Chris Lloyd, General Manager of Spelsberg UK, explains how customised enclosures can reduce installation costs and increase product quality, and why customisation can benefit projects of any size.
With such a wide variety of standard enclosures to choose from on the market (Spelsberg alone offers over 4000 products from its standard product catalogue) it is understandable that many design engineers will try to fit their design around an off-the-shelf component rather than specifying a bespoke product. While this does have some obvious benefits - such as lower unit costs and reduced lead times to receive the empty, unmodified enclosures - it is quite possible that this method of specification could end up costing more in the long run.
Fitting a design around an existing component means that the end result will always be compromised by the restrictions of the component; for example, the dimensions of the enclosure, the type of entry options and the internal mounting options. These restrictions can result in a finished product that does not quite meet the design brief and is less attractive to end customers, or it can even increase production costs and make the product uncompetitive. These increased costs often arise from installation issues such as entry points being located in an inconvenient position for the design, or lids not offering the access required.
Clearly, customising an enclosure to fit with the design is preferable, guaranteeing that there will be no compromise in the finished product. However, many OEMs and designers shy away from this option, believing that the costs will be prohibitive.
Traditionally, customising an enclosure to a bespoke design could be expensive due to the tooling requirements and cost of labour; now, however, technological advances mean that customised enclosures may cost just a few pence more per unit. The options for customisation are varied and can result in drastically lower installation costs and a more pleasing final product.
The most obvious, and common, request for customisation is the quantity and layout of the entry points. While a standard enclosure will typically offer a uniform number of knock-out points in a single size, customisation enables the designer to specify the exact quantity of entries and dictate the size, shape and positioning of them. This not only improves the aesthetics of the product, as there are no redundant knock-outs visible, but will also improve the overall protection that it offers as there are no weak points in the wall.
By specifying the design of the entry points into the enclosure the designer is also able to maximise the efficiency of the wiring, which will reduce installation time during the building or installation process. This reduced time will often lead to cost savings that more than justify the higher cost of procurement. Thanks to new CNC machining capabilities and Spelsberg's interchangeable side wall technology during the moulding process, it is relatively cheap to customise most enclosure products, allowing the machining and moulding to be completed accurately in short time periods; even large orders can therefore be delivered promptly and with reliable results.
Another way that enclosure manufacturers can offer customised options is through modular enclosure designs within their product range to allow end-users flexibility in terms of dimensions. The GTi range from Spelsberg, for example, is a modular enclosure range that is available with a selection of interchangeable sidewalls and connector parts. With five different sizes to build an enclosure from there are many possibilities. Very often, popular product ranges will also offer a selection of lid depths that can provide additional installation space.
Taking customisation one step further, it may be possible to specify enclosures that are pre-assembled prior to delivery. Many manufacturers are now moving beyond the role of product provider and offering design services to complement their product. From the installation of a simple DIN rail, terminal or PCB mount, through to complete population, by ordering a pre-assembled product it is possible to further reduce, or even eliminate, on-site assembly costs and improve the efficiency of your product.
By specifying an enclosure that matches the requirements of the design it is possible to improve the end result of a product while also reducing costs. Depending on the scope of a project, the potential for customisation really is limitless. The first step to finding out what customisation options are open to your design is to speak to Spelsberg els UK Ltd who will be able to provide information on what is possible and help to determine what the most efficient options are. Follow the link for more information about customised enclosures from Spelsberg.
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