From control panels to charging stations here at FDB we offer a truly specialist service for related hardware needs including products from many of the top international manufacturers plus our own electrical protection and monitoring series. Industrial controls and distribution call for widely varying enclosures and cabinets with appropriate hardware elements which we offer at our Online store for rapid ordering and delivery.

So whether your enclosure project is for rail, MOD, production line, special vehicles, street furniture or HVAC we can offer locks, hinges, gasket, stays, rod-locks, swinghandles and so much more, topped off with our time and cost-saving Rocfast assembly and logistics service. So contact our experienced and helpful team to discuss your needs for new or refurbishment projects.

The field of enclosure and cabinet hardware is quite established and is one where development occurs through constant evolution in response to customer feedback and the changing demands of extensive application types. This is a process which can creep up on engineers who have a more technical focus, so FDB Panel Fittings see their role as one of informing about important changes in products and service.

In this spirit their MD Gary Miles would like to discuss the present situation. For example, the team at FDB Panel Fittings have calculated that they carry over 116,000 possible combinations of standard components available ex stock at their Online store – clearly there are other suppliers in a similar situation. The product list includes quarter turn lock bodies in zinc die chrome, zinc die black, polyamide black, and 316 stainless steel.  As well as supplying standard inserts, there are inserts which turn a standard quarter-turn latch/lock into one with a handle. These include T-Handles, L-Handles, Star Knobs and Wing Knobs in various styles, plus for locks used in dusty environments they offer dust caps, and finger pulls for easy opening of panels – also multiple types of tabs and cams.

With sophisticated ergonomic design, L and T handles come easily to hand and are comfortable to use. Their leverage allows the operation of internal rod systems for multi-point gasket sealing and added security, which is increasingly important for the protection of sophisticated digital process controls. Also available are wing-knob inserts which function as smaller variants for wall-mounted enclosures. Likewise, standard “spanner lock” style inserts for quarter turns enable the use of an extended handle key, which provide enhanced leverage in situations where a larger fixed handle is not appropriate.

These modern variants of proven traditional L and T designs are convenient and natural in feeling during operation, excellent in larger spaces, and suit floor standing cabinets and large enclosures. They are available in polyamide, zinc die chrome and black powder coat, plus in polished stainless steel with a wide selection carried in stock for urgent delivery to customers production facilities or project sites.

Typically, an enclosure hardware stock profile includes many hinges for concealed use on enclosures and cabinets whether as screwed-on types or for welding prior to paint. Other types are suitable for storage cabinets or for thick doors where they may be fitted into the door edge.

Sealing with a gasket profile is generally necessary to ensure conformity with standard IP levels of protection against the ingress of dust/water. Traditional P-type sections and self-adhesive closed-cell foam are commonly available as are edge protectors and sections for inspection windows. This covers a wide range of gasket sealing profiles for enclosures and cabinets including channel fitting and edge clip-on profile sections predominantly supplied in coiled lengths for easy use in production/installation environments.

As an alternative, Swinghandles for cabinets and large enclosures have established themselves as a stylish space saving solution to the provision of low-profile locking, with good leverage for multi-point rod locking systems. It is worth considering the range of options they offer for inserts or locks, with one or two keys, padlocking options and remote electronic security. Materials for swinghandles now include polyamide, zinc die and stainless steel with common ratings of IP65 or better which will suit the great majority of applications.

The needs of specialist panel builders have called forth services such as the FDB Rocfast assembly and logistics program which focuses on lock assembly including all major industry brands – and is designed to take the hard work out of an ordering process that often requires specification of individual lock components, and time consuming self-assembly prior to installation. In this way customers may utilise the skills of an expert team to rapidly identify the optimum specification of components, then to order, assemble and deliver to site, to workshop or to metal former/installation subcontractor.

Handles vary in design but it may be that the earliest was a simple L format – perhaps the originals were even made by bending the latch shaft – all we know is that this type of opener is still very popular in all areas of industrial activity.

Many have tabs or cams to latch with, while others have square drives to fit two or three way latching mechanisms. Either can suit multi-point rod locks – for which the L handle design is excellently suited as it gives perhaps the optimum degree of leverage.

Our Online store together with our sales partners at Weston Body Hardware have a great offering of torpedo style hinges which feature a lift-off design. Manufactured in chrome finished zinc die, these rugged hinges are a great option for enclosures and cabinets where a practical yet attractive hinge is required.

