ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
ESSEX BASED IMPORTER
FOREMOST
ONLINE CONFIGURATOR ENABLES CUSTOM
ENCLOSURES TO BE BOUGHT THROUGH DISTRIBUTION
Foremost Electronics, the engineering-
led Essex based importer and specialist
distributor of electromechanical components,
celebrates 30 years of Electronic Component
sales in the UK in November 2019.
Founded in 1989 as a direct importer and
specialist distributor of switches, keypads,
joysticks, connectors and other electro-
mechanical products, they have witnessed
many technology breakthroughs and major
changes to how products are designed-in and
sourced.
One area of particular significance is the
design and supply of enclosures. Standard
moulded plastic and cast metal boxes have
largely been replaced by more aesthetically
pleasing modular enclosures and the world
of industry standard 19” racks has been
transformed.
Industrial control, utilities, instrumentation,
test and measurement, rail and transportation
equipment all make different demands
on enclosures. These include resistance to
moisture, dust and vibration, temperature
control, EMC shielding, cable access, sub-
racks, DIN-Rails and other internal fittings.
As a channel partner for nVent Schroff,
Foremost offers designers access to the
world’s 1st Online 3D Sub-rack Configurator
and Cad File generator.
68
PECM Issue 41
This comprehensive suite of online tools
allows users to configure a bespoke enclosure
and sub-rack simply and quickly using the
intuitive and smart online design tool.
The configuration process is broken down
into stages;
•
•
Rack type and Front Panel – Security and
defense, Advanced Physics, shock and
vibration proof, Test and Measurement,
Audio/video, Broadcast, Mobile and
Stackable
Sub-racks, and card locks and retainers
dependent on application
The resultant custom designed enclosure
provides the user with a proven solution
and all relevant documentation including
30 native CAD files, 2D and 3D drawings and
complete bill of materials (BOM). The BOM
is then simple to order from Foremost. A
demonstration video is available to guide
designers through the process.
The enclosure specified by the configurator
creates files which may be used directly in the
manufacturing process, including 3D printing
if required. Designers can easily modify or
copy a saved configuration and different
project lists can be managed in parallel for
multiple designs.
The process from design to delivery is fully
automated and the manufacturing facilities
are capable of processing the digital data
from the configurator through to delivery
with no human interaction, requiring zero
paper and compliant with industry 4.0.
The final design is issued with a unique part
number which is permanently allocated to
the configuration on all documents.
The design is costed automatically by the
Schroff internal ERP system which can then
generate a quotation or be ordered for direct
manufacture. Enclosures designed using the
configurator are available on the same lead-
time as a standard configured product, even
with custom modifications.
For less demanding enclosure requirements
Foremost Electronics has a micro-site,
enclosures4u giving designers a direct
source to standard cases and more complex
standard, modified and customised
enclosures including the first enclosure
compliant with the embeddedNUC™ standard
which features an innovative “Flexible Heat
Conductor” (FHC) integrated cooling solution
and is compatible with 1U embedded NUC
enclosures.
www.4most.co.uk