Changing trends in enclosure design and specification

Phil Black - PII Editor 21/05/2014

93 3 minutes read

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One of the consequences of globalisation and the new age of technology is that even SMEs are now competing on a global scale. This global economy has increased competition which is great for consumers who can now demand high quality, low cost solutions or look elsewhere. But, what does this mean for OEMs and design engineers? How have the pressures of operating on a global market affected their demands and requirements on component manufacturers?

Chris Lloyd, Managing Director of Spelsberg ELS, explains the changing market trends in enclosure manufacture, supply and demand.

It”s probably fair to say that over the last decade almost every industry has undergone a massive upheaval. We”ve had the rise of the internet – including new forms of commerce, communication and mobile technology – and one of the biggest financial disasters in living memory. This has led to changes in attitudes across the board and a dramatic shift in market trends; one of the most interesting trends that we”ve noticed, as an electrical component supplier, is the increased perceived value in personal, face-to-face service. To understand the latest market trends within our industry its best to first understand the demands of our customers.

The methods of researching and ordering components nowadays are a world away to how they were just ten years ago. It”s possible to look for a product while on-site using your tablet; order it over the internet; and expect delivery (from anywhere in the world) within just a few working days. This means that OEMs and designers have a great deal more flexibility when ordering their product, so they expect to be able to find a solution which is perfectly suited to their needs.

However, there is also increased pressure from most financial departments to keep costs low throughout the design and specification stage in order to keep the finished product competitive. Not only must component suppliers offer a flexible range of products which can be trusted to operate reliably, they must also offer real value to their customers. While this may sound like a list of impossible demands, the fact is that, on the whole, the market in the UK is rising to the challenge. This is leading towards a new trend of “solutions based” service rather than product supply.

Traditionally the enclosure market was about selling space – an empty box in which to house electrical or electronic equipment. Customers expected a good selection of enclosures to choose from which they could specify based on dimension, IP rating, durability etc. Once they had found the correct enclosure, our job as supplier was to deliver it, and that was all. However, as it”s now possible to order cheap components from China and other developing nations it”s important that premium European brands, like Spelsberg, differentiate themselves and add value to their service.

While product development should still be high on the list of priorities for any premium manufacturer, it can no longer be the only focus. Taking Spelsberg for example, we offer over 4,000 standard enclosures and each year work hard to expand this range based on the demands of our customers. However, we are also directing significant investment into our customisation and assembly capabilities, trying to make sure that we are able to answer the specific demands of any end-user that approaches us from any industry in the world.

In the UK we have invested in larger Headquarters which not only offer twice the warehouse space, to keep delivery times low, but also a dedicated CNC machining area – with three CNC machines – and an assembly line. Rather than just selling our customers boxes with empty space from our standard product range, we work with them during their design stage to offer a bespoke service. We are then are able to customise the enclosure to meet their demands and even pre-install it prior to delivery. This helps to reduce the end-user”s production and assembly costs and keeps them competitive within their market.

Of course this level of service is only possible with a sales team on the ground that understands the products being sold and the markets being sold into. We”ve found that OEMs and designers don”t want to buy from a walking catalogue, but someone with firsthand experience of design and specification who can advise on the best path to take for their application. Ironically, in an age defined by global availability and tighter budgets, the overwhelming trend within our industry is for a personal service with value added options available.

Of course, it”s still important that a company offers a wide range of standard products at the touch of a button, and that these products are then delivered to the shortest lead time possible. However, in an increasingly global world there is no denying that a professional, yet personal service, offers reassurances of quality and reliability.