velocity shot.
Standard Processing
The main factors to be considered when developing a shot peening process specification are the shot size, shot type and the Almen arc rise.
Shot size must be appropriate for the section size (wire diameter for round wire springs) of the spring to be peened. Large shot sizes can develop a high Almen arc rise but can cause significant distortion problems within the springs, particularly in smaller springs. If the shot size is excessively large, then the fatigue performance may also be impaired.
We perform shot peening using two shot media, the first being a rounded steel shot of high hardness (i.e. conditioned cut wire, cast steel) and the second being glass beads.
Steel shot is only available down to a shot size of S070 (0.18 mm nominal diameter) this is not appropriate for springs made from wire smaller than .076 mm diameter.
The choice of peening media is dictated by the spring material as well as the wire diameter of the spring. With non-ferrous springs, it is recommended to peen using glass bead media due to issues with post-peening surface corrosion. There are also other circumstances which may require different conditions or additional processing (such as heat treatment or pickling and passivating).
Almen strips are used to measure an Almen arc rise, which is the main process control parameter. The arc rise is an indication of the intensity of the blast media. It is measured using either type ‘A’ or ‘N’ Almen strips, depending on the energy of the shot stream. The value specified should be the arc rise achieved when all the surface of the spring has been covered (known as 100% saturation). The intensity of the peening can be controlled by varying the air pressure or impeller speed, depending on which of our type of machines is used. We can also vary the peening time to achieve the required Almen arc rise.
The Almen strip dimensions are as follows:
- ‘A’ strips 76 X 19 X 1.30 mm
- ‘N’ strips 76 X 19 X 0.80 mm
‘N’ strips are thinner than ‘A’ strips so arc (bend) more easily, therefore are more sensitive to the shot intensity than the thicker ‘A’ strips.
Although the above standard process conditions will generally provide the optimum fatigue performance.
IST have available for sale quality ‘C’, ’A’ & ‘N’ strips to the precise hardness & dimensional specifications.
The main factors which the spring designer should consider will be outlined in part 2 in our next edition.
CPD & eLearning
IST is proud to present new e-learning courses. On demand – anytime, anywhere. On average the courses can take up to 2 hours to complete, and you will receive a certificate upon completion.
E-learning can be accessed from mobile, tablet, laptop or PC.
The cost of the course is £45 per person, click on the BUY NOW to complete your purchase.
Compression Spring Design
To get the most out of your compression spring, it is critical to establish a foundational understanding of the mechanical behaviour of these complex components.
Failure Analysis
Sometimes referred to as failure investigation, is the systematic process of determining why a spring has failed. The primary objective is to uncover the root cause.
Spring Materials
Spring materials are an important topic to be educated in, as understanding this gives you an improved understanding of a springs limitations.
Failure Analysis
Sometimes referred to as failure investigation, is the systematic process of determining why a spring has failed. The primary objective is to uncover the root cause.
Failure Analysis Process - Part 3: Metallurgical Analysis
Once a spring has undergone its initial visual and dimensional inspection, the real detective work begins. Metallurgical analysis allows us to understand exactly what is happening inside the material from surface coatings to internal microstructures and ultimately determine why a spring performed the way it did. Below is an inside look at how this process unfolds.
Sectioning the Spring
Before testing can begin, the spring must be prepared. Depending on the spring’s diameter and length, it is sectioned either with hand snips or a precision cut-off machine. Several samples are taken:
- The fracture faces
- A longitudinal sample
- A transverse sample
- A sample for chemical analysis (if required)
Each cut is made slowly and under coolant. This prevents overheating, which can alter the material’s properties and compromise the analysis.
The fracture surfaces are then carefully cleaned in an ultrasonic acetone bath. This removes oils, dirt, or other contaminants that could interfere with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) or EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) examination. Any powder-coat paint on or near the fracture face is removed so the underlying wire surface can be inspected for defects.
Preparing the coated sections unlike the fracture samples, the powder-coating is intentionally left intact on both the longitudinal and transverse sections. This allows us to measure the average thickness of the coating later in the process.
These directional samples are mounted in Bakelite using a heated mounting press. First, a fine powder is added to improve edge retention. A coarser Bakelite compound is added on top, and the mixture is compressed under heat and pressure to form a solid mount.
Grinding and Polishing to a Mirror Finish
With the samples mounted, the next stage is surface preparation. The goal: create a mirror-like finish suitable for microscopic examination.
We begin with coarse grinding pads, gradually working through progressively finer grit papers until reaching 1200 grit. The samples are then transferred to cashmere polishing pads and treated with diamond paste, finishing at an ultra-fine 1-micron polish.
A flawless surface is essential — any scratches or imperfections could mask or mimic true material defects.
Microscopic Examination: What We Look For
1. Longitudinal Sample
This sample is examined first. Under the microscope, we assess:
- Inclusions within the material
- Any unusual features, such as long or irregular inclusions
- Whether the volume of inclusions is normal or excessive
These observations help us understand the steel’s cleanliness and the manufacturing conditions.
2. Transverse Sample
The transverse section provides multiple critical insights:
Coating Thickness
We measure the powder-coating thickness at five randomly selected points around the spring’s circumference. From these readings, an average thickness is calculated. Any inconsistencies — such as bare patches or unusually thick areas — are recorded.
