Custom Electrical Enclosures for Equipment

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rodneyl

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I was hoping that someone could answer a quick question for me. We are a custom Automated Machinery Manufactuer, and I have a custom designed electrical enclosure (see attached) that we would like to use for both North America (UL) and European (CE) marked equipment. I am having trouble finding enclosure companies that are willing to manufacture such cabinets. We have plenty of Sheet Metal fabricators that can definitely build these enclosure but they do not have listing capabilities.

Questions:
1)Does this custom enclosure design and/or any traditional enclosure require a UL/NEMA listing and/or IP rating sticker in order to be used for our designs? I have seen some of our competitors construct custom enclosures as part of their framework! (I.E. Schubert, Groninger, BluePrint Automation, Etc.)

http://www.gerhard-schubert.com/en/tlm_packing_machines/15

http://www.groninger.de/cosmetics/en/produktionsloesungen/linie.php5?tid=4&lid=10

http://www.blueprintautomation.com/...ondary_packaging/robotics/delta_robot.1.html#
click on View 360 degrees movie

2) Will such design pass a UL field evaluation?
 
I would think you would your enclosure needs to be in compliance with a NEMA standard. I would check their standards for more information.

I am not sure how the process works for a UL listing but it sounds very stringent. I am not sure if anyone can visually determine if your enclosure will pass for fail.
 
Iw ould start with a Hoffman, Cooper B_Line ( use to be Queen) and Rittal Catalogs

Hoffman http://www.hoffmanonline.com/index.aspx?cat_1=1361
Copper B-Line http://www.cooperbline.com/product/ElectricalEnclosures/index.asp
Rittal http://www.rittal.com/
IF you can't find what you need in those three your pretty picky.
There are lots of shops out there that can make them.
IF you can find what you want in the aboves standard catalogs Hoffman use to make custom panels. I don't know if they still do. All it took was mere money.
 
rodneyl said:
I was hoping that someone could answer a quick question for me. We are a custom Automated Machinery Manufactuer, and I have a custom designed electrical enclosure (see attached) that we would like to use for both North America (UL) and European (CE) marked equipment. I am having trouble finding enclosure companies that are willing to manufacture such cabinets. We have plenty of Sheet Metal fabricators that can definitely build these enclosure but they do not have listing capabilities.

Questions:
1)Does this custom enclosure design and/or any traditional enclosure require a UL/NEMA listing and/or IP rating sticker in order to be used for our designs? I have seen some of our competitors construct custom enclosures as part of their framework! (I.E. Schubert, Groninger, BluePrint Automation, Etc.)

http://www.gerhard-schubert.com/en/tlm_packing_machines/15

http://www.groninger.de/cosmetics/en/produktionsloesungen/linie.php5?tid=4&lid=10

http://www.blueprintautomation.com/...ondary_packaging/robotics/delta_robot.1.html#
click on View 360 degrees movie

2) Will such design pass a UL field evaluation?
Click to expand...

A UL type 1 enclosure is pretty easy to come up with. I would think just about any enclsoure that has any Ip rating at all would probably meet those requirements.

As an aside. You can build a subpanel that is UL508a listed that can be placed in an unlisted enclosure.
 
UL has a program by which enclosure manufacturers can build custom boxes. You just have to find one that does. The majors like Hoffman etc. all are capable and most of them are very competitive for OEM products, but smaller companies are sometimes easier to deal with if you are looking for a one-off design. Best place to look for that is in areas of the country where UL listing enforcement is more stringent because there, a custom enclosure mfr cannot survive without it.
 
rodneyl said:
I was hoping that someone could answer a quick question for me. We are a custom Automated Machinery Manufactuer, and I have a custom designed electrical enclosure (see attached) that we would like to use for both North America (UL) and European (CE) marked equipment. I am having trouble finding enclosure companies that are willing to manufacture such cabinets. We have plenty of Sheet Metal fabricators that can definitely build these enclosure but they do not have listing capabilities.

Questions:
1)Does this custom enclosure design and/or any traditional enclosure require a UL/NEMA listing and/or IP rating sticker in order to be used for our designs? I have seen some of our competitors construct custom enclosures as part of their framework! (I.E. Schubert, Groninger, BluePrint Automation, Etc.)



http://www.gerhard-schubert.com/en/tlm_packing_machines/15

http://www.groninger.de/cosmetics/en/produktionsloesungen/linie.php5?tid=4&lid=10

http://www.blueprintautomation.com/...ondary_packaging/robotics/delta_robot.1.html#
click on View 360 degrees movie

2) Will such design pass a UL field evaluation?
Click to expand...

Why re-invent the wheel? Why would you spend resources in area that has nothing to do with the success, improvement and general functionality of the equipment it serves? What is the cost benefit? Manufacturers find that this is not a cost effective way to stay competitive, but focusing on the core of their business and farming out the peripheral solutions is. There would be many panel fabricators and control system integrators who would compete for this business and you won't even have to go overseas. (Oops, forgot you're already there....;-)Not to mention they would already be familiar with the overseas marketing and regulatory issues.
 
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