Enclosures: safety, durability, flexibility

New products from Rittal, Bud Industries, and Strongarm include options that support safety, ergonomics, and efficiencies. Trends include easier maintenance without exposing workers to hazards, adjustability, and more mounting flexibility to simplify system integration. See more photos and...

By Control Engineering Staff September 22, 2008

New products from Rittal, Bud Industries, and Strongarm include options that support safety, ergonomics, and efficiencies. Trends include easier maintenance without exposing workers to hazards, adjustability, and more mounting flexibility to simplify system integration.

Rittal Corp. enclosure data flaps allow access to information inside without opening an enclosure and exposing workers to greater risks.
Rittal Corp. offers viewing windows and ports provide visual access into control panels.

Rittal Corp . introduced additional products to help ensure safety against arc flash hazards .
Such products will allow operation and maintenance of control panels without unnecessary exposure to arc flash dangers.
External data pockets are designed to hold system-related documentation provide secure and easy access areas outside of the control panel.
Fold-down shelves provide a work surface for programming and monitoring equipment outside of the control panel.
Viewing windows and ports provide visual access into a sealed control panel to monitor system status and indicators.
Data interface flaps provide rapid system access via integrated USB, SUB-D9 RJ 45 and NEMA 5-15 sockets when needed.
The affected enclosure remains closed. Keeping an enclosure close protects the equipment inside from ambient influences and unauthorized access.
Flaps allow engineers to collect data, program drives and PLCs, and monitor the system without having to open the enclosure door and expose personnel to arc flash hazards.

Bud Industries has introduced upright cabinet racks that deliver all features associated with high-end 19-in. rack-mounting products, the BudRack Professional Series and the Server Rack Professional Series .
EIA 310-compliant for 19-in. mount equipment, BudRack Professional Series features durable steel construction and is furnished complete with a ventilated tempered glass front door, a locking rear door, and removable sides.
Two pairs of adjustable panel-mounting rails are included. Features include an installed top-mount fan box (two fans for 23-in. depth, four fans for 31-in. depth) and ventilated shelves (one shelf in the 24U high cabinet, two shelves in the 40U and 45U cabinets), and installed casters. There is a large cutout in the base covered by 2.5-in. deep metal plates that allow for an adjustable opening, offering options for cable access.
The Server Rack Professional Series features sturdy welded construction with a 1,700-lb weight capacity (uniformly distributed). The fully ventilated locking front door can be mounted left or right; the fully ventilated split rear door has a solid triple-point latching system. Panel mounting rails are fully adjustable, front and back. The series includes ventilated shelves (one with the 27U cabinet and two with the 42U cabinet) and a fan box with four fans.

Strongarm Designs MightyMount industrial-strength keyboard and display mounting system has more options.

Strongarm Designs added options to its MightyMount industrial-strength keyboard and display mounting system .
These options include a sliding left-right mouse tray that allows both left and right-handed operators to use the mouse comfortably; horizontal extensions designed to meet customers’ specific application and workspace requirements, enabling the system to be used in a broader range of confined work areas; rotational stop option to complement the vertical lock-in-place feature for added stability and safety on the mounting end; and a ruggedized display, wholly-encased, available in place of a standard desktop display for harsher industrial environments.
Small and compact, MightyMount features cast aluminum alloy construction; 12-in. of vertical counterbalanced adjustment, allowing for one-hand positioning; 340° tiltable, rotatable display; and 180° of swiveling articulation on the mounting end.
Also read, from Control Engineering : Enclosures: Improve NEMA designs, enclose wireless equipment, keep cabinets cool
–  Control Engineering News Desk
Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .