WHICH IS THE RIGHT PLASTIC ENCLOSURE FOR MY OFFICE AUTOMATION ELECTRONICS?

OFFICE AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY NEEDS DEPENDABLE ENCLOSURES

It’s tempting to believe that office automation devices lead a cosseted existence. After all, offices aren’t as harsh as factories or the great outdoors. Nor are they as demanding as hospitals. But there are still hazards.

Office network technology must still withstand day-to-day knocks (or vibration if mounted near fans and ducts). Other risks can include overheating, hot/cold thermal cycling, UV degradation and EMI/RFI. Ingress protection also matters because not every room in the office is dry and dust-free – seldom-seen service areas can be damp and dirty.

So don’t be surprised if the best enclosures for office automation electronics are equally at home in Industry 4.0 smart factories. And why not? Just like IIoT, automated technology for document processing, data aggregation and report generation calls for resilient enclosures. But robustness and ingress protection are not enough – aesthetics are also vital.

WHY ELEGANCE MATTERS

Elegance is the watchword in offices. It always has been. While it’s true that some flagship smart factories have evolved into futuristic temples of technology, looks have always mattered in offices.

So the 21st century office must look chic. It’s not optional – it’s expected. That’s why SMART-PANEL combines sophistication and understatement, blending in seamlessly. It fits standard flush-mount and cavity wall boxes, neatly framing a touch screen or membrane keypad with a thin border of traffic white ASA+PC. SMART-PANEL also looks good with display backlighting, a custom machining service that we now offer.

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FAST-FIT SENSOR ENCLOSURES

Subtle details matter so MINI-DATA-BOX sensor enclosures feature ‘diamond-cut’ lid bevelling to accentuate their style and save a little weight. Yes, you can mount them using cable ties for speed but screw fixing them in place looks neater in an office setting. Backing up their clean-cut lines is an impressive CV that includes IP 65 ingress protection, UV-stable ASA+PC and V-0 flammability resistance.

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HIGH PERFORMANCE ENCLOSURES FOR CONTROL UNITS

Network nodes and control units must also be tough and attractive, arguably even more so given their critical role and higher visibility. They must be capacious and yet discreet. That calls for low-profile styling (preferably with no visible fixing screws) and a means of concealing and protecting the connectors and interfaces.

NET-BOX (IP 65) offers precisely this, with a simple three-part assembly comprising a bottom section, front cover and front lid. The three-point wall mounting system means there’s no need to open the main electronics section; only the front lid has to be refitted after installation. The underside opening can provide extra space if you specify an infill cover (accessory). Again, ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) is the plastic of choice for UV stability. And assembly is with Torx T10 screws to deter tampering.

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DUAL-FACE ENCLOSURES FOR DESK AND WALL ELECTRONICS

A shared design language is a key feature of the office aesthetic, and if one enclosure range suits multiple roles then so much the better. One such is the sloping-front UNITEC, which is best known for point-of-sale electronics. Its two dialogue areas are inclined by 72° and 18° for face-to-face applications – one user can input data on the top while another person can read the display on the front face.

This wedge shape makes these ABS (UL 94 HB) enclosures ideal – not just for desktop electronics but also as a wall mount housing, originally for access control keypads but increasingly in office automation.

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IP 66 WALL-MOUNT ENCLOSURES FOR OFFICE AUTOMATION

An enclosure designed for industrial electronics should be more than capable of handling office automation duties – and SMART-BOX does so with aplomb. On paper this is very much an enclosure for factory environments: IP 66 ingress protection, ‘lid closed’ installation, lid retaining straps, ASA+PC (UL 94 V-0) and A2 stainless steel screws with high corrosion resistance all come as standard.

But as industrial as this housing is, it is far from prosaic. Contouring creates a modern appearance, and all the fixings are concealed beneath hinged trims that sit neatly on either side of the generous lid recess.

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WHEN THE GOING GETS EVEN TOUGHER

Behind the façade of the contemporary office lies a network of service corridors, stairwells, risers, ceiling voids and plant rooms. These are the non-public, technical and support spaces – the ‘backstage’ areas. They can be a challenging environment for office automation electronics; impacts from tools, ladders and maintenance equipment are just the start.

Units located near HVAC ducting or lighting ballasts may sustain continuous radiant heat.
Automation electronics – power supplies, relay boards or sensor nodes – can be sensitive to excessive temperatures.

Service areas often house chilled-water or HVAC ductwork; condensation occurs on cold surfaces. Moisture ingress leads to corrosion, short-circuits or failure of sensors. These areas are also prone to dust, insulation fibres and airborne particles – all of which can bridge terminals, block vents and impair optical or thermal sensors.

SMART-BOX’s industrial credentials ensure it’s more than capable of meeting these challenges. Even better placed is rugged SOLID-BOX (IP 66, IP 67). It is impact rated to IK08. That is five joules of energy, equivalent to a 1.7 kg object dropped from 300 mm.

SOLID-BOX is highly versatile. It can be fitted to a wall, pole or VESA bracket. Mounting points on the rear of sizes 145 and 175 match the hole patterns of VESA MIS-D 75/100. These PC+ABS enclosures can also be used on a desktop; non-slip feet are available as an accessory. The lid is recessed for a membrane keypad. Two deep recesses in the long sides protect connectors and cable glands.

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SPECIFY CUSTOMIZED ENCLOSURES

All OKW enclosures can be fully customized. We carry out all the work in-house to ensure quality, consistency and accountability. Services include machining, lacquering, printing, laser marking, decor foils, special materials (custom colors, V-0), RFI/EMI shielding, and installation/assembly of accessories.

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REQUEST A SAMPLE

Holding an enclosure in your hands is the best way to assess its finish, rigidity and design precision. You’ll instantly see how the material, wall thickness and sealing meet your technical needs, and you can test component fit before committing to tooling or volume orders.

Requesting a sample helps you to verify the looks, ergonomics and component mounting options. Evaluate a production-grade sample and make confident, specification-driven decisions for your next project.

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REGISTER FOR 3D MODELS

Register for a 3D model so you can view the enclosure in your design environment, check PCB alignment, test cut-outs and validate mounting or cabling before you commit to hardware. This saves time, reduces errors and ensures perfect integration with your electronics.

Whether you’re prototyping or finalising production tooling, a digital model gives you total confidence in fit and form. Register now to download x_t, stp or sat files of your preferred enclosure.

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