Laminate Cases
At ECM we offer a wide range of laminate case products to suit your equipment and/or budgetary requirements. The range of laminate case construction methods and materials used by ECM is extensive.
Panels
Laminate panels are available in a wide array of colours and usually consist of an ABS, fiberglass or aluminum sheet bonded to a plywood panel. The majority of our laminated cases are constructed with, but not limited to the materials listed below:
| Material | Sheet Thickness Available |
|---|---|
| Smooth or textured fiberglass laminate | 0.125” /0.25” / 0.375” / 0.50” / 0.75” |
| ABS laminate | 0.125” / 0.25” /0.375” / 0.50” / 0.75” |
| Aluminum laminate | 0.125” / 0.25” / 0.375” / 0.50” / 0.75” |
| High-pressure phenolic laminate | 0.25” / 0.375” / 0.50” / 0.75” |
| Polypropylene tri-laminate | 0.25” / 0.375” / 0.50” |
Note – Other panel options are available for specialty applications, please contact us for more information.
WE ARE READY TO BUILD, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
Each project is taken with the same care as we would put into our own.
Construction Methods
RIVETED
Break-stem blind rivets are the standard fasteners on all of our heavy duty cases because they are strong, reliable and facilitate field repairs with simple hand tools. In addition, we use only rivets that exceed the Industrial Fastener Institute’s IFI-114 specification for shear and tensile strength.
STAPLED AND GLUED
Cases are constructed with our proprietary staple and glue extrusion. This is a thinner extrusion that enables us to attach the laminate panels to the extrusion with 7/32” narrow crown staples and premium grade construction adhesive. The end result is a lighter and less costly case solution for your equipment.
STAPLED
Cases are constructed using the same methods as above, with the exception of the use of construction adhesive. This method does not require the use of adhesive as it is usually for extremely lightweight equipment, therefore, the adhesive becomes an unnecessary expense.
By understanding these options you can make an informed choice as to the best method for your application and/or budget. For example, if you are having a case built for your personal use that will never be shipped via courier, you may want to go with stapled construction which is going to be lighter and less expensive than our riveted construction.
EXTRUSIONS
Aside from the laminate itself, aluminum extrusions are perhaps the most important component of a case shell. The strength and rigidity of these extrusions has a direct relationship to the overall strength of the shell. Unsatisfied with the stock extrusions that are commercially available; ECM has multiple proprietary custom aluminum extrusions manufactured to our own specifications.
LIDMAKER EXTRUSIONS
Instead of a lid comprised of separate side panels and multiple extrusions, lidmaker combines all components in one strong, compact extrusion. Lidmaker attaches to the top panel and maximizes useable area inside the case itself with the added benefit of reducing cost and weight. Our proprietary lidmaker extrusion is stronger than standard commercially available types. We also have a unique extrusion designed for .50" laminate for heavy duty cases and racks.
TYPICAL LAMINATE CASE CONFIGURATIONS
| Heavy Duty | Medium Duty | Light Duty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel Thickness | 0.75”/0.50”/0.375” | 0.50”/0.25” | 0.25”/0.125” |
| Panel Material/Laminate | Wood/ABS, Wood/ Aluminum, Hexagrip | Wood/ABS, Wood/ Aluminum, PolyPro | Wood/ABS, PolyPro |
| Hardware | Recessed | Recessed or surface | Surface |
| Interior Foam | Etha | Etha or polyurethane | Polyurethane |
| Construction | Riveted | Stapled and glued | Stapled |
| Extrusions | Heavy-duty | Regular (ECM special gauge) | Regular (ECM special gauge) |
