As we know, dust, moisture, chemicals, and extreme temperatures can wreak havoc on industrial equipment. Control cabinets help to protect sensitive components such as electrical machinery, programmable logic controllers, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and relays by encasing them with control gears to the required IP and NEMA Ratings. In doing this, these cabinets help to increase the lifespan of industrial devices by eradicating the chances of internal components being damaged. In doing so, industrial control cabinets and control enclosures mitigate the chances of incurring costly replacements.
As we also understand, electrical hazards pose serious danger to industrial operations. It is for these reasons that control cabinets have been installed with features to increase electrical safety such as proper grounding, circuit breakers, and fuses. Control cabinets reduce the chances of equipment failure, fires, and short circuits by containing electrical systems in managed compartments. In doing so, control cabinets help mitigate risks for accidents that can occur in industrial operations.
Physical impacts, vibrations, and mechanical stresses are common in industrial environments. For this reason, control cabinets are built to provide impact shielding to internal components and are made out of materials like stainless steel and reinforced plastics which are control cabinets’ rugged and durable. This shielding helps maintain the operational effectiveness of the equipment and protects important components from damage.
As with all machinery, excessive heat can be harmful, and this is notably the case with electronic components. Control cabinets have built in features like ventilation and air conditioning systems which help to remove heat and enhance internal conditions. Proper control of internal temperatures can be achieved through the use of active and passive thermal management features. Consistently maintaining these best practices protects the equipment from overheating and helps prolong its lifespan.
Unrestricted access to control cabinets can result in tampering, theft, or sabotage. To combat these issues, control cabinets come with security features like lockable doors, access panels, and alarm systems. Implementing access control strategies and account management alongside these locks protects critical equipment from potential threats and enhances security. These features also respond to potential tampering and provide the ability to respond instantly in the case of a bypass in security.
For the protection of industrial systems, the compliance of industry controls and regulations is equally important. Control cabinets have to comply with various standards like IEC, UL and CE. Compliance with these standards provides assurance to operators and stakeholders that control cabinets are protected and equipped as per established guidelines with proper control.
In industrial operations, control cabinets are central to providing protection to vital equipment. Control cabinets guarantee the preservation of important parts by safeguarding them from the environment, providing electrical safety, enduring physical damage, managing heat, providing security features, and compliance with industry standards. Therefore, to sustain the efficiency, safety and smooth operations of industrial systems, the use of these systems should be insured.
