Like many companies, here at FDB Panel Fittings we have kept working and supplying from stock with one eye to the future – and the need to restart and rebuild our industrial base. As front-line suppliers of hardware for everything from control systems to medical devices, our team are aware that online/phone ordering and delivery to the customer door are even more important than ever.
The Rocfast service is not new – but has been in strong demand for the way we are able to rapidly configure hardware components including locks of all types. This is especially important when supply of component parts is difficult – so FDB can speed specification, assembly and delivery by using specialist knowledge of the market coupled with long term relationships, to save time, money and mistakes, and to get us all moving more easily when the present situation eases.
Typically the Rocfast system could provide a careful investigation of the specification and supply parameters so that, for example, a suitable assembly of ¼ turn camlock, budget lock or stainless steel lock might be identified – coupled with perhaps a piano hinge or internal weld-on hinges – packed together with a pre-cut length of clip on sealing profile – with packs to be delivered in batch quantities.
Explained our MD Gary Miles “Under the present very difficult circumstances FDB Panel Fittings are delighted that we are able to offer our Rocfast “home delivery” service – a complete specification and logistics package that saves time, money and mistakes by guiding customers through the process of specification, component matching, ordering, assembly, packaging and logistics – direct to site – worldwide.”
This 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. Our 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 the company theme of providing “Panel Fittings for every Enclosure”.
Our FDB 2,11,13 and 21 series from the Online store make up a package of power protection units for use in general industrial purposes such as warehousing, manufacturing, offices, utilities, public services, residential blocks and similar.
These units comprise fully equipped wall mounting steel enclosures housing MCBs, RCDs and RCBOs to varying specifications – see here – ready to install for your specific project.
New DIRAK telescopic cover supports are now available from FDB Panel Fittings for covers and top leaves of industrial control desks, and for side inspection covers of large machines.
These robust supports offer easy to use automatic locking and unlocking functionality integral to the guide mechanism – just lift and release for positive mechanical support while maintaining or adjusting internal equipment. Simply extend and retract 3 cm to automatically lock in place and support the cover, then extend 3 cm and release to close.
The telescopic guides are separately riveted with a locking lever made of stainless steel – giving a retracted/extended length of 215/365mm or 395/695mm.
This sturdy design may be used in RH or LH application – or in pairs for heavy or long desk tops and panels that may require bracing at each end either to support extra weight or to counter flexing of the panel.
We are glad to be able to offer our customers a wide selection of quarter turn lock body housings in sizes from 18mm to 60mm length, with lock cams of 35mm and 45mm length. A quick look at our Rockfast assembly and cam selection guides shows how doors and frames may be matched with depths of up to 103mm. The Rockfast assembly and logistics service then offers a way for our customers to receive locks and cams ready to install, quickly and easily.
Specialist cabinets deserve specialist hinges like these new T5 aluminium profile items in a classic “piano-style” of 60mm, 90mm or 120mm length with spring-assisted operation, which comes in three different levels of force rating.
Clear or black anodized finishes suit industry, office or specialist vehicle situations, or other general environments where their design aesthetic suits the installation. Fixing is by means of 3.5mm dia. pre-drilled holes.
It seems that every company in the UK and beyond is working on a recovery plan – and we at FDB can help – our team of experienced sales/admin people have been working hard to ensure that our customers get all the panel fitting hardware that you need. We have in fact been very busy – perhaps because other suppliers have not been able to support normal service – or perhaps because we try so hard to make customers lives easy!
We believe it is probably because we deal with many major manufacturers and have our Rocfast assembly/logistics package in place, that our team here are so skilled at providing extra-ordinary service, which can support your recovery plan. So whatever your requirements in terms of specialist enclosure or cabinet hardware – or mains power earth protection – please do check out our Online store or contact us direct – we would love to talk to you.
The humble hinge is constantly being developed and upgraded to ensure that specialist enclosure or cabinet makers have the right component whatever the application. A good example is the new Pinet range – in this case their new dual-function 301 Stainless Steel torque/friction variants to help regulate door opening/closing with a torque or friction function.
These 85mm long hinges feature constant torque/friction with temperature stable characteristics in a “gull wing” design which raises the pivot for easier operation. Fixing is by 6.3mm pre-drilled holes, with hinge pins sealed by polyethylene caps.
Our Rocfast lock assembly and logistics service offers a major support to panel builders and other hardware users wherever you are – providing timely support in any recovery plan from the global Covid pandemic – our team here at FDB can streamline your specification and assembly of panel hardware, packed in on-site door kits including hinges and gasket if required, using urgent delivery to your door or worksite. Where you have a multi country business our team can co-ordinate so you can focus on core business and leave the essential hardware to us.
Even the simple and popular rolled knuckle spring hinge now comes with dual-function spring opening assistance, courtesy of the Pinet/FDB Panel Fittings sales partnership. These aluminium hinges in discrete “piano-style” are suitable for industrial applications from workshop to office.
They feature integral spring support which balances the weight for easier operation. Two different force loadings are available to accommodate different door sizes. Drilled and undrilled mounting leaves are offered to enable flexibility of installation.
FDB Panel Fittings have seen that the new DIRAK 90° rod redirect adapter can solve a frequent problem with large doors on electrical or electronic cabinets in industrial applications, by providing five points of closure, or potentially more if required.
Builders of large panels can use these 90° adapters to enable fitment of additional closure points around the door perimeter to ensure uniform gasket pressure, greater security from unauthorised entry and greater rigidity of the cabinet structure, by tying the door and frame more closely together. Each adapter can accept either flat or round rods operated by a central lock such as a swinghandle mechanism or “L” or “T” handle. The adapter can then be fitted with a cam for closure to the frame and a further rod extension to transmit the linear motion to a further latching point.
Multi-point latching of this type is typically of value on switch/control or workstation cabinets in mechanical and plant manufacturing situations, medical device manufacturing or sheet metal fabrication workshops where the enhanced closure characteristics are beneficial, either because of the high amount of dust/water in the environment or because of the priority need to keep the cabinet contents clean.
