Heathcote Industrial Plastics Limited

INCREASING THE RELIABILITY OF ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS

THE CLIENT

Heathcote Plastics are world leaders in the manufacture and supply of composite leaf springs. Traditionally their primary  use has been for vibratory conveyors  and feeders, but more recently working  on a wider range of novel applications including suspension for lightweight solar-powered vehicles, high performance springs in office chairs, and medical uses in scanners and protective equipment.  The springs’ excellent strength and fatigue properties make them much more reliable than traditional steel leaf springs. 

THE CHALLENGE

Heathcotes are looking at ways to increase their product reliability even further, especially in harsher environments and at higher operational stress levels.

THE SOLUTION

A study was undertaken and scope for improvements was identified. One solution was the condition monitoring of the leaf spring. It was agreed that the use of wired sensors and fibre optics sensors offers significant potential for the condition monitoring and thus operational benefits.

It is recommended to develop a research programme and schedule of work. This will require identification of specific high fatigue stress cases for which condition monitoring might be developed, which will include the general working environment in addition to the predefined failure.