Surface Defects
The transverse sample is also used to identify the largest surface defect present. These may include:
Corrosion pits
Peening laps
Tooling or manufacturing marks
Such defects can become crack initiation points, making them crucial for failure analysis.
Etching and Studying the Microstructure
After the initial examinations, the samples are etched in an acid appropriate for the material type. Etching reveals the microstructure, which can now be studied in detail.
We examine:
- Uniformity from edge to centre
- Presence of partial or full decarburisation
- Any anomalies that indicate overheating, improper heat treatment, or material defects
This microstructural analysis often provides the deepest insight into the spring’s performance.
News from IST Members
Raajratna Italy S.R.L. a socio unico
Big News from Raajratna: a new era for our Flat Rolled Wire!
Have something to share? It’s completely free to submit content if you’re an IST Member.
To be featured in the next issue of The Spring Industry Newsletter, contact Helen@ist.org.uk
Technical Council Update
The recent biannual Technical Council meeting proved to be an invaluable forum for members of the IST community, bringing together a diverse cross-section of professionals from across the spring manufacturing industry. The event fostered open dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of practical insights, enabling attendees to share their experiences, raise concerns, and discuss the evolving challenges facing the sector. The strong level of engagement throughout the meeting highlighted the importance of these gatherings in strengthening industry connections and ensuring that members remain informed and supported in a rapidly changing environment.
The IST team delivered a comprehensive overview of the progress made across each of its active working groups, offering members clear visibility into the breadth of activity taking place behind the scenes. These updates highlighted the dedication and collaborative effort of those involved, with each group addressing key areas relevant to the spring manufacturing industry. The updates not only demonstrated tangible progress but also reinforced the value of structured, member-led initiatives in driving meaningful outcomes.
The working groups play a central role in shaping the future strategy and development of IST. By focusing on specific industry priorities, they act as engines for innovation, identifying emerging challenges, proposing practical solutions, and guiding the direction of key programmes. Their work informs decision-making at a strategic level, ensuring that IST remains aligned with the evolving needs of its members and the wider industry. In this way, the working groups are not only responding to current pressures but also proactively positioning the organisation for long-term success.
Given their importance, the continued support and active participation of IST members is essential. The strength of each working group is directly linked to the expertise, insight, and engagement contributed by its members. By getting involved, whether through sharing knowledge, providing feedback, or participating in group activities, members help ensure that initiatives are relevant, impactful, and representative of the industry as a whole. Ongoing collaboration will be key to maintaining momentum and delivering outcomes that benefit the entire IST community.
A key theme that emerged repeatedly during discussions was the ongoing impact of global economic uncertainty leading to external pressures on the industry. Members reported that continued instability in international markets could significantly affect the supply chain, resulting in reduced availability of critical materials. This could, in turn, contribute to longer lead times, making it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to maintain production schedules. Additionally, there is an anticipation of rising costs across logistics, energy, and materials, placing further strain on both suppliers and customers. These challenges were widely acknowledged as shared concerns, reinforcing the need for continued collaboration and strategic planning within the IST network.
Despite these pressures, the meeting also highlighted a strong sense of optimism around skills development and future growth. There were positive discussions around the opportunity to expand training provision within the industry, with several initiatives proposed to support workforce development and knowledge sharing. To build on this momentum, it was agreed that the knowledge and knowhow working group will be reestablished to further explore these ideas and drive the implementation of agreed training initiatives across the sector.
The next technical council meeting is planned for 15th September 10:00 GMT (online)
IST Membership - Benefits
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
- Free company profile on the IST website
- Free opportunities to write articles in the IST newsletter
- Opportunity to join working groups, shaping the future of IST
- Attend IST technical conferences and social events
- Access to IST technical consultants
- Members enjoy up to 30% discounts on the following products and services….
Training Courses 2026/2027
Training Courses 2026/2027
Building on the success of our 2025 training courses, we’re pleased to offer more Practical Spring Design courses for 2026. Practical Spring Design is our intensive two-day course covering all aspects of spring design, failure analysis and materials.
IST Members are eligible for a discount on all of our training courses. To receive your discount code, please contact helen@ist.org.uk.
IST introduces CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses, structured learning experiences designed to help professionals develop and improve their skills, knowledge, and expertise in their field.
CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses | For more information please click here
Practical Spring Design Courses 2026/2027
3rd – 4th June 2026 | Book Now Join us in Sheffield for Training (face to face)
Make enquires today email helen@ist.org.uk
21st – 22nd October 2026 | Book Now
3rd – 4th March 2027 | Book Now
E-Learning Courses | Buy Now
Looking for something more bespoke?
Read more about our tailored training courses.
Our YouTube channel - Bite sized videos
Our YouTube channel is full of bite sized videos
Spring Materials Terms and Definitions
Extension Spring Body Length and Free Length
Extension springs have two key length measurements.
Body length includes only the tightly wound coils and excludes the end hooks, representing the active part of the spring.
Free length is the total length of the spring with no load, including both the coil body and the hooks.
Both measurements matter: body length influences spring stiffness, while free length determines fit within an assembly and the spring’s maximum extension.
Thank you for being part of the IST community. We hope this edition provides valuable knowledge, sparks new ideas, and supports your work across the industry.
Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, we welcome your feedback to help shape the future of the spring industry!
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