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The range of switch applications is vast and ever changing. For manufacturers today, enabling customers to personalise a switch with a variety of add-ons and choice when it comes to an enclosure, including the size, the material used, and the number of switches/devices contained within it, is a must.

The ability to combine multiple devices in one enclosure can save installation time and is useful where space is of a premium, which is often the case in busy production facilities. It can also provide a more cost-effective overall solution. When selecting an enclosure for switches, it is important to understand the environment in which the equipment will be located and what protection is required. In food processing, the dairy industry, or anywhere hygiene is of concern, stainless steel enclosures are often the preferred choice. Not forgetting that where protection against liquids or fine particulate matter is needed, equipment with an appropriate IP rating to match is crucial.

For extremely harsh environments,where equipment may be subject to heavy impacts,e.g., mines,metal enclosures are recommended, or an IK10 rated GRP enclosure may also be suitable. For general industrial applications (e.g., packaging, assembly factories or warehousing) often plastic enclosures are sufficient, however, it may also be necessary to consider UV resistance or protection from chemicals. By factoring in the environmental conditions, equipment size and compatibility, and the appropriate NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) accreditation or IP ratings, a company can select appropriately.

At Kraus & Naimer, flexibility is a core competency. Knowing that every application has unique requirements, the company not only offer standard switches but also tailored solutions for specific needs. The sales team at Kraus & Naimer was recently approached by a customer to provide a bespoke solution for their machine control application. The requirement was for a lockable 20A 2 pole Off-On switch with a momentary start position and spring return to the On position. A signalling beacon was also required, both to be housed in a suitably sized enclosure with a captive hinged lid. The environment where the assembly was to be located  was not particularly abrasive, so an IP65 polycarbonate enclosure was considered suitable.

Although not part of the Kraus & Naimer standard product portfolio, this is the type of requirement that the technical sales and assembly teams are adept at providing solutions for. Utilising one of their high-quality single hole panel mounted 20Amp switches from the CA10 range, the technical team were able to source an appropriately sized polycarbonate enclosure, offering the facility to provide a hinged lid along with the requisite signalling beacon. Once the designs for the assembly were complete, including drawings of the layout of the switch and beacon in the enclosure, the job was handed over to the skilled workshop team to assemble and ship out.

The complete assembly saved the customer time and effort in sourcing their own components and putting the assembly together. They were simply able to mount the enclosure adjacent to the machine, complete the cabling necessary between the machine, the incoming power supply and the signalling beacon with little hassle, safe in the knowledge that the assembly reflected the experience and expertise of the Kraus & Naimer team. With its technical department and workshop based in Newbury, Kraus & Naimer is able to design and supply a variety of customised enclosed control switches & mains isolators, tailored to a customer’s specification and usually on a quick turnaround.