The International Protection or Ingress Protection (hence IP) system is quite helpful in this regard where complete enclosures are concerned and one has the luxury of a full testing facility on hand – and the time, to test a completed unit. For specialist panel builders however, life is not quite that simple – generally it involves gathering a selection of components and using the professional skills of fitting and assembly to ensure compliance of the finished installation. Our specialists here at FDB Panel Fittings are pleased to offer locks, latches, swinghandles, gaskets and hinges to meet these requirements and to discuss how they may best be packaged and installed.

The key here, is to gather all components suitably rated so that when they are all assembled together the complete installation can be regarded as meeting the IP level required by virtue of all components being to that level individually and each of them fitted to the same level.

So, whether you are looking for the common specifications of IP55 or IP65 or IP66 or for something else, it is important to source hardware of the same rating or otherwise to carefully consider the implications of a different rating. For example, under specifying is an obvious error since the ingress tests will usually find the weakest point in the housing. However, where protection from vertical rain is required then it may be that a feature such as a canopy and in-setting the door can offset the need for an efficient gasket. Less obviously over specifying may also be an error since it may limit the “natural breathing” of a housing, leading to a build-up of internal moisture trapped by a normal heating/cooling cycle. For this reason, an IP55 cabinet may be specified but then require a drain or heater to deal with internal condensation.

Panel handles are probably the single piece of enclosure hardware that most catches our attention, and consumes our most consideration in researching, specifying and fitting. The great variety of looks, style, performance, robustness, longevity, ease of use, cost, function etc. have given rise to an extensive range of standard handles to suit industrial enclosures and cabinets, including equipment housings, safety guards and access panels.

So we are delighted to offer everything from grab handles to winghandles, T handles to swinghandles, paddle handles to recessed handles and bridge handles to knob locks.

Sealing and security of large enclosures and cabinets pose particular problems for specialist panel builders. This largely depends on the dimensions of the door and the degree of IP sealing or vandal resistance required.

Whereas quarter turn locks on their own, simply fitted with a single cam are perfectly suited to smaller enclosures, when we come to larger panels it is often important to install additional points of closure with their own cams. This is often achieved with a “rod locking system” – this may be operated with a quarter turn lock or a swinghandle where greater force is required for closure or greater resistance is required to counter forced ingress.

Our range of standard rods and accessories is designed to cover such eventualities with ex-stock availability and simple ordering. For custom solutions or flat rod systems then please contact our sales team here.

P type gaskets are a mainstay for the sealing of enclosures, cabinets and industrial equipment of all types where they can be quickly clipped into place for a secure location and seal, to keep out dust and water to a variety of IP ratings. A common application is for doors of specialist motor and rail vehicles.

So we are pleased to have a good selection of standard sections in stock at our Online store, for urgent delivery. We also have the ability to supply custom sections through our team who are intouch with specialist manufacturers.

In addition we can offer other styles of gasket strip and materials including EPDM, NBR, Neoprene, and PVC. Contact us to discuss your gasket needs.

Our Online store now has availability of many stainless steel components in AISI 303, 304 & 316 being suitable for use in adverse environments or for otherwise onerous duty.

Our selection includes quarter turn locks and latches complimented with many cams of varying lengths and offsets, plus swinghandles and hinges both concealed and external. Other novel items include a paddle handle and slam latch, also food grade handles

We continue to advance our Online offering for enclosure and cabinet builders with a selection of hinge technologies designed to improve installation efficiency, durability, and usability across a wide range of applications. Our team has focused on addressing both the mechanical and aesthetic needs of cabinet construction, with particular attention to concealed and externally mounted hinges suited to industrial, commercial, and domestic environments.

These diecast, aluminium, stainless steel and polyamide hinges are manufactured to ensure durability in challenging conditions, including environments where dust or moisture protection is essential. Their compact format suits modern enclosure design, and many have a full 180° opening capability which supports easy access for servicing or equipment integration. These features make them particularly useful in installations where internal space is tight or where multiple cabinets are arranged in close proximity.

