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Today’s New Plastic Enclosures for IoT/IIoT Sensors

EASYTEC enclosures for sensor electronic devices

Technological complexity in factories is no longer characterised simply by the amount of computing power involved. Nor by how many lines of code are written in the software. There is something else at work.

For the smart factory manager at the cutting edge of Industry 4.0, that something is the number of data tags, sensors and readers involved in making it all happen. And the sophistication of the network that connects all these nodes as they control and monitor processes to improve operational efficiency.

All this technology must be housed in enclosures that are best suited to their individual IoT roles. Some enclosures (such as OKW’s award-winning MINITEC) were designed initially for other roles but have proven to be absolutely ideal as data tags in the Internet of Things. Much rarer, however, are enclosures that have been designed specifically for IoT/IIoT applications.

One such is OKW’s new EASYTEC range. The fact that it was created specifically for IoT/IIoT electronics immediately sets it apart from more general rival products. Smart design and attention to detail are the hallmarks of a small but exciting new housing that is helping to usher in a brave new era of manufacturing.

EASYTEC enclosures with flanges for fast mounting

What Makes EASYTEC Different?

The electronics world is full of small plastic enclosures that are around 10cm long and five cm wide: they are ubiquitous. And most of them look pretty much the same as all the rest. But even a fleeting initial glance is enough to tell you that EASYTEC is different, that it’s not merely a simple potting box, that it has been created for a highly specialised IoT/IIoT role…

For a start there are the two mounting lugs that are fast becoming the signature feature of this new product. A great deal of thought has gone into their design – into how they can make installations as simple and as fast as humanly possible. Take a close look at the lugs and you will see that each one offers a choice of mounting methods – a screw hole for vertical or horizontal mounting on flat surfaces and a pair of apertures to accommodate a cable tie.

But that is only half the story. Flip EASYTEC over and you will see a concave recess. Together with the smart lugs, this recess enables EASYTEC to be mounted on poles very quickly – a useful feature when you have to install large numbers of sensors in your smart factory.

Other technical details are less obvious but no less important because EASYTEC will have to operate in some potentially challenging conditions both indoors and outdoors. For that reason its case is moulded from ASA+PC-FR. This blend of plastics combines the UV-stability of ASA with the strength of polycarbonate (offering UL 94 V-0 flammability resistance). This is an important consideration because so many small enclosures are moulded from ABS – a resilient and much-used plastic but no match for ASA when it comes to coping with the Sun’s rays. Never underestimate how quickly they can fade and weaken lesser plastics. EASYTEC also offers IP 65 ingress protection (the seal is available as an optional accessory) to protect your electronics from water and dust.

EASYTEC enclosures can be pole mounted outside

The Shape of Things to Come

EASYTEC’s soft contours ensure that it is comfortable to hold and to use. You may wonder why – after all, EASYTEC is not a handheld enclosure; it is designed to be fitted to a wall or pole and then virtually forgotten. So why the soft curves?

Why not? Why should handheld enclosures have a monopoly on modern ergonomic curves? Why shouldn’t something as important as a sensor housing in a smart factory look and feel good? After all, there are still plenty of flat surfaces for mounting LEDs or antennas – especially if you specify the higher version that offers greater capacity. Both the top and bottom have pillars for installing PCBs, enabling you to maximise the available space. And the enclosures are assembled with Torx screws to prevent tampering.

Yes, EASYTEC is designed first and foremost for IoT/IIoT applications but these versatile little enclosures will find a home in lots of other sectors too – not least medical electronics. That recess in the rear, the ease of mounting, the soft contours and the tamperproof Torx screws make EASYTEC the obvious choice for equipment that needs to be fitted to hospital bedrails. You can also expect to find these enclosures playing their part in environmental technology, control systems, security and monitoring, laboratory technology and IT.

EASYTEC Technical Video



Specify EASYTEC Fully Finished, Ready for your PCBs

Contact OKW for specialist technical advice on EASYTEC and other IoT/IIoT enclosures. Ask us how we can customise your enclosures ready for your electronics. Services available for EASYTEC including CNC machining, lacquering, printing or laser marking of legends and logos, EMC shielding and installation/assembly.

Don't forget to ask for a free sample!

View EASYTEC range >>