The Bel-Air Plastic Case With Foam: Lifetime Protection
Can a plastic case with foam survive a journey across the harshest terrain on Earth? What about a trek to the International Space Station or even Mars? While you might not need a case that can be launched into space, at Bel-Air Cases, our custom shipping cases can handle the most arduous of journeys with ease, protecting your equipment from the bumps and bustle of transport.
Is A Custom Case Right For You?
For less expensive, non-fragile items, an off-the-shelf case can be a cost-effective solution. However, if you have expensive and/or delicate equipment, a made-to-order case can be a much more affordable option than replacing or repairing the equipment.
Our cases can be built to ATA standards and built to comply with most MIL specs. Whether you need an ATA case, a military case or simply a case that can protect your equipment on hundreds of trips as cargo, a Bel-Air plastic case with foam can be the best option to consider.
We design equipment cases for a wide range of industries including military and aerospace clients, as well as cases for lighting and audio-visual equipment, medical and diagnostic equipment, sales kits and much more. Throughout the last 50 years, we have designed cases for just about every item imaginable. If we believe that an off-the-shelf case or a different type of case is a better fit for your needs, we will let you know, but for expensive items, customization offers the highest level of protection.
Bel-Air Cases: Built With The Toughest Materials
When you hear the term “plastic case,” strength might not be the first attribute that springs to mind. However, at Bel-Air Cases, we use a high-molecular-weight polyethylene plastic, and this makes all the difference.
When a plastic has a high molecular weight, it means that the polymer chains in the material are longer, resulting in a greater mass per molecule. This characteristic significantly influences the physical properties and performance of the plastic. Here’s what high molecular weight means in practical terms:
Key Characteristics of High Molecular Weight Plastics
- Increased Strength and Durability – Plastics with high molecular weight typically have stronger intermolecular forces, making them more resistant to mechanical stress, abrasion, and impact.
- Improved Chemical and Heat Resistance – The longer chains are more resistant to chemical breakdown and can tolerate higher temperatures without deforming or losing their structural integrity.
- Higher Viscosity – High molecular weight plastics have a higher viscosity, making them thicker and more challenging to process during manufacturing. This can affect how they are molded or extruded but contributes to their enhanced strength and durability.
- Better Environmental Stress Crack Resistance – The longer chains help distribute mechanical stresses more evenly throughout the material, reducing the likelihood of cracks or fractures developing over time due to environmental exposure.
- Enhanced Wear Resistance – High molecular weight plastics tend to have excellent wear resistance, making them suitable for applications involving heavy friction or repetitive mechanical motions, or perhaps a bumpy ride in the cargo hold of a C-5 Galaxy.
While our plastic cases might boast a high “molecular” weight, the actual weight (in pounds) of each case is incredibly light. This makes it easier to move the cases from place to place and significantly may reduce your shipping costs.
Custom Interior Foam
If you’re here, you are interested in finding a durable plastic case with foam, and every Bel-Air Case includes a custom foam interior. We can create die cuts that cushion your equipment precisely, providing an extra layer of protection from bumps and vibrations. We also can customize the case to include interior walls and windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Too often, cases are presented to clients filled with a chunk of cheap pick-and-pluck foam. At Bel-Air, we believe if you are paying for a made-to-order case, it should include a high-quality custom foam interior. Pick-and-pluck foam, or diced foam, is cheap and requires the customer to pick away at the foam to create sections to hold their equipment.
In fact, if a case manufacturer offers a custom case with cheap diced foam, we recommend that you find another supplier as this move indicates that quality is not high up on the company’s list of priorities.
Additional Custom Options
Virtually every aspect of a Bel-Air Case can be customized. For instance, we offer two standard colors – black and silver. However, if you’d like to mix it up a little, we also offer optional stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue.
Opting for one of these distinct colors can be an excellent option if you are ordering a fleet of cases, as this makes them easier to identify and organize. We also can add a molded-in logo, custom decals or engraved plates to your heavy duty cases.
We also offer a plethora of hardware options. Whether you need shipping cases with wheels or a plastic carrying case with a handle, we offer a variety of wheel options, handles, latches, locks and case feet. Moreover, if you don’t see the exact hardware items you want among our selections, we likely can source whatever you need.
What About The Warranty?
We actually have no written case warranty, but, honestly, it’s because we’ve never needed one. We stand by our cases throughout their lifetime. If a component breaks, send it to us and we will fix it. We usually can repair most case defects for no charge.
