Do you receive your locks and latches in component form and then need to patiently and carefully assemble them? Do you have the components delivered to your office when it would be so much easier if they were packed in kits and delivered to site for installation?

When you specify locks and latches do you need a variety of body lengths and matching inserts and cams? Do you need some help sorting out the IP protection level you need or how to achieve it?

Would you like some friendly help from our experienced team who offer our Rocfast assembly and logistics service – great because that is what we love to do and you can contact us here by phone or email.

Our experienced team here at FDB Panel Fittings have recently announced this range of enclosure door support stays which form part of our Online offering of ex-stock stays, including telescopic stays. Of particular interest are the 7/25122 Miniature Support Stay in zinc plated steel, which features a star-wheel design for automatic release.

Explained our MD Gary Miles “miniature stays from our sales partners Weston Body hardware are small versions of our standard stays using a section width of 9 mm x 19 mm This makes them less obtrusive and more suitable for confined installations. The ‘star-wheel’ design allows automatic release which is especially useful where two stays are fitted. Applications include electrical cabinets, instrument cases, inspection windows and ski-boxes.”

Each stay extends as door is opened, and locks in the extended position. It is automatically released by a further slight extension, allowing the unit to be closed. Standard brackets fitted are used for plant-on fitting. They are constructed in zinc plated mild steel throughout with length of 152mm (closed) extending to 239mm.

The standard models are representative of a family of stays for top-hinged doors, desk tops and hatches. The stay simply extends as the door or desk top is opened, and locks in the extended position. It may then be released by a further slight extension; this action then allows the unit to be closed automatically.

An important question for any enclosure or cabinet hardware is to understand the finish that is needed, and especially for hinges. Is the hinge going to be welded in place or will it need to be painted in a corporate colour? Then a plain or natural finish is probably what is required to accept the paint directly. Otherwise maybe a plastic hinge will be robust enough and not need finishing at all. For heavier duty external use then perhaps a chrome or powder coated finish supplied from a standard portfolio will suit the need?

When the environment calls for stainless steel then generally a polished surface is all that is needed and can be found in silk or mirror finish.

Ex-stock standard hinges in aselection of finishes are available from our Online store

We recently announced these grab rails and handles, from our sales partner Weston Body Hardware, offering robust construction and simple front fixing with screws. The diecast 250mm grab rail, is complimented with a pair of 190/280mm compatible handles with moulded steel cores and cover plugs for screw head protection/enhanced appearance. They are ideal for machine access, drawers, instruments, doors and general manual handling of industrial equipment.

The Diecast grab rail was especially designed with clean, modern lines in reaction to traditional ‘commode’ style diecast grab handles with thin sections and curved shapes. It is ideal for use as an entry-assist on rear and side doors of trucks and vans, for compressor and engine covers, and on containerised gen-sets. It offers a low profile and wide section for good grip, with no sharp corners or edges. It is fully plant-on, with semi-concealed fixing holes in a black powder-coated finish

The companion 190/280mm handles are moulded in resilient elastomer around steel cores, and have been designed for those applications where great strength is required, while but still offering good appearance and ‘user-friendly’ characteristics.

Here at FDB we specialise in industrial hardware components, so a rugged bow handle to work with heavy loads and gloved hands is not a problem. Equally not all handles look industrial, many look great in the office environment or other public situation. These handles are ideal for drawers, doors, portable equipment, hatches, panels or other furniture that needs manual opening – or carrying.

From our Online site and our sales partner Weston Body Hardware these 3-way rod latches feature an exceptional amount of “throw” in a “deadbolt” configuration. They are suited to applications on specialist vehicles e.g. caravans, trailers, horse boxes, motor homes, van doors etc., also for cupboards, cabinets, machine covers/doors and access panels.

Latches and rods are readily fitted with screws, rivets, or studs and can be operated with a standard taper key or with a square drive handle with/without a cylinder lock in a traditional L or T handle, or other e.g. rotating knob design. The 3-way design features 10 mm dia. rods (adjustable by cutting down) to accommodate many different door sizes and to provide 3-point closure with added security against forced entry and for panel sealing.

Right or Left-handed versions of this latching assembly are available ex-stock from the FDB Online store – where suitable handles are also found. Further help and advice may be obtained online or in person from the highly experienced sales team e.g. regarding applications, fitting or for production line deliveries.

Our Rocfast program of pre-assembled locks saves time, money and mistakes by ensuring that components are correctly matched and assembled – saving time at the ordering, installation and service stages.

The full program can be accessed by contacting our team who will be delighted to guide customers through the process of specification, component matching, ordering, assembly, packaging and logistics – direct to site – worldwide.

The Rocfast program focuses primarily on lock assembly including all major industry brands – and is designed to take the hard work out of an order process that often requires specification of individual lock components and time consuming self-assembly prior to installation. The FDB expert team rapidly identify the optimum specification of components then order, assemble and deliver to site, to workshop or to metal former/subcontractor in line with their theme of providing “Panel Fittings for every Enclosure”.

The Rocfast service includes all ¼ turn favourites with appropriate keys, with IP rated sealing if required, with cams of all types, traditional L or T handles, swinghandles and compression locks as applicable.

We are pleased to announce that our Online store now offers many “spanner locks” ex-stock for industrial applications. These locks feature internationally recognised operating keys based on a tool, spanner or coin and so are widely referred to as “spanner locks”

Spanner locks of this type come from the FDB Panel Fittings ROCFAST range and may be matched to standard cams of different off-sets to suit varying depths of frame/door, and of many lengths to suit frame widths with differing door/frame overlaps.

This Surface-Mount Slam Latch Set with inside safety release is widely used for large-size insulated enclosures, such as cold stores or containerised units, where a surface-mounted latch is preferable to avoid breaching the integrity of the door.

With slam action against a roller striker, this system can be used on doors flush-fit against the frame. There is a Glow-In-The-Dark inside safety “punch” handle for emergency release.