Our fantastic team at FDB  pulled all project strings together to successfully deal with a Middle East based enquiry from a client requiring locks for 18,000 galvanised steel boxes designed to house water meters. The specification called for a securing of the enclosure door with a plastic clip-in, quarter-turn latch – simple to fit and, bearing in mind the quantity, relatively low in cost.

However, the enclosure manufacturer sought guidance from us and, says team leader Terry Cantle,  “We felt that the proposed plastic latch would be unsuitable for the service conditions that were likely to be encountered by the boxes.” Therefore a small but extremely robust diecast lock with steel cam was suggested for evaluation by the client. “In order to stay within the budget constraints we proposed that the lock be supplied zinc-plated rather than its usual chrome-plated finish.” We then supplied sample locks to incorporate into the prototypes and subsequently to gain the approval of the client to proceed.

The team then set to addressing the logistical supply chain problems to meet the short timescale required as the box manufacturer had been given only three months to complete the contract and, with a fixed completion date in place had set up additional facilities in order to meet the production schedules. “There could be no slippage on delivery of the locks as twelve, 40 foot containers had been pre-booked for the shipment” explains Terry.

We began to deliver at the required rate of 1500 locks a week but after four weeks increased this to 2000, thus facilitating completion of the contract in ten weeks. As the delighted manufacturer stated: “We invested a considerable amount of time and money in planning and producing the enclosures at the required rate so it was vital that the supplier of the locks was able to keep up with the schedule and FDB did not let us down.”

In the world of enclosure hardware we have always focused on the main areas of enclosure locks, hinges, handles and gaskets – and have recently added mechanical combination locks and digital code entry locks. Our hinge offering has also been supplimented with glass door hinges, decorative and heavy duty hinges – so that now we are confident that in the Panel Fittings world we can offer something for everybody and are one step nearer to our aim of having “panel fittings for every enclosure”!

We have really got into the spirit of the Jubilee celebrations – see our newsletter with news about cable management and a great new lock for very low temperature use.

Our ‘slimline’ compression latches are ideal for a wide range of applications including vehicle conversions, flight cases, enclosures and cabinets.

Manufactured in robust diecast construction and with an adjustable grip range, these low-cost latches are available in locking and non-locking versions to suit the installation

We also offer a range of double-action, quarter turn compression latches to provide positive compression of the door seal in order to prevent ingress of moisture. These are available with a choice of keys or handles.

Our new Type 1414 camlock has been designed especially to be capable of withstanding exposure in the harshest environments for use in any environment that may be exposed to the elements; specifically roadside cabinets, communications pods, cable pillars and commercial vehicle security.

Consequently it has been tested and proven at temperatures as low as -40°C. In exacting controlled trials the product also withstood 1000 hours of salt spray environment exposure.

The Type 1414 is a ten-disc, single entry device offering high levels of security with 2000 differs as standard. A shuttered keyway keeps the damp out, whilst the lock mechanism offers a smooth and positive feel. 
Contact us for further details on this exciting new item – click here for details of our full range of camlocks and spanner locks.

Cable management accessories are a vital part of any rack installation in order to maximise performance and lay the basis for many years of reliable service so we are delighted that our new range of cable management devices enable optimised installation as they provide organisation, management and protection of cables housed inside cabinets in datacentres and telecommunications rooms. As the demands placed on systems continue to increase, establishing a good managed cable infrastructure will allow for easy system changes, scalability and reduced maintenance costs. Contact us for details.

To ensure maximum network performance this new range of innovative, space saving, engineered plastic products provide: proper bend radius, elimination of sagging, reduction of pinch points, ease of installation and protection of cable integrity. They are available in a variety of styles and sizes, all featuring quick, easy and tool-less installation.

For example, cable guides and cable tie bases create a proper bend radius to ensure cable performance, organise cables so they can be easily traced for moving, adding and changing. Their snap-in fixing is ideal for upgrades or new installations in vertical or horizontal layouts where they create a clean professional look while saving space and cost.

The range features self-installing without the use of tools or additional hardware for quick and easy fitment in standard 9.5mm square cut-outs as found in 19” racks. They are also available for 12.7mm square cut-outs. For further information on these new items please contact us to discuss your requirements with one of our experienced sales team.

To meet the ever increasing demand for high quality, corrosion resistant panel hardware suitable for the marine, chemical and food processing industries, we are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of locks, hinges, handles and accessories manufactured from Grade 303, 304 or 316 stainless steel (according to product specification).

The Rocfast brand here at FDB is expanding with this comprehensive range of toggle latches – or over-centre catches as they are sometimes called. These toggle latches have the advantage of being “quick release” but with the added benefit of not extending into the case or equipment being fastened.

The new range offers the user a wide choice to suit most industrial applications; for everything from simple containers, tool boxes, industrial canisters, banding and cladding applications, to sophisticated medical and marine equipment.

Rocfast toggle latches are manufactured from either cold rolled steel or stainless steel, and feature many options including adjustable, vibration proof models to provide gasket pull up, key lockable and padlockable types and some with a secondary locking feature to prevent accidental unlocking.

Naturally they are complemented by a wide variety of matching strike plates as well as straight or curved links, while integral springs are also available on selected styles for their anti-vibration characteristics. Contact us for details or to order.

For the marine contractor tasked with fitting out a Bahamas based ferry there was the little problem of a glitch in the supply chain – with a need for a complete fit of special cabinet locks for the personal storage areas – and the locks had to be on board in two days.

Fortunately this is exactly the sort of situation that we are able to deal with and were able to search our large stock of similar cabinet fittings to find the correct type and quantity of locks, with master key and zone locking facility. Once located it was then a matter of organising transport logistics by air to Miami and onward to the Bahamas in time for the ship’s maiden voyage. Exceptional service and Mission Accomplished!