While off-the-shelf electrical components suffice for many needs, custom engineering provides specialized electrical solutions tailored to unique equipment, facility, or process requirements. This guide examines the benefits of customization and working with OEMs for electrical enclosures, switchgear, controls, and more.
As an engineering-focused electromechanical OEM, GRL provides:
Let us help engineer your optimal power distribution, control, and protection solution. Contact us today to discuss your project!
Custom or purpose-built electrical devices offer:
Work with engineering-focused OEMs to create specialized electrical solutions when off-the-shelf will not suffice.
Consider custom electrical when:
The benefits justify the incremental costs.
Common custom electrical items include:
If an electrical system has unique demands, customization can help address them.
The design process involves:
Custom design expertise and modern tools enable specialized products previously not feasible.
Look for OEMs with:
Leverage their knowledge, standards, and supply chain infrastructure.
High-quality custom processes:
Custom means specialized, not subpar – demand OEM excellence. You can send a message now if you need free samples or have any questions.
Enclosures can be tailored by:
Properly customized enclosures simplify installation and maintenance.
Prototyping during development provides:
Take advantage of prototyping services from electrical OEMs before investing in full production.
Custom products undergo:
Thorough testing ensures custom electrical products meet their unique requirements while also complying with relevant standards.
Q: When are custom electrical products needed?
A: When standard products don’t fit requirements, for unique environments, when improved performance or consolidation is needed.
Q: What are common custom electrical product types?
A: Enclosures, panels, transformers, busbars, switchgear, distribution blocks, machinery control platforms.
Q: What is the process for designing custom electrical devices?
A: Requirements gathering, conceptual engineering, CAD design, prototyping, testing, certifications, release to production.
Q: How do you select a manufacturer for custom electrical equipment?
A: Look for engineering expertise, certification, quality system, responsiveness, and production capability.
Q: What standards apply to custom electrical products?
A: UL, NEMA, IEC, IEEE, ISO and other standards still govern testing and safety. Products are certified to all applicable standards.
Q: How much does custom electrical equipment cost compared to off-the-shelf?
A: Often 2-4x as much depending on complexity, but provides return through improved performance, lifespan, and optimization.
Q: How long does it take to produce custom electrical products?
A: Prototyping may take 4-8 weeks. Production lead time 4-12 weeks depending on complexity once design is finalized.
Q: What quality control applies to custom electrical manufacturing?
A: Robust QMS, process control, documented production, material control, inspection, and testing protocols.
Q: How are enclosures customized for electrical use?
A: Modified dimensions, cutouts, coatings, door configurations, interior mounting and layouts.
Q: Can custom busbars improve electrical distribution?
A: Absolutely, optimized shapes, tap-offs, and joints can greatly reduce impedance losses and material.
Q: What electrical components are commonly customized?
A: Enclosures, transformers, switchgear, panel layouts, distribution blocks, control platforms.
Q: How does customization improve electrical safety?
A: By allowing equipment optimized to standards, clearances, monitoring, and modern safe integration practices.
Q: What customization options exist for switchgear?
A: Layout, voltage, switch selection, monitoring/control, form factor, and protective schemes can be tailored.
Q: How does prototyping benefit custom electrical design?
A: It validates designs earlier, reduces risk, improves quality, and verifies certification.
Q: When does it make sense to create custom transformers?
A: For unique voltages/sizes, multiphase applications, optimized efficiency or footprint.
Q: Can specialty coatings be applied to electrical products?
A: Yes, coatings like antimicrobial, chemical resistant, or waterproofing can be integrated.
Q: How does customization help consolidate electrical systems?
A: Allows integrating components into single optimized platforms – saving space and complexity.
Q: What testing is performed on custom electrical equipment?
A: Design verification, prototypes evaluation, production release testing, and third party certification testing.
Q: How does documentation differ for custom electrical products?
A: Full custom documentation is developed and maintained for the product lifecycle. Critical to quality and safety.
Q: How can custom electrical improve energy efficiency?
A: Through optimized transformers, busbars, enclosures, and controls reducing losses.
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