These new DIRAK over-centre toggle latches offer a high retaining force with low manual effort, simply by tightening two spring loaded components together and locking them: This is what the clip-on PA Over Center Toggle Latch 6-240 provides, plus tool-less installation. The stainless steel variant 7-320 with push button unlocking is also said to be very impressive and the latch 7-320.01 features an additional spring clamp.

Over-centre toggle catches of this type are useful for enclosure doors, machine access panels, equipment housings, packing cases and other similar applications where low cost with rapid operation and firm closure are required. In particular the 6-240 Polyamide (PA) Secure toggle latch saves time and assembly costs with clip-in toolless assembly to provide secure clamping via the over-centre mechanism which offers a max. closing force of 250N. When used on sheet metal thicknesses from 1.2 to 3mm assembly is a simple three step process:

1. Guide the closing hook and the latch under the door panel and clip them in place.
2. Hook the latch into the closing hook.
3. Press the latch down and tighten it.

7-320 and 730.01 in stainless steel offer attractive aesthetics combined with vibration-proof operation and quick push button release – a padlockable version is also available for situations where additional security is required. Contact us for further information.

We now offer Gasket, Sealing profiles, window sealing and associated accessories for virtually all industrial applications. A selection of commonly used profiles in a variety of materials is available ex-stock for urgent delivery from our Online store. 

For other requirements such as where electromagnetic compatibility is necessary, we can also supply special profiles with EMC/RFI shielding in combination with water and dust sealing.

Custom profile profiles are also possible to suit specialist designs or for more complex applications.

For further information, refer to our Knowledge Base article KB01.1

Snapline products from our sales partner DIRAK have been developed using their D-Snap technology in order to fit pre-punched locations with a simple push fit. The range includes quarter turn locks and matching hinges that provide robust fixing suitable for enclosures and cabinets – a selection is available ex-stock from our Online store for urgent delivery. A range of other Snapline components are also available including swinghandles – for details please contact us.

We are aware of the increasing popularity of stainless steel as the go-to material where an application calls for robust strength and corrosion resistance so our Online store now carries a selection of ex-stock enclosure hinges in this material. We are pleased to offer blind fixing hinges, also weld on hinges and versions with removable hinge pins to facilitate easy door removal, along with conventional countersunk screw fixings – all ex-stock for rapid delivery.

2-3% of cars are presently electric with a government mandate that no new petrol or diesel cars may be sold from 2030. A major factor is the problem of range anxiety and long journey negative experiences with the existing infrastructure that are exerting constant pressure to achieve a charging infrastructure to compare with petrol and diesel. We can compare this with the early days of internal combustion when fuel was only available in jars from a Chemist.

As electric cars become more widely used, the network of e-charging stations is therefore continuously expanding. Currently it is reported that there are only 42000 public charging stations in the UK with some 94 cars per single fast charging point. This is a fast-growing landscape of housings that require a robust latching solution to reliably protect the power connections of the charging poles to the associated equipment and to ensure suitable protection against the weather and vandalism.

Charging stations for electric cars are located largely in publicly accessible outdoor areas where they are exposed not only to the effects of weather, but also to vandalism. To protect these housings which are so important for the infrastructure against this kind of damage, the switch cabinets should be securely locked. Handles have been developed for this purpose that meet the requirements of resistance class RC2 similar to DIN 1630 and are thus able to withstand vandalism damage by opportunists.

However, there is no requirement that e-charging poles in line with RC2 have to be locked. Thus, many other swinghandles and latches are also suitable. It is important to use a latch with a profile cylinder to make certain it is not too easy to break into the charging station. If several groups of persons need to have access, for example two different service providers, we recommend a double cylinder swinghandle with pivotable operating lever.

Sturdy Material is clearly required for this application and it has been found that latching solutions made of powder-coated zinc die or stainless steel have proven to be effective. These materials offer protection against the weather and are so sturdy that it is difficult for opportunistic vandals to break open or saw through the latches.

The same applies to hinges in these applications where concealed hinges inside the housing are recommended. That means opportunistic vandals are frustrated as they are unable to see where the hinges are fitted.

