• • • ENCLOSURES • • •
Rapid delivery of
turn-key projects Particularly for end users such as large utilities suppliers, their requirements are increasingly for turn-key solutions. The enclosure of switchgear for solar farms is a tested example, and the renewable energy sector is also creating further demand for complete solutions for wind and tidal power. Telecommunications networks also have similar requirements. Providing major utilities with ready-to-install, completed units, not only gives them benefits in terms of speed and cost reduction, it also improves the efficiency of their procurement process by reducing their supplier count. While customers increasingly want a near-ready
or ready product, this hasn’t reduced the demand on timescale. Producing a customised prototype as a customer sample is often needed on a same-day basis. When it comes to providing the manufactured batch, the operation might typically be required within one to two weeks. This not only means fast production, including customised aspects such as CNC machining, but also involves carrying a flexible stock of items such as membrane keypads, in addition to the actual enclosures.
Specialised enclosure
technology In terms of the industrial boxes themselves, as customer requests become increasingly specific, so do the enclosures. To suit the varied nature of demanding applications, the range of standard enclosures has had to grow to accommodate products such as enclosures for concrete installation for the construction industry, through to fire-proof boxes for security devices such as alarms and sprinkler systems. More specialised still, applications for the military can require non-reflective, self-extinguishing, radar-proof, ‘stealth’ enclosures. While there will remain a need for providing
enclosures alone, for example to electrical installers, from the perspective of OEMs and end- users, the electrical enclosure industry will continue to move towards partially assembled and complete solutions for specialised applications. Not only is this approach saving the customer cost and time, ultimately, it’s helping to create better completed projects.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
Fast enclosure customisation speeds up security project utilities company
A UK electricity utility company has been provided with 100 customised enclosures within two weeks of order. Industrial enclosure manufacturer, Spelsberg, was able to provide a customised sample within an hour of request to Avanti Lighting, which had been contracted by the utility company to develop a weather-proof CCTV bracket and enclosure mounting system. Avanti Lighting supplies lighting and electrical products for commercial and industrial
applications across the UK. Creating bespoke solutions for a range of largescale enterprises, Avanti Lighting was tasked by the electricity utility to develop a solution to mount and house swan neck CCTV cameras to be installed in outdoor locations at sites across the country. Avanti Lighting designed a bespoke corner bracket to fit the installation specification, providing a
powder coating to match the cameras. In addition to achieving the correct angular position for the bracket, as well as a durable design, the utility company’s main requirement was ease of installation and fast project completion. Avanti Lighting’s bracket design enabled direct installation of the camera with a cable access point in the exact required position. To house the cameras, the enclosure needed to be fully weatherproof and sufficiently robust. At the same time, the enclosure had to precisely fit the required cable entry point and be easy to install. The project also had a rapid deadline and as a result of previous project collaboration, Avanti
Lighting turned to Spelsberg UK with its on-site, UK customisation facility to design and manufacture the bespoke enclosure. “For the customer, ease of installation was key, including an enclosure that would be supplied
ready to mount, with all holes drilled for cable entry points. This would make the process as quick as possible for the utility’s engineers,” said Avanti Lighting’s general manager, Paul Vissani. “We knew that Spelsberg’s CNC capability meant rapid, accurate machining, provided around a
durable industrial enclosure.” To protect against all weather elements, an IP67 TG enclosure was selected, providing total
protection against dust as well as water ingress, meaning that the camera would remain safe and dry when installed outside. Constructed from polycarbonate, the enclosures would also provide durability from impact and UV protection. Reviewing the utility customer’s requirements along with the design of the camera and the
bracket, Spelsberg’s engineers developed the optimum method of enclosing the CCTV device. The enclosure had to provide a precisely positioned cable entry point, but, as the camera included a pre- terminated cable that would not physically fit through a compression gland that would normally be used, an alternative solution was required. As a result, Spelsberg’s design included CNC machining a groove in the enclosure that would both allow cable entry and maintain the high IP rating. With the enclosure lid removed, the camera could be installed with the cable inserted into the groove. Thanks to the precision of the machining, replacing the lid would form a tight and protected seal around the cable, preventing any dust or water ingress. A critical factor for Avanti was speed of the process to meet the utility provider’s deadlines. Taking
the initial requirements to Spelsberg UK, as a result of the on-site design and CNC capability a sample was provided to the customer within an hour. Spelsberg typically provides a sample within 24 hours, which can be a particular advantage over other UK enclosure suppliers that can take more than a week, especially if they don’t have customisation facilities on-site. The customer confirmed the initial sample and the total order of 100 enclosures, all manufactured with CNC customisation, was completed within two weeks. “The reason we work with Spelsberg is that they provide durable enclosures and they’re able to
customise them to suit any application requirement,” said Mr Vissani. “As this service is provided on- site, it invariably means a fast project completion.”
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MAY 2022 27
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