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Plastic Enclosures Manufacturers and Suppliers

IQS Directory provides a useful tool for finding leading plastic enclosure manufacturers and suppliers. Find plastic enclosure companies that can design, engineer, and manufacture plastic enclosures to your specifications. Peruse our website to review and discover top plastic enclosure manufacturers with roll over ads and complete product descriptions. Connect with the plastic enclosure companies through our hassle-free and efficient request for quote form. You are provided company profiles, website links, locations, phone numbers, product videos, and product information. Read reviews and stay informed with product new articles. Whether you are looking for manufacturers of plastic electronic enclosures, small plastic enclosures, and plastic enclosures boxes of every type, IQS is the premier source for you.

  • Allenton, WI

    Maysteel provides complex sheet metal fabrication with a focus on design for manufacturing. Founded in 1936, we combine our extensive engineering experience and market knowledge with an expanding supply chain footprint, allowing us to fabricate products that others can’t. We design, engineer and manufacture custom OEM sheet metal enclosures, kiosks, cabinets and racks. We have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as partnerships in Europe. For more information, visit www.maysteel.com.

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  • Houston, TX

    At Nema Enclosures Mfg. Corp., we are dedicated to crafting high-quality electronic enclosures tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in designing and manufacturing robust and reliable enclosures that safeguard sensitive electronic equipment from environmental factors such as dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures. Our extensive range of electronic enclosures includes standard and custom solutions, engineered to offer superior protection and functionality.

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  • Cumming, GA

    AutomationDirect.com takes pride in being a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable electronic enclosure solutions. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and technical support to ensure that our customers find the perfect products to meet their needs.

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  • Bridgeville, PA

    At METCASE, we specialize in the design and manufacturing of high-quality electronic enclosures tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our extensive range of products includes standard enclosures, custom designs, and accessories that cater to various industries and applications. We take pride in our ability to deliver solutions that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal, ensuring that each enclosure meets the rigorous demands of performance and durability.

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  • Cicero, IL

    At Accurate Metal Fabricating, we specialize in crafting precision-engineered electronic enclosures that meet the unique demands of modern industries. With a relentless commitment to quality, we pride ourselves on providing cutting-edge enclosures that safeguard electronic components with unparalleled accuracy. At the heart of our success is a passion for innovation, driving us to create enclosures that exceed expectations and empower industries to thrive in the digital age.

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  • Woodbury, MN

    At Custom Stainless Enclosures, Inc., we specialize in crafting high-quality electronic enclosures tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our commitment to excellence begins with the meticulous design of each enclosure, ensuring that every product is not only durable but also precisely engineered to accommodate the specific requirements of various electronic components. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver custom solutions that seamlessly integrate into our clients' systems.

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Plastic Enclosures Industry Information

Plastic Enclosures

The term “plastic enclosure” refers to a container that is designed to house, protect, or accommodate objects in any other way.

Quick links to Plastic Enclosures Information

Applications of Plastic Enclosures

Most often, plastic enclosures are used to enclose electronics of some sort to hold them together, keep them away from dust and dirt, and shield them from impact damage. They may encase consumer, commercial, or industrial products. Examples of everyday objects that are housed in plastic enclosures include calculators, coolers, desktop computers, laptop computers, remote controls, televisions, video game controllers, and wireless internet controllers.

Materials Used in Manufacturing Plastic Enclosures

Plastic enclosures may be fabricated from a variety of different plastic materials, the choice of which depends on the needs of an application. Enclosures designed for heavier duty or more intensive applications, for example, are typically made out of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE is a strong thermoplastic made from petroleum. It is known for extreme heat and cold resistance, longevity, liquid and corrosion resistance, and low production costs.

Other common plastic materials used for plastic enclosure fabrication include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, and polypropylene. PVC, which is good for insulation applications, is a common and popular thermoplastic. It is lightweight and exhibits qualities of toughness, flexibility, as well as acid, base, and water resistance. ABS, valued for its mechanical toughness and impact resistance, is a terpolymer synthesized from styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. It is lightweight and does not pose a threat to human health, provided it is handled properly.

