It is a simple question and generally one that flies under the radar for engineers busy working on electrical/electronic systems – so we have tried to make life easy for our customers by collecting together a range of basic hardware that suits many – even most industrial enclosure and cabinet needs.

To that end we have ensured that our Online store carries hinges that bolt on and lift off for use outside the enclosure or inside, along with sealing gasket in self adhesive strips or clip on extrusions, plus latches and locks in quater turn format with spanner lock inserts or with locking mechanisms.

Sometimes required are handles in differing designs – L or T or bridge or swinghandle. We aim to stock and deliver urgently so we can save customers time on assembly or installation.

We often get asked for handles so it is important to understand the what, where and why of the application. Generally they are needed for an enclosure or cabinet of some kind – wall or floor mounting – otherwise a varient like a desk or a machine housing, maybe an access panel on a specialist vehicle, or a drawer on an office desk.

So we have swing handles with locks and rod systems, also conventional L and T handles but often all that is required is a simple bridge or bow handle – perhaps to open against a magnetic catch or to lift an instrument or panel lid.

The variety is huge – so click here to see our online selection which we stock for urgent delivery.

Sealing of enclosures or cabinet doors is made simple with the EMKA range of clip-fit sections from our Online store. These specialist profiles in EPDM offer a quickly installed solution to maintaining good IP protection for panel builders, equipment manufacturers and vehicle constructors.

Suitable for door sealing and other industrial panels, suits industrial enclosures of up to IP55 with single or multiple closures and compliment the 1000-U237 wing knob in black powder coated zinc die and keyed EK 333. The knob mounts inside the seal with door thickness of between 1.5mm and 8mm and offers single, dual or three-point closure depending on cam and rods fitted.

Gaskets offer up to 6mm compression with a clip-on hollow section to enable inexpensive and effective protection from dust and water to be achieved, with the simple expedient of pushing the section onto the frame profile or inner door edge. Construction is of EPDM bonded onto a spring steel spine.

The clamping edge accommodated by these gaskets is circa 3.5mm, and ref 1011-06 meets UL 50 and UL94-HB. These sections are listed at the FDB Online store in 50m coils for ex-stock same-day despatch.

Other sections are available and designed to be retained within channels or for self-adhesion to painted surfaces, while edge protectors and window profiles with expanding filter sections enable simple edge covering and window installations for the inspection of machine settings and processes.

Where electromagnetic compatibility is necessary, variants are available to combine EMC with dust and water sealing.

Power protection panels from the team here at FDB Electrical are well known for their effectiveness and reliability – less so perhaps the availability of the specialist components we offer. Our MD Gary Miles explains that these components enable electrical engineers to install their own power protection and/or earth monitoring circuits in housings of their choice to suit applications from domestic through industrial/office to MOD ready.

He points out that “as part of our commitment to electrical protection technologies the component range includes an online, ex-stock program of panel mounting components including RCDs, Earth Continuity Monitors and special-purpose electrical protection devices.”

These comply with BS4293 and come in both AC and DC types. Components offer Multi-range protection levels including pre-set and user-adjustable types. Their Solid-state circuitry provides immunity to voltage transients and DC components and associated core balance transformers are available in a range of sizes, and a Panel meter is available (EFU10/M).

Protective devices available include fully adjustable multi-function RCD’s, variable earth leakage relays, percentage earth fault relays together with a range of external toroidal CT’s up to 240mm diameter. Where a customer does not wish to produce the housed system themselves then we can offer custom built panels and bespoke solutions designed and manufactured in-house to suit virtually any industrial application – we are proud to supply the UK Defence forces and support industries with this specialist protection equipment.

Sometimes we do not need the full sealing function of a gasket, but it may be important to protect an operator’s hands from the cut edge of a metal panel or simply to offer a buffer with a degree of protection from the elements, to preserve appearance or prevent the painted panel and frame from wearing and damaging each other. In these cases, an edge protection section is frequently desirable and a long-term effective solution.

