Electrical enclosures are an essential part of any manufacturing plant floor. However, sometimes the standard enclosures available on the market are not a perfect fit for a facility’s specific application. Customizing an enclosure to meet specific requirements may be necessary in these cases.
In 2021, CBT acquired a ModCenter by nVent HOFFMAN, a large, automated CNC machine able to produce customized cutouts in a fraction of the time compared to manual cutting. Chase Hering, Inside Sales Electrical Products Specialist and ModCenter Manager, says the ModCenter provides excellent value.
“We use this tool as a service to provide a quicker turnaround as opposed to alternative methods, such as the customer attempting to do the modifications themselves,” Hering explains.
The ModCenter can operate on enclosures as large as 86 by 86 inches, with the measuring and cutting completed through an automated process. The ModCenter also has a variety of uses and can slice through several distinct types of material, including stainless steel, mild steel, and plastics.
“It is suited to serve several applications,” Hering explains. “We can modify a mild steel enclosure in an hour, whereas that same cutout in stainless steel would take about three to four hours. This is much quicker than a manual cut, which may take upward to a full workday or more.”
While changes can be completed by hand, the ModCenter provides advantages.
“For one, stainless steel material will be strenuous to cut through, and two, if there is an error, the enclosure is rendered useless and will have to be replaced by the customer,” Hering says. “This machine is safer too because it eliminates the risk of a person injuring themselves.”
When Hering is contacted with a ModCenter request, he gives the customer a quote using a series of calculations considering the cut, quantity and size. After receiving a purchase order, Hering begins completing the request.
A ModCenter customer, an original equipment manufacturer and machining company in Ohio, says the machine saved the company valuable time.
“Having a one–stop shop and being able to send a print to get a modified enclosure back has been a significant benefit for us. Modifying enclosures has always been a service we provide customers, but never one we enjoyed doing or could easily do. It is nice to be able to still provide that service but now without the headache,” a company representative said.
While the usual order takes three to five days, the result is always quicker and cheaper. nVent HOFFMAN estimates the ModCenter saves about 75% in monetary cost and time compared to manual cuts.
“Sometimes the lead time with other service providers can take anywhere from 80 to 100 days,” Hering says. “This is the best option when compared to other alternatives.”
WATCH: Time Lapse Comparison of Man vs. Machine Cuts
Need a custom enclosure modification soon? Contact Chase today!