A novel development includes cast hinge series offering a robust 180° opening angle. These hinges are designed with secure fitting options, such as traditional screw fixing or innovative push fit technology, which enables installation without the need for tools or visible fasteners. This not only reduces assembly time but also eliminates the potential for loosening due to vibration, making them ideal for use in control panels and electrical enclosures where reliability and speed of access are critical.

In addition to mainstream diecast hinge options, we have introduced a series of concealed stainless steel hinges. These are constructed from AISI 304 grade material, ensuring corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. The concealed format not only supports a clean, flush-mounted appearance for high-specification enclosures, but also offers security advantages by shielding the hinge mechanism from external tampering or forced removal.

Concealed hinges are available in pin and parallelogram formats, offering opening angles between 90° and 180°. They are compatible with both single-door installations and series configurations, and they allow for doors to be removed once opened, which simplifies adjustment or maintenance. Differing types offer the options to be welded, screwed, or bolted into place, which provides flexibility for manufacturers and installers alike.

Together, these hinge systems represent FDB’s commitment to combining practicality with innovation. Whether it is for large-scale industrial cabinets or aesthetically demanding commercial fixtures, These hinge solutions are built to support long service life, secure operation, and ease of use. The inclusion of quick-fit technologies further enhances the value of these hinges by simplifying the installation process and reducing time on site.

FDB Panel Fittings continues to offer a broad range of hinges, latches, locks, and enclosure accessories. Our focus on modularity and easy integration ensures that builders can choose components that align with their exact project requirements, supported by technical guidance and a depth of stock availability from its UK base.

With a strong emphasis on both functional and visual performance, FDB’s hinge systems are engineered to meet the varied demands of today’s enclosure and cabinet manufacturers, offering reliable, elegant, and efficient solutions across the board.

We are delighted to inform that our Online store can make the installation of cabinet hardware simple and efficient by offering a wide range of standard ex-stock cams and rod sets in single, double and triple point configuration. These options enable assemblers/installers to match closure hardware to varying depths of door/frame and sizes of door in order to ensure a proper IP seal, with multi-point rod closure where required. Whether closing a wall-mounted enclosure or a free-standing cabinet then a latching cam of some sort will be required – in the latter case usually a three-point latch is used to enable interfacing with a simple rod locking mechanism, which allows multi-point closure and more even gasket compression. Rods are also available from their Online store in varying lengths from 400mm to 1200mm (with/without rollers) to suit typical cabinet heights.

It is also worth noting that these single/double and triple-point cams may be easily selected and assembled through the FDB Rocfast assembly and logistics program. This program at its simplest provides component information via a tabulated guide which informs re-compatibility. Should a greater level of advice be required then this is offered by phone or email to ensure the correct fit. The Rocfast program also offers assembly at the Panel Fittings workshop plus delivery in custom production packs, if desired they can be packed with other hardware components such as hinges for example.

Here at FDB Online we are pleased to announce this 120 deg. stainless steel hinge, new to our range.

Explains our MD Gary Miles “this is a robust and long-lived hinge suitable for a wide range of enclosure/cabinet sizes and environments, and is readily concealed within a standard 22mm door return. We are delighted that over many years we have accumulated a wide range of ex-stock stainless steel hinges to accommodate the many types of cabinet that may be demanded of specialist builders for light industrial purposes – in offices, workshop or warehouse.”

Concealed hinges in AISI 304 are primarily used for security reasons but also for aesthetics. They find application on enclosure and cabinet doors for industrial use or for office/domestic kitchens or bathrooms. This feature of concealed mounting behind a door return ensures that the hinge is protected from attempts to force removal of hinge pins or mounting screws.

Here at FDB Electrical we have a long history of providing bespoke panels equiped for individual applications. Using components from our wide range we design and assemble custom electrical protection systems for indoor/outdoor situations housed in steel, GRP or stainless steel enclosures to suit harsh environments above and below ground.

Our standard designs are readily adaptable to meet customer’s requirements from our Online store and are also available in a variety of finishes

In addition we offer a technical advisory service to assist with any special applications.