Wire forms like handles, display hooks, food-service equipment, and medical equipment require careful attention to both appearance and functionality. In this blog post, we will explore various wire form finishes and materials to consider when aesthetics plays a crucial role in your design. Most wire forms are not visible when assembled into a final product and appearance is not a concern. Other wire forms are easily visible, or are the product itself, and careful attention must be given to both appearance and functionality. Materials The majority of wires we initially manufacture have a natura ..read more

Delivering Excellence: The Gifford Spring Advantage In critical industries like aerospace and manufacturing, the demand for precision in spring and wire form manufacturing is non-negotiable. At Gifford Spring Company, we understand the pivotal role these components play in high-stakes applications. We are committed to delivering only the highest quality products, ensuring they are manufactured as designed. Our Pledge to Quality Quality is fundamental to our operations at Gifford Spring Company. Every manufactured part that leaves our facility reflects careful craftsmanship and adherence to str ..read more

In our almost 40 years of manufacturing high-quality custom springs at Gifford Spring Company, we have seen many factors that can lead to spring failure.  Our experience has given us valuable insight into the key reasons your springs could fail as designed, and more importantly—how to prevent a spring from failing.   Reason #1: Issues with the Initial Design Certain design issues can lead to a spring becoming overstressed and ultimately failing. Factors such as spring length and size, number of coils and the amount of space between them, coil diameter, and the size of the envelope (t ..read more

Do you need to incorporate a wire form into your assembly? At Gifford Spring, we actively engage in wire form design discussions with our customers, offering cost-effective solutions to enhance strength, functionality, and precision in assemblies. Wire forms can often serve as more affordable alternatives to metal castings and machining. In this article, we will explore design tips for incorporating a wire form into your assembly and discuss the advantages of each approach. 1. Constrain within assembly By constraining a wire form within an assembly, you can reduce production costs by eliminati ..read more

Want to transition your custom spring seamlessly from prototype to production? Your best bet is to work with a spring manufacturer with expertise in both manufacturing stages that can facilitate the progression from one stage to the next.  Here are the top reasons Gifford Spring Company customers choose to work with our team for prototyping and production. 1. Prototyping with a Production Mindset  Whenever a customer sends us a new design or makes a significant change to an existing one, we create at least one prototype to make sure that we get it right. When high-volume production i ..read more

When you hear the word “spring,” it is likely that the image of a compression spring comes to mind. Compression springs are the most common of all spring types. As the name suggests, compression springs are designed to compress when force is applied. These springs deflect in a linear motion, resisting the applied force and storing energy.  Common Applications for Compression Springs Compression springs are frequently used in industrial equipment as well as in many household objects. Applications for these versatile springs include: Automotive shocks Flow control valves Medical devices M ..read more

With the twin pressures of inflation and supply chain challenges continuing to impact manufacturers, keeping cost in mind for spring and wire forming services remains a high priority for our customers.  At Gifford Spring Company, we are here to support you. — Here are a few factors that directly impact the cost of your parts. 1. Material Choice The type of material a customer requires for spring or wire forming services can significantly impact the cost of their order.  Sometimes, customers call out a material in their design that could be substituted for a more cost-effective alter ..read more

At Gifford Spring Company, meeting (and exceeding) our customers’ expectations is our top priority. That means making sure we can provide the parts you need today—as well as six months or a year from now.  It is no secret that supply chain challenges have significantly impacted the manufacturing industry since 2020. While recent indicators show cause for optimism, one takeaway we have from the last few years is that material availability is subject to change at any time.  We are emerging from this period of uncertainty stronger and smarter, armed with strategies to weather any future ..read more

Do you need a custom torsion spring for your assembly? Torsion springs are an excellent choice for mechanisms that require rotational force or resistance (torque). With legs extending from both sides of the spring’s coils, the torque is transferred from the spring’s coils, through the legs, then to the component attached to the legs. Depending on how it is designed, a torsion spring can store energy to trigger a reaction (as in a mouse trap) or resist/assist a rotational movement (as with a door hinge).  Common Applications for Torsion Springs Torsion springs are essential to the proper f ..read more

Customers often think the best way to ensure their custom spring functions as intended in an application is to carefully define the spring’s physical dimensions such as free length or number of coils.  While that information is important, there is a tried and true way of simulating a spring’s function in its end-use environment: a method known as load testing. As your custom spring manufacturer, Gifford Spring Company can perform load testing here in our facility.   What Is Load Testing?  If you have heard the term load testing but are unsure what it entails, here is a quic ..read more