These unusual hinges have a traditional style to suit an older aesthetic, while providing a rugged hinge function with smooth design and simple installation. They present a quality hinge for a quality appearance, and come ex-stock from our  enclosure hardware specialists the Online store.

These popular ‘torpedo’ hinges are widely used for electrical cabinets and enclosures, allowing doors to be quickly mounted or removed from frames. The chromium-plated finish and 10 mm stainless steel pin gives good resistance to normal environmental conditions. Left-hand and right-hand variants are stocked for online purchase and are available with a black finish.

Doors can be arranged to lift-off when the fixed pin is located in the bottom half of both hinges. When a door is required to be permanently fixed, then the hinges should be installed with LH and RH together (opposed). Individual hinge installation is by simple plant-on positioning secured through countersunk holes in each hinge leaf. Availability is standard with bright chromium-plated finish (or raw for painting), while black is available to special order.

Performance Rig-tests have shown that two hinges (on a 1-metre frame) carried a load of 60kg. (130lb) without damage, equivalent to a moment of force of 60NM (3.43KN).

Every panel builder knows about the value of rod-locking systems allied to a suitable quarter turn or swinghandle to operate two, three or more closure points – either for improved sealing or security – often both. Not so well known perhaps is the online availability of these standard components on an ex-stock basis from our Online shop.

This includes round rods and flat rods in standard lengths with rod guides and rod ends which are easily coupled with the lock mechanism of choice using a cam which can link the rods or also add a further closure point.

Sugatsune HG-TS series torque hinges – or otherwise known as friction hinges – in stainless steel are now available from the FDB Panel Fittings Online store. They are suited to marine applications and other harsh environments where they may be used to control an enclosure or cabinet door, by acting as a restraint against gravity, wind or other forces, to hold the lid or door in a required position during installation or servicing/adjustment of internal equipment.

HG-TS hinges are manufactured in SUS304 polished stainless steel – sizes available include 32x36mm, 40x48mm and 50x48mm. They may be used in matching sets, while their progressive stop function enhances the usability and safety of the completed installation.

Our team here at Panel Fittings not only offer a comprehensive range of seals and gaskets but aim to support our customers with information and advice from years of experience. Customer support begins with our useful Knowledge Base Data sheets and follows through with a live human telephone team.

As we are able to supply from stock and otherwise source from all major manufacturers customers will find that the product line includes flexible extruded profiles with a spring steel core, facilitating simple clip-on installation as well as closed cell self-adhesive cut sheets, and non-cored sections designed to fit a prepared channel. Clip fix seals and gaskets are available to fit material thicknesses ranging from 0.8mm to 10mm and are supplied in black.

The flexible construction of these sealing strips in industrial grade materials ensures durability and adaptability, making them suitable for diverse industrial and commercial uses. The spring steel core provides a secure grip, ensuring that the seals and gaskets remain firmly in place once installed – a design which simplifies the installation process, reducing the time and effort required for assembly.

FDB Panel Fittings’ seals and gaskets are engineered to meet high standards of quality and performance. Their versatility makes them ideal for applications in enclosures, cabinets, and other equipment requiring reliable sealing solutions. By choosing these products, businesses can ensure enhanced protection against environmental factors, contributing to the longevity and reliability of their equipment.

Contact us to discuss your enclosure sealing needs.

Double ball catches like the versatile BCTS series from FDB Panel Fittings Online store and sales partner Sugatsune are a relatively innocuous mechanism generally used for interior doors where rapid access is required. This BCTS range is unusual being manufactured in stainless steel 316, and designed for harsh environments such as for use on ships or onboard yachts.

Ball catches or ball tension roller catches, provide convenience, safety and control with discrete internal fitment using countersunk screws. They engage from the front or from either side, and can be used in multiples to retain removable panels.

Stainless steel BCTS dual ball tension catches are available from the FDB Panel Fittings Online store in sizes of 43mm, 50mm and 70mm body length.

A major problem for specialist panel builders can be the proper specification and then assembly of enclosure lock mechanisms – so our Rocfast program is designed to help all the way from ordering through delivery and up to the installation stage of locks, latches and swinghandles.

Our experienced team can discuss and advise on availability and likely suitability of components then arrange assembly, packaging and logistics for orders in scale from small to large batches and with required scheduling.

Contact us here to discuss your production needs, batches and timings.