The reality is that the transit industry is tough on luggage, cases and freight. While we cannot guarantee that your cases will never be damaged, we can assure you that we will repair the damages for as long as you own the case.
Order Custom Cases Today
At Bel-Air, we offer three types of cases – carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases. Our heavy-duty carrying cases as well as all of our trade show and shipping cases, are built to handle frequent trips as cargo. We do offer medium-duty carrying cases, as well, but these are typically best as sales and demo kits or to store items that will not be shipped frequently as cargo.
To purchase a custom plastic case with foam (or a fleet of cases), simply click on the Request a Quote tab on our homepage and fill out our contact form. A member of our team will be in touch as quickly as possible to gather details about your custom case project and to provide you with a free cost quote for our services.
Custom Transport Cases: Top 5 Industries We Serve
When it comes to transporting high-value, sensitive equipment, not all shipping solutions are created equal. Different industries have unique needs that require specialized protection during transit, and that’s where Bel-Air custom transport cases come into play.
Whether safeguarding advanced medical devices, protecting delicate photography gear, or ensuring military-grade equipment remains mission-ready, the right custom transport case can make all the difference. Let’s look at some of the diverse industries that rely on our heavy-duty, tailor-made custom plastic case solutions to keep their equipment safe and secure—no matter the journey ahead.
1. Military Cases
The military and defense sector often operates in harsh and unpredictable environments, making heavy-duty transport cases essential for carrying weapons, communication systems, and tactical gear. These shipping cases are built to military specifications (MIL-SPEC) to endure shock, vibration, moisture, and extreme temperatures.
With customizable options like reinforced corners, specialized locking mechanisms, and stackability, these cases ensure that critical equipment can be quickly deployed and safely transported under combat conditions. Whether you need to safeguard communication systems, weapons or other types of equipment, a Bel-Air military case can be custom-built to meet most MIL specs.
2. Aviation & Aerospace Cases
In the aerospace and aviation industry, the safe handling of sensitive instruments, avionics, and testing equipment is crucial. A made-to-order Bel-Air flight case is designed to withstand the extreme conditions often associated with this field, such as rapid temperature fluctuations, high altitudes, and rough handling during transport.
Our custom foam inserts and shock-resistant designs ensure that items like flight instruments, electronics, and even aircraft components remain secure and undamaged. These equipment cases can also be built with pressure relief valves and airtight seals to maintain internal stability, making them a perfect choice for air travel. If you need an ATA case, our custom shipping cases can meet and exceed these standards.
3. Medical Cases
In the medical field, transporting delicate devices such as diagnostic machines, surgical tools, and laboratory equipment requires a high level of protection to prevent contamination or damage. Custom transport cases for medical equipment are often designed to be water-resistant, impact-resistant, and equipped with secure latches.
We design equipment cases with foam that include custom compartments for organizing multiple components, ensuring that everything arrives intact and ready for use. For emergency and disaster response, these cases are critical for safely moving life-saving equipment to areas where it’s needed most.
4. Film Production & Photography Cases
Photographers and film production companies rely on high-value cameras, lighting equipment, and audio gear to create professional content. These tools must be transported safely between studios, filming locations, and events, often in fast-paced environments.
Heavy-duty transport cases for the entertainment industry offer customized padding, compartmentalization, and protection against the elements. They are designed to be lightweight yet robust, ensuring that equipment remains safe from dust, moisture, and impact. Designing custom lighting cases and equipment cases for film production crews and photographers is one of our many areas of specialization.
5. Road Cases
If you work with musicians or event production and need a heavy-duty custom road case, this is another area of specialization at Bel-Air Cases. Unlike the bulky wooden road cases of the past, our cases are lightweight and easy to maneuver and can stacked for easy storage. We also can design custom instrument cases for many types of musical instruments, ensuring these expensive items are protected no matter how rough the journey may be.
Our Case Options
We offer three types of transport cases – carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases. Our shipping cases are the ideal option for anyone needing to transport heavy, delicate or expensive equipment. While these cases are highly durable and able to withstand hundreds of trips as cargo, they are extremely lightweight, which can reduce your transport costs significantly.
We also offer an abundance of custom features. If you need a hard case with wheels, we have many wheel options and can add different types of handles, latches and locks, depending on your needs. Additionally, we can customize your transport cases with molded-in logos, custom decals and engraved plates. In addition to our standard colors – black and silver – we also offer several stock colors, including white, red, orange, green, olive, yellow and blue.