The nice thing about an L or T handle is that your hand goes easily to it and naturally knows which way to turn – then with the integral, quarter turn function everyone can see the status of the lock – with a suite of cabinets one can see at a glance if one of them is unlocked. In addition they offer substantial leverage for rod systems which require a lot of force to ensure gasket pull down.

The team here at FDB Panel Fittings are pleased to announce an innovative new series of leveling feet from Dirak for machines, instruments, conveyor systems, work tables, furniture, and fluid process equipment. They feature flexible modular design with standard hexagonal screw and optional anti-slip insert which also absorbs vibrations and protects the floor against abrasion.

These new leveling feet offer equipment installers a functional and flexible design using standard hex headed metric screws, this design makes it possible for customers to select the height of their installation on site by use of a standard hexagon screw to DIN 933/ISO 4017. This advanced innovation not only simplifies and improves storage capacity, but also enables a wide range of variants – with just one product.

These Leveling Feet are available in sizes from 30mm to 83mm to suit hex headed screws of M6/M8/M10/M12/M16/M20 and come with a non-slip foot insert for use on otherwise slippery floors. Typically, they find appication on uneven floors when attempting to set up machines or furniture precisely. To use only one version of leveling foot would offer limited adjustment possibilities so in order to achieve exact results, different height screws are often required – this is a situation easily remedied with different length standard bolts.

The all-new design uses a larger than normal ball that increases the area of contact between the components of the Leveling Foot, and thus the force that can be absorbed by the product. The force is directed downward, not to the sides, thanks to a unique design of the base plate—protecting the plate from breaking due to horizonal load.

A feature of this new design is that the base plate of these articulated feet can be designed smaller relative to the load. This space-saving method makes it possible to mount the Leveling Foot closer to the edge of equipment, which is especially advantageous for housings that stand next to each other.

Our friends at DIRAK recently mentioned that their PA hinges for nested doors offer many advantages: If you need a hinge with high load capacity, they recommend variant 4-400. Does it need to lift-off? No problem they explain with variant 4-402. It can also be fastened very easily with M5 screws or rivets. Hinge 4-401 offers an economical and lightweight variant. See the advantages for yourself in this video!

At a time when the need for cost savings and time savings are more important than ever, we are pleased to inform that our Rocfast customer service program saves time, money and mistakes by guiding engineers and buyers through the process of specification, component matching, ordering, assembly, packaging and logistics – direct to site – worldwide.

The FDB 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.

As well as supplying standard latch inserts Panel Fittings can also supply handle inserts, turning a standard quarter turn into a handle. This includes T-Handles, L-Handles, Star Knobs and Wing Knobs in various styles. Also, for locks used in dusty environments they advise that they can supply dust caps and finger pulls for easy opening of panels.

Complimentary accessories include serrated lock washers for applications where the securing nut may become loose, and earth (grounding) nuts which have sharp protrusions intended to cut through the painted coating on the metalwork to provide a good electrical connection.

Our Rocfast assembly service provides specifiers with a quick and simple means of getting the exact quarter-turns they need, to the specification they choose, pre-assembled and delivered on time. There are so many combinations however that the part number selection can seem daunting, so they provide a guide which has been designed to explain how to select the correct product code and to showcase the wide range of options available.

For example, a standard code of ECC8T/24 includes the following components: – the first three letters of the code determine the materials/finish of the lock assembly. e.g., ECC denotes that the lock is zinc die, chrome plated, with other options shown.

Insert Type is covered by the next two characters which determines the type of insert used to operate the lock. e.g., 8T denotes an 8mm triangle insert with all available inserts also shown.

Cam Height: The last code determines the cam style and cam height for the lock, (the distance between the front of the door to where it latches) e.g., 24 denotes a 45mm length cam with a height/bend of 24mm. Shorter 35mm long cams, along with 2 and 3-point cams are also available.

Customers can then go through a four-step process – Pick your housing – Pick your insert – Pick your cam – order the fully assembled lock.