Customisation of DIN Rail mounting electronic enclosures to suit specific customer applications
(PRWEB UK) 18 June 2014 -- In large volume products a custom electronic enclosure will be realised through the design and production of a custom mould tool with a pay back of the cost being realised in a relatively short timescale. However in low to medium volume products, the options to invest in the necessary mould tools for a custom enclosure is neither practical nor financially viable and as a result a degree of customisation of a standard off the shelf DIN Rail mounting Enclosure is often required through machining, drilling and/or printing. This process is usually either carried out by a third party leading to a substantial hike in costs, longer lead times and is often associated with large minimum order quantities.
The customisation process can be carried out internally through investment in machining and printing equipment however this can require substantial allocation of internal resources.
Hitaltech UK Ltd currently supply electronics enclosures into the building automation market. Within this market both energy management technologies and light management are registering a high growth rate and as a result manufacturers within this industry are striving to design a product which can be differentiated from the competition on both a functional and aesthetical level. As a result, a trend has emerged over recent years where a growing number of Hitaltech’s existing customers within this market are finding themselves in a trade off situation between customisation costs and the need to set themselves apart from their competitors.
In order to meet this need, Hitaltech and their manufacturing partner Italtronic have worked together to offer a range of DIN Rail mounting enclosures which suit a variety of applications as standard, as well as offering the option to customise the product to meet customer specific demands.
"A two option approach has been developed which gives design engineers the possibility to differentiate their product for both low and medium volumes with excellent value to cost ratio, and without the need to invest in expensive tooling and processes," explains Hitaltech's Marketing Manager, Tara Fisher.
Option One - CNC machining and laser printing:
The first of these options is aimed at low volume projects with typical annual quantities from one to three thousand pieces. Using a combination of high tech multiple tools, multiple axis CNC machines as well as low cost high quality laser and full colour digital printing processes, Hitaltech are able to offer a customised DIN Rail enclosures at exceptional value for money.
Option two - Custom inserts for the mould tool:
The second option is aimed at medium volumes with typical annual quantities from three thousand pieces. Using a multiple slide, flexible tooling approach Hitaltech’s partner Italtronic have developed a range of mould tools that can be adapted by the inclusion of relatively low cost custom mould tool inserts to produce a finished custom enclosure. This custom enclosure is produced direct from the injection moulding process therefore eliminating the need for additional machining.
Hitaltech UK & Italtronic:
Italtronic Srl. based in Padova, Italy design and manufacture an innovative range of plastic enclosures to meet the needs of electronic and electrical applications across varying industries.
Hitaltech are pleased to be the apppointed technical sales, marketing and master distributor for the UK, Ireland and US Market.
Through our knowledge and experience of the product Hitaltech aim to offer design engineers an Italtronic product which can meet their technical requirements.
Tara Fisher, [email protected], http://www.hitaltech.co.uk, +44 1253899910, [email protected]
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