Buy Industrial Springs Online in Australia
Industrial Springs
Industrial springs are mechanical components that store and release energy through elastic deformation — resisting a pushing, pulling or twisting force and returning to shape once that force is removed. They're one of the quiet workhorses of Australian industry, doing their job inside valves, jigs, machine guards, throttle linkages and maintenance parts stocks without ever getting a second thought — until one fails and the whole assembly stops working properly. Our Types of Springs Explained: Compression, Extension, Torsion, Gas, Leaf & More walks through the key differences if you're comparing options.
AIMS Industrial stocks a genuine range of industrial springs for engineering maintenance, automotive and agricultural equipment, and general workshop fabrication — compression springs, extension springs and accelerator springs, in both 316 stainless steel and standard steel, from Champion, GJ Works and Work Shop Buddy. Whether you need a single replacement spring matched to an existing part number or an assortment kit that keeps a maintenance team stocked across a broad size range, we can help you find the right one.
Springs are selected on more than just size. Wire diameter, outside coil diameter, free length, spring rate and end configuration all have to suit the application, and the material has to suit the environment — a spring that's perfect in a dry indoor cabinet can rust through in weeks outdoors or in a wash-down area. The sections below cover what we stock, how to choose the right one, and where to go if you need something we haven't listed.
Industrial Springs — Quick Reference
| Spring Type | Resists | Typical Use | Material Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression Springs | Being pushed together | Valves, actuators, jigs, dies, machine guards, general mechanical assemblies | 316 stainless steel or standard steel |
| Extension Springs | Being pulled apart | Tension linkages, door closers, machine guards, general industrial equipment | 316 stainless steel or standard steel |
| Accelerator Springs | Return force (small-diameter, light-duty) | Automotive and machinery throttle/accelerator linkages, agricultural equipment, tooling jigs | 316 stainless steel or standard steel |
| Spring Assortment Kits | Mixed — compression, extension and accelerator | Maintenance teams and workshops needing a broad size range on hand without individual ordering | Mixed — stainless and standard steel |
How to Choose the Right Industrial Spring
Wire diameter and coil outside diameter: these two dimensions set how the spring fits into its housing or bore and, together with the material, largely determine its strength. Both need to match the original or the space available — even a small difference can bind the spring or leave it rattling loose.
Free length: the spring's uncompressed (or unstretched) length. Get this wrong and the spring will either bottom out under load or fail to apply enough return force in its working position.
Spring rate (stiffness): spring rate is the force needed to compress or extend a spring by a given amount, usually expressed in newtons per millimetre (N/mm). Two springs that look identical can behave very differently if the wire diameter or material differs — for a like-for-like replacement, match the rate, not just the dimensions.
Load direction: compression, extension and accelerator springs each carry load in a different direction, and the design rules aren't interchangeable — don't substitute one type for another just because the dimensions happen to be close.
End configuration: compression springs are supplied with different end finishes (open, closed, or closed and ground) that affect how they seat and stand. Extension springs rely on hook or loop ends to attach to the assembly — check the hook style fits your mounting points before ordering.
Material and environment: 316 stainless steel is the better choice for wet, marine, food-grade, chemical or outdoor environments where corrosion resistance matters. Standard steel springs suit dry, indoor workshop and machinery applications where minimising cost per piece is the priority.
Single spring vs assortment kit: if you're replacing one known part, a single spring matched by part number or dimensions is the quicker option. If you're stocking a service vehicle or maintenance workshop against unknown future repairs, an assortment kit (like the Champion CA-series, or the mixed hardware kits from GJ Works and Work Shop Buddy) means the right size is more likely to be on hand when it's needed.
Brands We Stock
Champion is our primary spring range, covering compression springs (CCS and stainless SSCCS series), extension springs (CES and stainless SSCES series, with formed hooks for quick attachment) and accelerator springs (CAS series) in both standard and 316 stainless steel, plus CA-series assortment kits — including the 48-piece extension spring kit, the 72-piece compression spring kit, and matching accelerator spring kits — for workshops that need a range of sizes on hand.
