Page 28 - Industrial Technology magazine February 2021 issue

DESIGN ENGINEERING

THE WHOLE PACKAGE

ENCLOSURES, CABINETS AND FANS

AN INDUSTRIAL ENCLOSURE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE BOX.
CHRIS LLOYD OF SPELSBERG UK LOOKS INTO THE CONSIDERATIONS
TO MAKE WHEN CHOOSING AN INDUSTRIAL ENCLOSURE.
hoosing an industrial enclosure is seldom just means electrical distribution, the enclosure has also got
about the enclosure itself. It has to meet the to provide safety to people coming into contact with it.
right level of quality and standards, but To achieve this, the enclosure should fit your design
Cfrequently an off-the-shelf design won’t meet and installation environment to ensure safe and
design needs. If customisation is required, let alone a functional performance, which can mean
bespoke design, choosing an enclosure is more about your customisation or even bespoke design. If any stage of
choice of supplier. customisation isn’t executed to the required standard,
An industrial enclosure must be sufficiently at best this can impact the installation deadline; worse
constructed to protect whatever’s inside it – and if that still, it can lead to field failure. For these reasons, when
it comes to choice of industrial enclosure,
you’re never just buying a box: it’s crucial to pay cable routing, also allowing for easier access during field
close attention to your design and how it’s going maintenance.
to be executed. Spelsberg UK holds the largest ex-stock supply of non-
Starting with the enclosure itself, it’s got to metallic enclosures in the UK, with over 4,000 standard
suit the application setting, whether that’s cast- enclosure designs to choose from, yet requests for
in-place concrete for a hotel construction, an customisation are commonplace. Computerised numerical
outdoor railway terminal or the ceiling alcove of control (CNC) capability from Spelsberg’s Telford facility
an office. Considerations on protection against the takes care of straightforward requests to cut holes for
elements such as water and particulates (IP cable glands, through to complex requirements which
rating), UV rays and impact resistance (IK rating) could include machining of intricate vent holes or
are essential. The enclosure should also enable accommodation of specialised equipment, such as
rapid, simple component installation, which scanners or cameras. Milling, drilling and thread tapping
means flexibility over positioning of fixtures and are regular aspects of customisation, and ultrasonic

Simple
◾ Digital configuration
◾Consistent data quality
◾ Intelligent engineering