Machines are at the center of nearly every manufacturing process. And yet, in spite of this, they’re often left exposed to dust, high or low temperatures, and other environmental hazards that could damage your entire operation. Over time, that kind of exposure can lead to repairs that could have been avoided, or even breakdowns; sometimes, these issues can even affect your workers. In this guide, we’ll cover what modular enclosures are and how they can help your business, as well as some of their main applications and uses.
Modular Enclosures for Machines
When it comes to manufacturing or other industrial spaces, modular enclosures are often a necessity. They help protect the machinery itself, as well as the people who work around it. Setting up prefabricated wall systems can be customized to fit nearly any machine (they can even fit around parts and various features of said machines).
Some common materials for modular machine enclosures include aluminum (especially the framing), polycarbonate panels, steel, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, and more. In truth, there are many more materials, but a lot will depend upon what you need to guard against. Some businesses need to make the walls as tough as possible, resistant to chemicals or moisture, or even a controlled environment that minimizes dust. Each enclosure can be customized to fit your exact specifications.
Finally, because they are modular, such enclosures can be assembled, expanded, or reconfigured as needs inevitably change. This, as you might expect, makes them a great investment, as they can change as your business does.
Applications of Modular Machine Enclosures
Modular machine enclosures are used across a wide range of industries to secure machinery, reduce noise, and create a clean and controlled space. Here are a few of the most common applications for modular enclosures:
CNC Machine Enclosures
Everyone knows that CNC machining can create flying sparks or shavings, coolant spray, and of course, loud noise. Modular CNC enclosures help you contain the above, as well as protect the machines themselves and the surrounding workers.
Laser Cutter and 3D Printer Enclosures
When dealing with lasers or 3D printers, they often require controlled environments to work safely. Furthermore, lasers can cause certain fumes to emit that are dangerous, and 3D printers can release fine particles and fumes that could affect air quality.
Modular enclosures help contain and ventilate particles, manage the excess heat, and shield workers from any hazardous exposures.
Heavy Equipment & Industrial Machinery Enclosures
Finally, in many kinds of heavy equipment, parts like compressors, pumps, presses, and grinders will generate a lot of noise and vibrations. Industrial enclosures can help you reduce sound levels significantly, as well as protect these machines from dust, the environment, and general wear and tear.
Benefits of Modular Machine Enclosures
Additionally, if you choose modular machine enclosures over traditionally built ones, there are a whole host of benefits:
- More Safety: Physical barriers can help protect your workers from dangers, as well as make your factory more compliant with OSHA standards.
- Less Noise: Soundproofing can help significantly lower noise, which will of course improve conditions for your workers.
- Fast Installation: With modular, prefabricated panels (which are manufactured off-site) mean enclosures can be installed quickly, within a matter of days. This, as you might expect, can significantly reduce any downtime.
- Customizability: Modular layouts can fit any machine, be built around many of its features, and can also easily expand or change as needed.
- Flexibility: As we alluded to in the last point, they can be adapted or even moved at a later date.
The Bottom Line
Modular enclosures can help your machines, your people, and your entire manufacturing operation. They’re fast to install, easy to customize, and built to be flexible. If you’re depending on expensive machines and industrial equipment, they are a no-brainer to protect your investment.
Interested in setting up American-made modular enclosures at your place of business? Reach out to the experts at Allied Modular for a quote on new buildouts:
FAQs About Modular Enclosures
1. What types of machines benefit from modular enclosures?
There are many, many machines that can benefit from them. Some of the most common uses we see are for CNC machines, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), electric discharge machines (EDMs), 3D printers, laser cutters, and more.
2. How customizable are machine enclosures?
They are highly customizable, which is one of the main benefits of going with modular. Depending on your industry, you’ll want to select relevant materials to best protect your machine and environment. We can customize to reduce particles, moisture, wear and tear, and more. We can also create glass panels, add soundproofing, create access doors, and much, much more.
3. What materials are used in your machine enclosures?
They are often built using materials like aluminum, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, steel, glass, polycarbonate, vinyl-clad gypsum, composite panels, and others, depending on the needs of your project.