GJ Works is an Australian hardware assortment brand. Its imperial fastener assortment kits include springs alongside circlips, pins, rivets and other common workshop hardware, for automotive and trailer maintenance where a broad mixed-hardware kit is more useful than single items.
Work Shop Buddy workshop consumable grab kits include springs alongside grease nipples, hose clamps and grub screws — a practical option for engineering workshops and mobile plant servicing that want a broad range of small consumables in one kit.
Need a spring outside this range, or a custom size for a specific application? Contact our team for application-specific advice, or request a quote — we can also look into custom spring options through our supplier network where an off-the-shelf size won't do the job.
Related Ranges
- Fasteners — nuts, bolts, washers and general fastening hardware
- Key Steel — keyway stock for shafts and couplings
- O-Rings and O-Ring Kits — sealing components for hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies
- Shims & Shim Stocks — precision shim material for alignment and clearance adjustment
- Workshop Tools & Equipment — general workshop tooling
- Construction & Hardware — broader construction and hardware supplies
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a compression spring and an extension spring?
A compression spring resists being pushed together and pushes back — it's used in valves, actuators, jigs and machine guards where a return force is needed when the load is released. An extension spring resists being pulled apart and pulls back, typically fitted with hooks at each end so it can attach directly to the assembly. They're not interchangeable — the load direction and design are different.
Which material should I choose for an outdoor or wet application?
316 stainless steel is the better choice for wet, marine, food-grade, chemical or outdoor environments, since it resists corrosion that would otherwise shorten a spring's working life. Standard steel springs are suited to dry, indoor workshop and machinery applications where cost per piece is the priority over corrosion resistance.
How do I measure a spring for replacement?
Measure the wire diameter, the outside diameter of the coil, and the free (uncompressed or unstretched) length. For compression springs, also note the end type — open, closed, or closed and ground. For extension springs, the hook or loop style matters as much as the dimensions. An assortment kit with a range of common sizes on hand makes matching a replacement faster.
What does spring rate mean and why does it matter?
Spring rate is the force needed to compress or extend a spring by a given amount, usually expressed in newtons per millimetre (N/mm). Two springs with similar dimensions can have different rates if the wire diameter or material differs. For a replacement to behave the way the original assembly was designed to, the rate matters as much as the physical size.
Can a spring that's lost its shape still be used?
Generally no — once a spring has been cycled enough to lose free length or spring rate, it can't be reset by stretching or compressing it further; the change is permanent. Signs to look for include a reduced free length, the spring taking a permanent "set" under what used to be a normal load, or uneven load-deflection behaviour. Replace it rather than risk inconsistent performance in the assembly.
What is an accelerator spring used for?
Accelerator springs are small-diameter, light-duty springs used in automotive and machinery throttle and accelerator linkages, as well as general tooling jigs and agricultural equipment, wherever a light, reliable return force is needed. They're available individually or in Champion's CA-series assortment kits.
What's included in a spring assortment kit?
Champion's CA-series kits are dedicated spring assortments — for example, the CA102 kit supplies 72 pieces of compression springs in mixed sizes. GJ Works and Work Shop Buddy kits are broader mixed-hardware kits that include springs alongside other common workshop consumables like pins, clips, grease nipples and hose clamps. Assortment kits suit maintenance teams who want a range of sizes on hand rather than ordering individual springs as needed.
Can AIMS source a custom spring?
For most replacement work, an off-the-shelf spring from our range or an assortment kit will cover the job. For applications needing a non-standard wire diameter, spring rate or end configuration, contact our team with your working load, dimensional constraints and environment — we can look into custom options through our supplier network.
Why does spring material matter beyond cost?
Material affects more than price — it determines how the spring holds up to its environment and how consistently it performs over its working life. 316 stainless steel resists corrosion in wet, marine or food-grade settings where a standard steel spring would rust and eventually fail. Choosing the wrong material for the environment is one of the most common causes of premature spring failure.