Electronics Protection - March/April 2013 - (Page 15)
Feature
also offers these kits with water transfer printing as standard, so
special finishes can be supplied to match the wall or panel the unit
is mounted to. For example the bezel can have a wood like finish
to match important historic buildings, museums, galleries etc. and
keep the electronics as discreet as possible.
Over the period since 1980, it is not just the enclosures themselves that have changed radically, so has the design process that
created them. Previously enclosure companies like OKW would
unveil an initial launch range of standard plastic enclosures then
add new variations and accessories as customers requested them.
Now the emphasis is on going to market with a wide range right
from day one to encourage electronics engineers to bring enclosures into the design process from the very beginning. This avoids
the age-old problem of having to use too large an enclosure because the PCB size was specified at the start of the project without
specifying the housing first.
However, there are challenges associated with designing a
major range of configurable plastic enclosures such as Art-Case
or Interface-Terminal.Enclosures must be contoured in such a way
that – whether wall-mounted, desk-mounted or handheld – they
always look completely at home in that role. If a configurable enclosure looks like a desktop unit bolted to a wall or a wall-mounted unit placed on a desk, then it is not going to inspire confidence
in the product that it houses. Each enclosure must look as if it
were designed specifically for that application and no other.
Designs must also be discrete. They must enhance the products
they contain, not detract from them. Understated elegance is vital.
Enclosures must be attractive but with a subtle anonymity.
There can be no overly imposing styling cues that shout any
particular enclosures brand, nothing to suggest that ‘Product A’ has
the same enclosure as ‘Product B’ created by another manufacturer. A configurable plastic enclosure is like the frame of a painting, it
must draw attention to the work of art, not away from it.
Various ranges of enclosures must also be subtle enough to
work with each other, so electronics engineers have the freedom
to mix and match Engineers can also to take the process a stage
further, by specifying custom options such as colours, finishes,
cutouts, mouldings and branding.
So what is the future for configurable plastic enclosures?
An exciting one. Greater choice, more modular options and
potentially the blurring of the lines that divide configurability
from customization.
For more information on configurable plastic enclosures, visit
www.okwenclosures.com or contact OKW Enclosures, Inc. Phone:
800 965 9872, email: sales@okwenclosures.com.
March/April 2013
www.ElectronicsProtectionMagazine.com
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Electronics Protection - March/April 2013
Electronics Protection - March/April 2013
Newer Technology Releases Next-Generation Power2U AC/USB In Wall Charging Solution
Specifiers of Enclosures for Components in Outdoor Applications: Be Aware of Material Selection Issues
How to Protect Electronic Circuits from Power Surges
Testing for Ingress Protection of Portable Electronic Devices
Increasing the Lifespan and Reliability of Electrical Components
From the Inside: The Configurable Plastic Enclosures Revolution
Tips for Selecting and Designing a Membrane Switch
HP Intelligent Series Rack Models Available for Networking and Demanding Server Requirements
Polyonics Antistatic Tapes Solve ESD Problems Before They Damage Static Sensitive Devices
OptoTherm Introduces IR LabMate Infrared Camera Solution
Falcon Electric Offers NEMA 3R/4 Enclosures with SSG UPSs
PEM SpotFast Fasteners Enables Flush Joining of Two Sheets
Industry News
Calendar of Events
Electronics Protection - March/April 2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20120304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20120102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/webcom/ep_20111112
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