Instrument cases are tough yet lightweight

Proven in the military arena for safeguarding weapons and communications gear in extreme conditions, IC series instrument cases are now available to commercial, scientific and industrial customers.

Kent-based QED's exclusive readily customisable IC series instrument cases are tough, lightweight, affordable, thermoplastic containers for protecting electronics, instrumentation, communications equipment, tools, demonstration materials and other sensitive or valuable items from shock, drop and vibration when carrying or shipping, as well as withstanding corrosion, dust ingress and temperature extremes.

Developed and proven in the military arena for safeguarding weapons and communications gear in extreme conditions, the IC series is available to commercial, scientific and industrial customers for carrying costly, delicate or irreplaceable portable items in absolute safety.

Typical applications include tool manifests for maintenance staff and mobile service engineers, carrying cases for instruments and analytical equipment deployed in the field, satellite communications hardware for reporters, marine oceanography equipment, electronics gear, essential spares inventories, trade show and product demonstration kits, and one-off prototypes, all of which would be carried, protected and presented better in a customised IC container.

What's more, with unit prices starting from as little as GBP 45, it is an inexpensive and highly professional alternative to an ordinary off-the-shelf case or cardboard container.

The key to QED's unique IC system is a vacuum-moulded thermoplastic, attractive and versatile single-skin case, available in six standard footprint sizes from 285 x 182 to 661 x 458mm, with a choice of base heights.

Aluminium in appearance and made from self-coloured ABS, a material renowned for its outstanding impact strength and chemical resistance, these cases retain their good looks for life and are offered in standard silver, as well as black, green, yellow and blue, with the option of matching to any Pantone shade on limited volume orders.

Traditionally, cases of this class are manufactured with metal rims, which can render the case unusable if it is dropped and the rim buckles.

QED's unique method of construction features an all-plastic rim, with the same resilience and resistance to damage as the main case body, to which is bonded a load-spreading aluminium plate, for attaching handles and other mechanical fixings.

The standard specification includes contoured carrying handles, lockable catches and an IP65 rated seal, for total protection against dust and water ingress.

The hinged lid, in a standard 50mm depth, normally has a moulded inner skin for a neat finish, although it can be fitted with pouches for holding accessories and documents or a convoluted foam inner.

The base can either incorporate a premachined and printed aluminium faceplate, for holding panel-mounted equipment, or a choice of foam cushioning to hold single or multiple items securely, insulate them from temperature extremes and provide protection from mechanical shock, vibration, compression and where necessary static electricity discharge.

Cushioning options include multi-layered polyethylene "pick and pluck" foam, that allows the customer to readily shape cavities to suit the items contained; QED also offers customised CNC-shaped or fabricated foam inners, including self-skinned expanded PE with a sealed semi-gloss finish for wipe clean applications.

Among other extras are a pressure relief valve for an airtight case system, removable or fixed castor sets, heavy duty or webbing handles, turn cam latches, ID plates, embossing and logo printing.

QED provides detailed guidelines for sising up single- and multiple-item cases, taking into account overall size and weight, relative fragility and likely deployment conditions.

Alternatively, customers can send samples or drawings of the items to be carried and QED's specialists will design and produce a customised IC solution, employing 3D computer modelling and integrity testing software.

All cases are entirely thermoformed and fitted out in-house, so the company offers maximum flexibility, fast turnarounds and minimum orders down to a single piece.

The end result is a fitted case that not only protects valuable products, prototypes, sales material, tools and equipment, but also presents them in a highly professional manner.

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