Acrylic, known more precisely as poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA, is known for being incredibly strong and sturdy, capable of withstanding incredible amounts of pressure. In addition to plastic enclosures, it is used to make bone cement, aircraft windows, aquarium windows, submarine viewing ports, and motorcycle helmet visors. Polypropylene, abbreviated to PP, is both strong and uncommonly resistant to bases, acids, and chemical solvents. Polypropylene enclosures may be welded.

Manufacturing Process of Plastic Enclosures

Regardless of the exact material chosen, most plastic enclosures (if they are being made from a thermoplastic) are fabricated via molding. All molding methods begin with the collection of raw plastic material, which manufacturers subsequently heat until liquified or molten. How manufacturers proceed after this depends on whether they are following the steps of the blow molding process or the injection molding process.

If they proceed with blow molding, the manufacturers will carry on by either injecting or squeezing the molten plastic into a preform or mold cavity. After this, manufacturers will blow compressed air into the cavity, rendering the plastic shape hollow. Once the shaping process has finished, the plastic will be allowed to cool and harden.

Following this step, the newly created plastic enclosure will be ejected from the mold. Similarly, if manufacturers choose injection molding, they will proceed by injecting the molten plastic into a mold cavity, the shape of which it will adapt. Manufacturers will then end the injection molding process in the same way that they end the blow molding process: by allowing the plastic to cool and harden, then ejecting it. Both methods create strong, long-lasting plastic enclosures.

Benefits of Using Plastic Enclosures

Not confined to the angles of rectangles or squares, plastic enclosures may be molded into virtually any shape. The high level of flexibility achievable by plastic enclosures stands in stark contrast with metal enclosures, which are not nearly so customizable. Another advantage they have over metal enclosures is their light weight, which lends them to applications in portable electronics. They are also better insulators and less electrically conductive than their metal counterparts.

Potential Disadvantages of Using Plastic Enclosures

Plastic enclosures are practical, customizable, easy to make, and durable. Better insulators and less likely to undesirably conduct electricity than similar metal enclosures, they are a great investment. They protect what is important to you and your application and make sure everything runs smoothly. They do, however, vary in levels of thermal stability, general strength, as well as chemical, heat, and impact resistance. In addition, they are, of course, available in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

What’s more, they are built to fit any number of regional and/or industry standard regulations, including NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturing Association) standards, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards, and ISO (International Standards Organization) standards. Variety is the spice of life but sometimes this variety can make confusion and uncertainty. The best way to combat these byproducts of shopping is to consult with one or more of the many excellent enclosure manufacturers listed on our website. They will be able to provide you with advice and exact information on material choices, color options, configurations, prices, and industry standard adherences.

Types of Plastic Used in Manufacturing Electronic Enclosures

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
Most commonly, ABS is used for manufacturing electronic enclosures, as it performs well within most performance parameters. If impact and chemical shielding are required, ABS is considered as a suitable building material. Given its poor UV resistance, ABS is considered suitable for indoors enclosures but performs poorly in outdoor environments.
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylester (ASA)
When an electrical enclosure is installed at a healthcare, wellness, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, or laboratory facility, Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylester is deemed appropriate, as it can be endowed with anti-microbial properties. ASA provides protection against fungi and viruses, which makes it a major material for electronic enclosures fitted at bacteria-prone areas.
Combination of Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylester and Polycarbonate
ASA is blended with polycarbonates when electrical enclosures need to withstand high temperatures and perform well in impact-ridden environments, such as in warehouses. Moreover, blending ensures that enclosures are resistant to weather, chemicals, and outdoor environments. The combination of polycarbonate and ASA results also in flame resistance. Products made via blending have the highest level of flame resistance and can be extinguished within five seconds on average.
Carbon Neutral Bioplastic
These are new types of plastics and are biodegradable. In different environments, they perform just like ABS but have significantly lower environmental implications. The raw materials used for manufacturing these types of plastics are naturally occurring and are certified biodegradable. This is a food grade plastic that also has application in special soft-case enclosures.
Polyamide (PA)
This type of plastic is preferred when wear-resistant, electrical insulation, and sliding properties are required. However, PA plastics often perform below manufacturing specifications, as they absorb moisture and are affected by acids and alcohols.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate, a part of the polyester family and the most extensively used thermoplastic, is used for making enclosures when durability, thermal stability, and transparency are important factors. Polycarbonate enclosures are installed both outdoors and indoors, as they offer suitable ultraviolet and temperature resistance. However, PC is typically not used independently but in combination with ASA.
Blend of Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
When enclosures are used at sub-zero temperatures, PC is blended with ABS for ensuring temperature resistance and high-impact strength. Enclosures made with PC and ABS are fitted indoors, as these products are also flame resistant up to UL 94 V-0.
Styrene Ethylene Butadiene Styrene (SEBS)
SEBS is used to manufacture weather-resistant and chemical resistant enclosures. It is used for hand-held devices as the plastic is pleasing to human touch.