As explained by Gary Miles, our MD the Rocfast Assembly and Logistics service is an important service tool in the armoury of specialist panel builders – for hardware required to suit enclosures and cabinets. Knowing which components can work together and how to assemble them can be a significant stumbling block in correctly specifying and equipping a custom panel.

With much experience in this area, the team here at FDB Panel Fittings are capable of guiding design engineers and supply chain managers, through the complex choices of components and then arranging delivery of the items required in batches to suit production numbers and to the location of choice – whether workshop or installation site. Thus, saving time and money while ensuring enhanced customer service to the end user.

The system allows specifying engineers to call the Rocfast team and discuss the project hardware needs e.g. type and size of quarter turn lock or latch coupled and sealing requirement, with hinge type and gasket section. – body length, insert, sealing gasket, tab length and offset, tab closure options, earthing washer, key type etc. thus saving a great deal of shop floor time. We also offer data sheets to help engineers through this process on their own.

Once the specification is concluded the logistics side of Rocfast can manage supply batches and production kits in alignment with manufacturing and/or installation requirements to workshop or on-site on a global basis if needed.

For more information on how Rocfast can streamline your lock assembly needs, visit www.fdb.co.uk/rocfast/ or contact FDB Panel Fittings today

Spanner Locks are solid, simple, inexpensive door security equipment usually with a good degree of sealing and protection. Ours are IP65 in zinc die and chrome with a choice of inserts – square , triangular or double bar. Standard cams are flat but please ask if you need another style.

So when you need a Spanner Lock you can find a selection at our Online store, stocked and ready for urgent delivery.

At a time when efficiency and cost savings are paramount, we are proud to announce the Rocfast customer service program. Designed to save time, reduce costs, and eliminate ordering errors, Rocfast guides engineers and buyers through the complete process of lock specification, component matching, ordering, assembly, packaging, and worldwide logistics—delivering directly to site.

The FDB Rocfast program specializes in lock assemblies, covering all major industry brands. By simplifying the typically complex process of specifying and assembling individual lock components, Rocfast removes the burden of self-assembly and ensures that customers receive a fully assembled solution tailored to their needs. Whether delivering to a site, workshop, or metal former/subcontractor, Rocfast aligns with the FDB team’s commitment to providing “Panel Fittings for Every Enclosure.”

Rocfast supports a wide range of ¼ turn locks, complete with matching keys and optional IP-rated sealing. The service also includes traditional L or T handles, swinghandles, and compression locks. Additionally, standard latch inserts can be upgraded to handle inserts, such as T-handles, L-handles, Star Knobs, and Wing Knobs, catering to various industry requirements. For dusty environments, FDB offers dust caps and finger pulls for easy panel access.

To further enhance security and stability, Rocfast provides serrated lock washers to prevent loosening, and earth (grounding) nuts designed to cut through painted surfaces for reliable electrical connections. Customers benefit from a simple four-step selection process: Pick your housing – Pick your insert – Pick your cam – and receive a fully assembled, ready-to-install lock.

For more information on how Rocfast can streamline your lock assembly needs, visit www.fdb.co.uk/rocfast/ or contact FDB Panel Fittings today.

Sugatsune magnetic catches from our Online store are great for confined spaces where their strong magnetic closure offers a clean external appearance with minimal intrusion into the internal space of the enclosure or door.

This Sugatsune range of neodymium magnetic catches stand out for their high performance and very neat design.

They are often liked because their density and strength allow incredibly thin magnetic catches to be produced like the MC159. At less than 3mm thick it is an easy to fit closure device which does not disrupt the integrity of your design. Perfect for sheet metal applications it can also be utilised in furniture production where the ample 4kg force will keep large doors closed. A lower strength version, the MC-158 has the same great looks but lesser strength at 1.5kg for those light weight applications, at the other end of the scale an 8kg force version has also recently been introduced.