When most people think of a protective case, the most common response is a Peli moulded waterproof option, or a custom-built flight case. And these are admittedly great choices for a huge range of uses / scenarios.
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What this does mean however is that another form of case &#; those manufactured from aluminium &#; are frequently overlooked.
Doing so would be a mistake, however.
Aluminium cases actually boast a wide range of features and inherent properties that can make them much more suited to certain industries or applications than other forms of protective case.
This guide sets out 13 sometimes surprising (and often overlooked) benefits associated with using aluminium cases. Please continue reading below or use the table of contents to jump directly to your area of interest.
Before highlighting the key benefits of aluminium cases, it is first important to give a brief overview of the aluminium cases available.
Whilst there a number of well-known manufacturers of aluminium cases &#; including Bott and Maxado &#; arguably the name most commonly associated with these types of containers is Zarges.
Also well know for manufacturing ladders and work platforms, Zarges offer a wide range of alu case options. This includes the widely used K470 and Eurobox ranges (with the main difference between these being the use of metal or plastic components for handles, stacking corners etc.).
One of the key benefits of choosing an aluminium case is that they are exceptionally lightweight, whilst remaining strong and rigid.
For example, the Zarges aluminium cases such as the Eurobox and K470 ranges boast a density of approximately 2.6 to 2.8 grams per cubed cm. Whilst that is only about a third of the density of steel, aluminium maintains a high strength to weight ratio.
Being lightweight makes aluminium cases ideal if transportation costs (due to weight &#; e.g. on aircraft) is an important consideration, or indeed if heavy or bulky items are to be kept in the container. It also makes handling easier too.
Aluminium is vapour impermeable, ensuring that moisture cannot seep or diffuse through the surface of any cases manufactured from it.
Besides this, and more generally, the welded construction of the majority of aluminium cases also means that they are resistant to water vapour. Cases of this type are often coupled with a foam (or similar) seal in the lid, also protecting against rain and being splashed.
This makes aluminium cases a great choice for applications such as transporting sports training equipment (moisture cannot get in or out) and has seen them used extensively by sports teams including all Premier League football clubs.
A common misconception about aluminium cases is that they will rust if they come into contact with water. In fact, the surface of the aluminium will oxidise, with this layer of oxide actually protecting the case from any further damage or corrosion.
As a result, aluminium trunks and containers are highly resistant to sea and saltwater, making them suitable for use in industries such as offshore oil and gas, military / naval applications, and for individuals when yachting, sailing, fishing or using in coastal environments.
Unlike moulded plastic cases, aluminium will not be affected in any way by prolonged exposure to UV rays.
The material will not degrade in terms of colour, appearance or surface lustre if exposed to the sun over any time period (although other atmospheric elements, for example dust, may have some minor impact).
This makes aluminium cases, such as those manufactured by Zarges and Bott, a great choice if they are to be used in hot climates.
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Many people will underestimate the strength of aluminium (often due to its light weight). However, aluminium and the cases manufactured from it actually offer considerably better fracture toughness than the majority of other materials used for producing protective cases.
Aluminium cases therefore are typically resistant to impacts, mechanical breakage, and fracturing. In effect, it means that the material will not easily stress, tear, or crack.
Whilst aluminium cases will see their surfaces dented upon extreme impact, the force of this will be completely absorbed by the deformation caused. This obviously offers a good level of protection for any contents within the case, ensuring they are protected from such impact.
As a result, aluminium cases are frequently used in industrial settings and construction projects to protect tools, equipment and heavy-duty components.
As well as an option for protective cases, aluminium is often used in heat sinks and heat exchangers due to the materials&#; high thermal conductivity.
This has benefits for protective cases too. For example, the aluminium walls of the case efficiently transport heat away from any devices, electronics and other specialist equipment that are stored within.
In a similar vein, aluminium also has a high light reflectivity of over 80% (including to radiated heat such as sunlight).
These properties mean that aluminium cases are commonly used for housing electronics (such as the Zarges Mitraset range) as well as the safe transit of lithium batteries.
As aluminium cases are a good conductor of electricity, as well as heat, it makes them perfect for protecting electronics equipment, static sensitive devices and most modern computers and electrical equipment.
In fact, aluminium has the highest electrical conductivity-to-weight ratio of any metal. This means that aluminium cases are excellent for RFI / EMI shielding alongside controlling ESD (electro static discharge).
As mentioned in the previous point, as aluminium is also non-magnetic and an efficient reflector for externally generated interference (such as electromagnetic wavelengths of radio and radar) it further enhances its suitability for use in electronics equipment cases.
Please note however that this level of protection may not be sufficient for certain equipment or tools, but with the inclusion of anti-static foams can often provide the required protection.
When coupled with the other key benefits provided, such as strength and protection from moisture, it has seen many specialist organisations specify Zarges and similar aluminium cases to protect their important electronics equipment when in transit or on location.
Yet another key benefit of aluminium is its hygienic nature. The smooth surfaces mean that aluminium cases are very easy to keep clean, whilst ensuring that they do not retain odours from the environment either.
This, alongside the resistance to moisture, is one of the main reasons aluminium &#;kit skips&#; are chosen to transport sports equipment (which will often be muddy and wet) and also why many medical companies will use them over moulded plastic cases.
Besides being easy to clean., aluminium cases provide a number of other properties that makes them suitable for a range of specialist applications.
For example, aluminium is non-toxic. It is also odourless, non-absorbing, non-sparking, non-magnetic (as detailed earlier), and non-flammable.
This means that aluminium cases can be used safely in clean rooms and medical applications (amongst many others). It is also one of the reasons that aluminium cases are being widely used of the safe transit of lithium ion batteries.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Laser Cutting Protection Film Supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.