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ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASES

NEMA vs. IP ratings on Plastic Enclosures

Polycase® offers a variety of plastic waterproof enclosures that offer various NEMA and IP ratings, but what does that mean to you? NEMA is an acronym for National Electrical Manufacturers Association. This organization gives enclosures ratings based on their protective qualities. NEMA ratings specify what type of environmental conditions it can withstand. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed an alternative rating system, the IP standard, which stands for Ingress Protection. There is not a direct correlation between NEMA ratings and IP ratings, as the two systems are based on... Read More About This

Polycase Adds to Low-Cost Waterproof Plastic Electronics Enclosures Series

AVON, Ohio, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Polycase, a US manufacturer of plastic electronic enclosures, has extended their waterproof HD Series by adding a new square-shaped size, the HD-44. The 4.63" x 4.63" x 2.36" polycarbonate electronic enclosure is designed for outdoor applications. With a high-quality silicone gasket seal and UL94V-0 flame rating, the enclosure is competitively priced as low as $7.77 each with no minimum order requirements.   The HD-44 is designed to meet NEMA 4X and IP66 ratings and is available in both gray and black UV-stabilized polycarbonate. The silicone... Read More About This

Polycase Expands NEMA 4X Polycarbonate Enclosure Line

AVON, Ohio, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Polycase, a US manufacturer of plastic electronic enclosures, has extended their NEMA 4X rated ML Series by adding a new size, the ML-45F. The new 5.50" x 4.13" x 2.44" polycarbonate enclosures are designed for outdoor applications and are UL Listed to UL 508A and NEMA Type 1, 2, 4, 4X, 12 & 13 specifications.  With a high-quality silicone gasket seal and UL94V-0 flame rating, the enclosure is competitively priced as low as $10.42 each with no minimum order requirements. Molded... Read More About This

Polycase® Introduces New Size Options for NEMA 4X Plastic Enclosures

AVON, Ohio, July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Offering electrical and electronic engineers more choices for both indoor and outdoor applications, the Polycase NEMA 4X rated WA, WC and WP Series of waterproof electric enclosures are now available in 4 additional sizes featuring molded on surface-mounting flanges.  This brings the total to 84 variations of NEMA compliant electrical enclosures that can be purchased from the product line.  The WA, WC, and WP Series are all UL listed to UL508-4X specifications.    Additional features of the NEMA 4X enclosures include brass... Read More About This

New Plastic Enclosure Size for Your Outdoor Project

New Plastic Enclosure Size for Your Outdoor Project     The new 4.63 x 4.63 x 2.36 inch HD-44FMMT enclosure is now in stock in both black and gray flame- retardant plastic. The HD Series’ UV-stabilized polycarbonate plastic design makes it an ideal choice for outdoor applications. Designed to meet NEMA 4X and IP66 ratings, the HD Series houses a silicone rubber gasket that helps protect against water and dirt penetration. Molded on surface-mounting flanges are standard on the HD Series,... Read More About This

Solutions Direct Now Distributing New NEMA 4X Polycarbonate Enclosure Product Line

The Polyline™ series of injection molded products by industry leader Allied Moulded Products, Inc. is now available on Solutions Direct. The line of enclosures is made of polycarbonate thermoplastic, which is suited for new applications as the characteristics of the material include durability, greater impact strength, and modification for both indoor and outdoor environments. In addition to being an authorized distributer of Allied Moulded’s Polyline™ series, Solutions Direct also offers a line of thermal management products including metal and non-metallic enclosures. The resiliency of the polycarbonate enclosures makes them ideal... Read More About This