Our team here at FDB Panel Fittings have calculated that there are now over 116,000 possible combinations of standard components available at the Online store. The list includes bodies in zinc die chrome, zinc die black, polyamide black, 316 stainless steel, handle inserts – T and L, star knobs, wing knobs, spanner locks, with multiple types of tabs and cams.
As well as supplying standard inserts, we are delighted to also supply handle inserts which turn a standard quarter-turn latch/lock into a handle. These include T-Handles, L-Handles, Star Knobs and Wing Knobs in various styles, plus for locks used in dusty environments we offer dust caps, and finger pulls for easy opening of panels.
The Online store offers customers an easy-to-use sourcing tool including accessories such as serrated lock washers for applications where the securing nut may become loose and earth (grounding) nuts which have sharp protrusions intended to cut through the painted coating on the metalwork. A novel addition is the low cost slide-shoe which helps provide a positive compression, and reduces the friction and paint damage caused by constant operation.
Also available at the Online store is our Rocfast assembly and logistics service which guides component selection to supply fully assembled locks or packaging kits and delivering to production or installation site. The Rocfast assembly service offers to provide specifiers with a quick and simple means of getting the exact quarter-turns they need, to the specification they choose, pre-assembled and delivered on time.
As part of our commitment to electrical protection technologies we offer an online, ex-stock range 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. Associated core balance transformers are available in a range of sizes and a Panel meter is available (EFU10/M).
When designing custom housings for electrical/electronic equipment our team here at FDB believe that it is essential to match door/frame depths to the door lock so as to ensure the required degree of sealing (IP rating) and gasket pull-down. This means that for specialist enclosures with unusually thick doors and/or frames then length of lock body is the starting point for this matching process, which can then be fine-tuned by selection of a compatible tab/cam.
At our Online store, there is now a huge selection of these standard components for quarter-turn locks and latches, held in stock for urgent delivery. Lock bodies come in lengths of 18mm, 30mm, 36mm, 40mm, 50mm and 60mm which may be matched with tabs in varying lengths and depths, with straight or stepped configurations where they are also offered to be used for lesser or greater depth adjustment. We are also aware that standard cabinets can be manufactured in quantity and potentially with standard components – however, a substantial proportion of specialist enclosures (maybe as much as half) are custom builds in small quantities. It is therefore vital that lock assemblies are available to ensure appropriate quality performance and appearance.
Interchangeable modular diameter bodies to industry standard dimensions are stocked in zinc die chrome plated, zinc die black powder-coated, black polyamide and 316 stainless steel – allowing proper specification to match the requirements of the environment where the installation will take place. While most locks are supplied in component form for assembly by the customer we offer a service to support proper selection and assembly under our Rocfast banner.
We have a wide range of gasket sealing profiles for enclosures and cabinets at our Online store including channel fitting and edge clip-on profile sections predominantly supplied in coiled lengths for easy use in production/installation environments.
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 cut foam are featured as are edge protectors as are sections for inspection windows.
The highly experienced team here at FDB Panel Fittings Online store have suggested that with so much ordering now taking place quickly and conveniently over the internet a reminder regarding IP ratings would be appropriate. IP ratings are an industry standard classification that enables users to describe the degree of protection which an enclosure or cabinet offers to operators and to internal equipment. It is therefore important that the sealing of a lock installation matches that of the rest of the housing e.g., users should be prevented from inserting a finger or a tool or wire which could lead to them being injured. Likewise, protection against the ingress of dust or water which may damage the internal electronics or electrical controls.
Thus, in an office environment for many storage cabinets and similar we can probably consider only low levels of sealing to be needed – even elsewhere in the public space we could consider only protection from the insertion of tools and ingress of dust to be needed – possibly IP44. Industrial workshops may require protection from insertion of wires with greater exclusion of dust and water – perhaps IP54. Some dusty or wet situations – or outdoor use will need a higher IP rating such as IP65 while regular high pressure wash down or exposed outdoor installations are likely to need IP66 or IP67.
A quarter turn of matching IP rating should always be selected and often IP ratings can be enhanced by ordering with sealing washers and O rings to further protect against ingress in arduous conditions – experienced hardware salespeople can usually advise. Our FDB Rocfast program is designed to simplify the specification, selection and supply process.
As we get into 2024 we are delighted to offer these lightweight, strong and resilient industrial hinges in polyamide for a wide range of specialist enclosures. They are available ex-stock from our Online store for urgent delivery to suit many typical applications.
We have concealed pin hinge and semi-concealed designs alongside butt hinges with fixed or lift-off features as well as detent action, all in tough black polyamide – excellent for wall-mounted enclosures, cabinet panels, access flaps and similar.
Our online store has a wide selection of compression latches and locks carried in stock for urgent delivery – with a wide range of types suited to industrial enclosures. They are manufactured in stainless steel and zinc die-cast for robust longevity. Sealing degrees are available up to IP69K.
Versions include those with clear visual status indication and those with flush mounting capability – eg for Rail use. Others deliver the spanner lock format while there are others in the flush mounting lever handle style often preferred for use on specialist vehicles for their vibration resistance – where nuisance opening would be a problem but a space-conserving “no catch” flush profile is also required.
There are times in any production project when a critical component is needed urgently – when that component is a panel door hinge the FDB Online store can help with various types and styles; including lift-off, screw-on, weld-on, surface mounted, concealed, continuous and butt hinges. There are detent, spring, torque/friction and continuous types as well as regular butt designs and internal mounting varients.
They are available in zinc die, polyamide, steel and stainless steel according to specification, they are designed to suit industrial applications of all types and sizes and are carried ex-stock for rapid delivery.
Keeping supply chains open and flexible, and working fast is a major challenge for all in the manufacturing sector – rarely more so than in the case of equipment for time-critical installations such as power supply and control systems where packaged systems must be completed, delivered and installed – timely delivery of even a latching mechanism may be vital. The Online team here at FDB Panel Fittings are delighted to announce our solution. This encompasses ex-stock urgent delivery of a wide range of Cam latches with barrel body and inserts, often resembling a nut or screwhead and so referred to as a “spanner” lock, a type of quarter turn mechanism for secure closure of cabinet and enclosure doors.
This Online offering also includes compression latches, while other versions incorporate a cylinder type lock for additional security which are held as large stocks so as to enable quick delivery. Since locks and latches are frequently the last item fitted to a cabinet on the production line or even at the installation stage – and can therefore hold up delivery of the whole project – Online selection can reduce this problem.
Various latch types can be swapped if necessary, including cam adaptors which enable the use of multi-point rod lock systems for enhanced sealing and security while tabs/cams are available in differing lengths and step/height configurations to match varying door/frame dimensions. The Online service includes our popular Rocfast assembly and logistics package which ensures delivery of assembled latches or locks in bulk or as kits – otherwise contact us direct to discuss your requirements.
