Attributed to Chris Lloyd, Managing Director, Spelsberg els UK Ltd
To develop an industrial enclosure that achieves a seamless user experience requires an in-depth process at its foundation. To prioritise competing requirements and realise them through design and manufacture relies on a collaborative approach that spans multiple disciplines. This organisational framework is important to not only deliver safe and secure enclosures, but also to inspire new, sustainable possibilities.
Chris Lloyd, Managing Director at Spelsberg UK, discusses the importance of organisational ethos to achieve the right enclosure solutions.
When an end user interacts with an enclosure, whether they are a machine operator, a farmer, or a member of the public, they shouldn’t have to think about it. Whatever the enclosure’s protecting, it should provide seamless access while ensuring safety for the user, as well as securing the item within from whatever the external elements present. Similarly, for the electrical installer or OEM working with the enclosure, the housing must give them confidence that it will safely and securely do its job.
Achieving this level of safety, both for those who interact with the enclosure, as well as for the item its protecting, is represented by high levels of ingress protection, impact resistance, and electrical conformance. Depending on the environment, these enclosures should also prevent degradation through corrosion or chemical exposure. This makes design a critical aspect of enclosure manufacture.
Safe
At Spelsberg’s headquarters in Germany, development into the materials and design of enclosures places safety at the forefront. Yet this fundamental requirement is accompanied by the need to fulfil a range of additional user demands, including ease of access for electrical installers – as well as simplicity of integration for design engineers. It can also mean considerations on aspects such as external aesthetic qualities, or even dedicated features to suit the environment, such as anti-condensation venting.
While the R&D team are tasked with designing and testing enclosures, ensuring that all customer needs are prioritised and realised relies on a cohesive approach across the company. Input on enclosure development spans multiple departments in the value chain, each inspired to contribute: from sales engineers and service technicians in regular contact with customers, through to lab technicians testing new materials. To reinforce this process, Spelsberg has developed short channels of management and communication, arriving at quick decision-making and fast feedback on iterative development. This means continual improvement, quickly bringing updated products to market.
Inspiring
This ethos of autonomy spans the organisation and extends to local level, meaning that Spelsberg UK can quickly provide domestic customers – and those in Ireland – with the specific designs they need to meet application requirements. From the foundation of high strength, lightweight polycarbonate enclosures, engineers at Spelsberg UK can design and manufacture customised products, including CNC machining, as well as on-enclosure printing.
As well as serving the key needs of an industrial base, this freedom in bespoke design has inspired customers in the UK across a diverse range of projects, from monitoring devices for the protection of bees, through to protecting equipment on off-road racing buggies. Whatever the application, the opportunity for design engineers to discuss their needs in person with an enclosure designer makes the process straightforward and gives them an accurate understanding of what can be achieved.
Yet answering specific application needs with a tailored approach cannot afford to take excess time. In-house enclosure sampling can be provided within 24 hours, enabling a production run of tailored units that can be produced within days. Not only does this maintain accountability with just a single supplier, but it’s a significantly faster service than outsourcing design, CNC, or printing services. The UK site includes a large stock of enclosures on site, which is replenished from the Germany HQ on a regular basis.
Green
In today’s market place, quickly providing high performing enclosures isn’t enough. A sustainable future is based on trusted partnerships, and that includes the relationship we have with the environment.
Spelsberg’s green approach is demonstrated through key practices in manufacturing and operations, most notably the removal of harmful substances within materials. Using resources sparingly, the company adheres to a waste hierarchy approach, prioritising avoidance, supported by recycling and reuse. For example, enclosures like the i 12-L GreenLine junction box are made from 90% post-consumer recycled plastic. This commitment is underpinned with the DIN EN ISO 14001 environmental management system certification.
To give the end user a seamless experience that they don’t have to think about, this requires an integrated approach to the entire operation behind the development and supply of industrial enclosures. Safe. Inspiring. Green: these are three words that not only sum up Spelsberg’s approach, but that form a guiding principle that should apply to the development of any industrial enclosure.
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