Enclosures for electronic parts are protective cases or housings designed to shield and contain electronic components, circuit boards, and other sensitive equipment. These enclosures serve to safeguard the internal components from external factors such as dust, moisture, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and physical damage.

Product Types of Enclosures:

• Rack & Cabinets: Rack enclosures are tall, upright structures designed to house multiple electronic components, such as servers, networking equipment, and power distribution units (PDUs), in a standardized form factor. They typically feature adjustable mounting rails, ventilation, cable management, and security features. Cabinets provide additional storage space for larger-scale deployments.
• Standard Electrical Enclosures: Standard electrical enclosures are versatile enclosures used in various applications across industries. They come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, such as metal or plastic, and can be customized with cutouts, hinges, and locks. These enclosures provide protection for electrical control panels, power distribution units, and instrumentation devices.
• Enclosures for Industrial Automation: Industrial automation enclosures are designed to house electronic components, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and other automation equipment. They are built to withstand harsh industrial environments, offering resistance to dust, moisture, extreme temperatures, and other environmental factors.
• Enclosures for Single-Board Computers (SBC): SBC enclosures are specifically designed to house single-board computers, such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or BeagleBone boards. These enclosures provide protection, secure mounting, and access to the necessary ports and connectors, allowing for easy integration into various projects and applications.

Mounting Types of Enclosures:

Enclosures can be mounted in different ways to suit specific application requirements. Some common mounting types include:

• Floor Standing: Floor-standing enclosures are large, freestanding cabinets that can accommodate multiple equipment units. They are commonly used in data centers, control rooms, and industrial settings where a significant amount of equipment needs to be housed. 
• Wall Mounted: Wall-mounted enclosures are designed to be affixed to walls or vertical surfaces. They are suitable for space-constrained environments or applications where equipment needs to be mounted at an ergonomic height. Wall-mounted enclosures are commonly used in offices, industrial facilities, and smart home installations.
• Handheld: Handheld enclosures are compact, portable cases designed to hold and protect small electronic devices or instruments. They typically feature ergonomic designs, integrated handles, and provisions for buttons and display interfaces. Handheld enclosures find application in handheld devices, remote controls, and portable measurement tools.

IP Rating for Enclosures:

Enclosures are often assigned an Ingress Protection (IP) rating, which indicates their level of protection against dust and moisture. The IP rating consists of two digits: The first digit represents the level of protection against solid particles such as dust. It ranges from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight). The second digit represents the level of protection against liquids such as water. It ranges from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protection against powerful jets of water or immersion). For example, an enclosure with an IP67 rating is completely dust-tight (6) and can withstand immersion in water up to a certain depth (7).

Application Areas of Enclosures:

Enclosures for electronic parts find application in various industries and domains, including:

• Information Technology (IT): Rack enclosures and cabinets are extensively used in data centers and server rooms to house networking equipment, servers, and storage devices. They provide organization, security, and proper airflow management.
• Industrial Automation: Enclosures for industrial automation are deployed in manufacturing plants, process control systems, and industrial machinery to protect electronic components and control devices from harsh operating conditions.
• Electrical and Electronics: Standard electrical enclosures are widely used in electrical distribution systems, control panels, and equipment enclosures. They provide protection and safety for electrical components and allow for efficient organization and maintenance.
• IoT and Edge Computing: SBC enclosures are utilized in IoT and edge computing applications, enabling the integration and protection of single-board computers in smart home devices, industrial IoT sensors, and edge computing gateways.

Popular Brands that Manufacture Enclosures:

• Hammond Manufacturing: Hammond Manufacturing offers a wide range of enclosures, including rack cabinets, electrical enclosures, industrial automation enclosures, and handheld enclosures. They provide robust and reliable solutions for various industries.
• Rittal: Rittal specializes in providing enclosure solutions for IT infrastructure, industrial automation, and control systems. They offer a comprehensive range of rack enclosures, electrical enclosures, and climate control solutions.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric offers a diverse portfolio of enclosure solutions, including rack enclosures, industrial enclosures, control panel enclosures, and wall-mounted enclosures. They provide reliable and customizable solutions for different applications.
• Altech Corporation: Altech Corporation specializes in electrical enclosures, including standard enclosures, industrial automation enclosures, and terminal enclosures. They offer a wide range of sizes and materials to meet specific needs.
• New Age Enclosures: New Age Enclosures provides a variety of electronic enclosures, including handheld enclosures, wall-mounted enclosures, and custom enclosures. They focus on innovative designs and high-quality manufacturing.

These brands are recognized for their expertise, quality, and wide range of enclosure solutions. They provide reliable and durable enclosures that ensure the protection and integrity of electronic components in various industrial and commercial environments.