ENCLOSURES better abrasion resistance.
Enclosure manufacturers face a dilemma: their housings must excel in their primary application, and yet must still be able to cope with other requirements. And each application brings its own challenges. It’s obvious that industrial electronic enclosures must be tough. For this reason, the sector has traditionally been dominated by diecast aluminium housings. But in recent years, highly robust plastic enclosures have been muscling in.
SOLID-BOX (IP 66/IP 67) – which is moulded from PC+ABS – comes with the reassurance of an IK 08 impact rating. IK 08 enclosures impact without suffering damage that would impair safety or performance. This dropped on the enclosure from a height of 300 mm. Sheer strength is not enough though: smart design also matters – which is why SOLID-BOX has deep recesses for cable glands and connectors. Installation is ‘lid closed’ to protect the electronics and seal in harsh industrial environments. Clip-on trims
demand for plastic enclosures in factories. The high volume of sensors involved has enclosures that can be cable-tied to poles models such as MINI-DATA-BOX and EASYTEC. Other important housings include NET-BOX for IIoT data acquisition.
Test and measurement is one of the largest and most important sectors for plastic enclosure manufacturers. It sets exacting standards for handheld, desktop and wall-mount enclosures. The sector’s broad spectrum of applications covers meters, controllers, detectors and data loggers, many of which may be mobile and used in unforgiving outdoor environments. The sensitivity of the precision electronics means that the enclosures must provide very high levels of protection – while at the same time remaining comfortable to operate (especially if the device in question is handheld). Aesthetics are crucial too if the enclosure is to underline the high quality of the technology that it houses.
But test and measurement is not the only demanding sector, medical electronics has long had a tradition of exacting standards when it comes to precision, quality and innovation. Put simply, medical devices save lives and are used in the care of society’s most vulnerable people. Therefore, the enclosures that house this technology
must be the very best they can be. Many medical devices are destined for hard lives. Hospitals run 24/7/365 and their equipment is operated by many busy users on different shifts. The pace can be relentless but the equipment must function correctly every time it is used – failure can never be an option.
Mr Cox says: “Enclosures for medical electronics must be resilient, ergonomic and easy to keep clean. They must not show signs of wear because no patient wants to be treated with tired-looking equipment. And the enclosures can never have dirt traps that could become a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms.” Handheld enclosures such as STYLE-CASE (IP 65) have been purpose designed for the features include a high-gloss ASA (or cleaning. The enclosures are assembled using tamperproof Torx assembly screws, a requirement for health and social care electronics.
Another important sector is HVAC, climate 16 JULY/AUGUST 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
control and environmental technology. Growth is being fuelled by global warming. Enclosures destined for this sector must withstand moisture, dust, UV exposure, chemical fumes and temperature systems produce or monitor heat. Enclosures must allow for adequate ventilation or passive cooling while maintaining protection against ingress. Louvered vents, breathable membranes or internal heat sinks are often incorporated. In more extreme settings, fans or thermoelectric coolers may be necessary and must be properly housed.
Customisable enclosures for HVAC, climate control and environmental technology include wedge-shaped SMART-CONTROL DATEC-COMPACT (IP 65) rugged handheld enclosures, SMART-BOX (IP 66) wall-mount enclosures that can be installed ‘lid closed’, and CARRYTEC (IP 54) attaché-case-style enclosures for larger handheld electronics. For more information, view the OKW website:
https://www.okw.co.uk/en
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