Carrying Cases Industry Information
IQS Newsroom Articles on Carrying Cases
Carrying cases are used by professionals in a range of manufacturing,
business to business and business to consumer industries for the safe
transportation of sensitive equipment. While some carrying cases are
made for standard uses, such as
computer cases,
tool cases and musical
instrument cases,
other cases are made for specialty applications or are custom designed
to suit a specific equipment transit need. Cases are typically
manufactured from one of three materials: aluminum, plastic or
laminated plywood, all of which are considered
hard cases.
Aluminum cases are exceptionally hard, providing superior impact protection as transit cases or shipping cases; rotationally molded
plastic cases
are often manufactured to be water-proof and extremely durable, keeping
sensitive equipment safe even in the harshest of conditions.
ATA cases
are fabricated from laminated plywood with nickel-plated steel ball
corners and hinge hardware according to Air Transport Alliance shipment
case regulations and are frequently used as
shipping cases or as sound and electronic equipment
transit cases. Many of these are considered
waterproof cases, which are completely air tight.
Professionals in medical, telecommunication, industrial, aerospace
& manufacturing industries ranging from traveling businesspeople to
musicians use carrying cases as computer cases, instrument cases, tool
cases, tradeshow cases and transit cases for delicate equipment.
Although ATA cases are used primarily in the sound and music industry,
ATA transit cases were traditionally standarized for airline travel and
shipment, and ATA cases continue to be used as shipping cases and
airline cases for a variety of electronic equipment. Many ATA and
aluminum cases are customized to hold sound boards and other electronic
control panels permanently, with hinged breakaway sections. Aluminum
cases may be small, briefcase-sized or they may be large shipping boxes
designed for carrying sensitive lab microscopes, electronic gaming
equipment, wine glasses or any other type of delicate product.
Rotationally molded plastic carrying cases tend to be used in heavy
duty and industrial settings as shipping cases, tool cases and transit
cases in extreme environments, while blow molded cases provide low to
medium impact resistance as a cost-effective alternative to
rotationally molded cases. Military spec transit cases, also known as
"rack mount cases", are made from ultra-durable plastic or aluminum for
extreme conditions. Capable of being both air and waterproof, rackmount
cases contain an inner frame which is mounted within the exterior with
shocks; this inner frame acts as a replacement to foam padding,
offering superior shock absorption for sensitive equipment protection
over jarring or rocky terrains. Rack mount transit cases protect
equipment from sand, vibration, moisture and other elements in
military, defense, electronics, industrial and medical applications.
Fabrication methods influence the strength, shock absorption and
fracture resistance of a carrying case, and different case materials
offer different benefits. All case types, with the exception of rack
mount cases, are lined with foam padding which may or may not be custom
cut for specific objects. Foam may be open cell or closed cell,
depending on the amount of impact absorption necessary. Aluminum cases
are typically fabricated by drawing before being equipped with
hardware; many aluminum cases are manufactured to be water and air
tight, providing an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and shielding
from electromagnetic interference. Blow molded cases are not optimal
for high impact, rugged applications, although they may provide cost
effective protection in medium to low impact shipping and
transportation. Rotationally molded plastic cases have superior
grainflow strength, and can withstand impressive amounts of pressure
and shock. Some ATA cases do not actually adhere to Air Transit
Alliance regulations, being fabricated similarly but without the same
strength and impact resistance; true ATA adherence cases conform to
strict material and construction regulations, including hardware
material and placement such as steel ball corners and large steel
hinges, laminated paneling and stress testing. Aluminum and rackmount
cases tend to range higher in price, while ATA and rotomolded cases are
mid range.