OKW
Elegant new COMMUNITEC portable enclosures for large-format electronic instruments
Enclosing and protecting any form of electronic circuitry poses inevitable design challenges.
F
unctionality, usability, ergonomics and aesthetics can all create conflicting demands – especially when the device in question is large and bulky. Plastic enclosures for larger screens (and all the associated PCBs, controls and interfaces) are required to be capacious. But it’s a mistake to assume that these housings must be more prosaic and utilitarian than their smaller counterparts, simply due to their size. There is no need to sacrifice beautiful sweeping curves in favour of a cavernous but more angular box.
OKW’s elegant new COMMUNITEC enclosures for desktop/portable electronics are proof positive that larger enclosures can still turn heads – highlighting the quality of the precision electronics they house. And the discreet integrated handle makes these units easy to carry from one workstation to another. COMMUNITEC’s modern yet timeless design combines soft rounded contours with straight lines to create a housing that is ideal for 11.5” to 14” screens, while simultaneously offering generous flat surfaces for other controls and interfaces.
The large recessed operating area is inclined by 12 degrees for comfortable viewing. Beneath it lies a flat surface for front-mounted controls. Large side areas provide further space for connectors, for fitting measuring instruments, or for ventilation slots. At the rear is a recessed area to protect sockets, plugs and supply cables. The back also has an additional recess for a product label. COMMUNITEC’s smart design ensures swift and ready access to the PCBs for the installation, inspection and maintenance of components. Circuit boards can be accessed through the front, from above via the opening for the recess handle, or from the bottom. Components can be pre-installed on the bottom section before it is then assembled into the main unit. Self-adhesive non-slip feet ensure reliable positioning and prevent skidding.
Versatile COMMUNITEC suits a wide range of applications including medical equipment, instrumentation, test and measurement, automation, fault analysis and quality control. The healthcare sector in particular
will be well served by COMMUNITEC, with units destined for patient monitoring, ventilators, neuromonitoring and aesthetic medicine such as laser treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL) devices and foot care. Other applications include laboratory and environmental technology, test and measurement. Martin Nußberger of polyform Industrie Design said: “COMMUNITEC is a desktop enclosure designed to balance the demands of digital and analogue technology. At its centre sits a generously sized, ergonomically inclined display and control panel that provides ample space for your user interface. “Behind this, set back from the front, is a deep installation area for both electronic and mechanical components. The elegant, seemingly floating front frame is organically integrated into the main body, making its proportions appear smaller,” he added. COMMUNITEC enclosures comprise four parts: the main housing, operating panel, handle recess panel and the bottom panel. This design has a high degree of configuration flexibility, with fastening pillars for PCBs and other components in all but the handle recess panel. Assembly is with tamperproof Torx screws.
All the parts are moulded from tough UV- stable ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) in either traffic white (RAL 9016) or anthracite grey (RAL 7016) as standard. The handle recess panel can also be specified in traffic grey A (RAL 7042) as a contrast. All four sections can be specified individually. This reduces the need
for customisation, though custom colours are also available on request.
COMMUNITEC is available in two sizes: S (283 x 246 x 194 mm) and M (344 x 274 x 219 mm). OKW can supply the enclosures fully customised – branded, machined and ‘production line ready’ for the installation of the electronics.
OKW’s customisation services include CNC machining (milling, tapping, engraving, drilling, countersinking, cutting, stamping); lacquering in a broad spectrum of colours, finishes and textures; photo-quality printing of legends, logos and graphics; laser marking (perfect for consecutive numbering or small machine- readable codes); decor foils; EMC shielding; installation and assembly of accessories. Hampshire-based OKW carries out all the customisation work in-house to ensure quality, consistency and accountability. As a single- source supplier, OKW is fully responsible for quality throughout the entire manufacturing process.
OKW marketing director Robert Cox said: “Aside from the quality benefits, carrying out all the work in-house also saves our customers time, money and administration. There is also a benefit to the environment because the enclosures don’t have to be shipped between multiple suppliers.”
For more information, view the OKW website:
https://www.okw.co.uk/en/Plastic- enclosures/
Communitec.htm
JUNE 2026 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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