If you need a hard case with foam, all of our cases include custom foam inserts. We never hand off a case with cheap pick-and-pluck foam. Not only is this poor quality foam, the customer is forced to cut away at the foam to create cavities for their equipment. The end result is a mess and definitely not as protective as a custom foam interior. If you are paying for custom cases, you should expect this to include a custom interior, and we deliver on that expectation.
Our design team excels at designing equipment cases with foam and we customize the interior to snugly cushion every piece of your equipment. Whether you simply need a quality foam liner or an interior with die cuts, plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts or shock mounts, we can provide you with exactly what you need.
Order Transport Cases Today!
At Bel-Air Cases, all of our transport cases are 100% custom and made-to-order. These heavy-duty cases are crafted from the finest and most durable materials and built to handle the rigors of transportation with ease. To get started with a custom case order, simply head to the Request a Quote tab and fill out our quick contact form.
Bel-Air Military Cases: Engineered For Extreme Durability
If you need a case tough enough to handle a variety of extremes, military cases can be a good option to consider. At Bel-Air Cases, our heavy duty shipping cases can handle hundreds of journeys, under the roughest conditions, with ease.
What Are Military Cases?
In general, when we talk about military cases we are talking about cases that are built in compliance with specific MIL specs, or military specifications. These are detailed standards developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to ensure products meet specific performance and durability requirements for military use.
When it comes to custom equipment cases, MIL specs define the criteria the case must meet in areas such as construction, durability, environmental resistance, and performance under harsh conditions.
Here are key points related to MIL specs for custom equipment cases:
- Durability and Strength: MIL specs ensure that equipment cases can withstand rough handling, impact, and high stress during military operations, including shipping and transport.
- Environmental Resistance: MIL specs test the ability of cases to resist extreme weather, humidity, saltwater, and temperature fluctuations, as well as protection against dust, water, and other environmental hazards.
- Vibration and Shock Resistance: The cases must pass tests for withstanding vibrations from transportation (aircraft, land vehicles) and sudden shocks (drops, impacts).
- Chemical Resistance: Cases need to be resistant to various chemicals, including fuels and cleaning agents, that they may encounter in military environments.
Compliance Examples:
- MIL-STD-810: Covers environmental conditions, like temperature, humidity, and shock testing.
- MIL-STD-2073: Deals with packaging requirements for military shipping, ensuring the cases protect the contents in transit.
Custom equipment cases built to MIL specs offer extra assurance for those needing top-tier protection, especially for sensitive or valuable equipment. While we’ve designed and built heavy duty cases for military clients many times through the years, cases built to MIL specs can be a good option for many of our civilian clients.
We also can create an ATA shipping case that meets ATA standards. ATA case standards are guidelines set by the Air Transport Association (now Airlines for America) for cases used in air travel. These standards ensure that cases can withstand the rigors of frequent air transportation, protecting the contents from damage during handling, loading, and unloading.
ATA Case Standards: Some Key Points
- Durability: ATA-rated cases must endure frequent shipping, handling, and stacking.
- Construction: Typically, these cases are made from materials like high-density plastics, aluminum, or laminated plywood, with reinforced edges and corners.
- Impact Resistance: ATA cases are designed to withstand drops, impacts, and other rough handling common in cargo and freight transport.
ATA Standards Vs. MIL Specs
- Purpose: ATA standards are focused on air travel durability, whereas MIL specs are developed for military use, often requiring more extreme environmental and operational durability.
- Environmental Conditions: MIL specs typically involve more stringent requirements for withstanding harsh environments (extreme temperatures, water resistance, chemical exposure), while ATA standards prioritize impact resistance and structural integrity for frequent air transport.
- Vibration and Shock: Both standards require cases to endure vibration and shock, but MIL specs often involve more severe testing to ensure survival in combat or field conditions.
- Testing: MIL specs, such as MIL-STD-810, include a wider range of tests (environmental, chemical, etc.), while ATA standards focus more on transportation-specific durability like impacts and crushing.
In short, ATA cases are designed for commercial air travel, while military cases are built for more extreme and demanding military applications. Whether you need a case built to ATA standards or a case that matches MIL specs, the team at Bel-Air Cases can provide you with cargo cases that meet your needs and protect your expensive equipment.
Why Bel-Air Cases?
At Bel-Air, we’ve been designing custom equipment cases for more than 50 years, and we are the original innovator of vacuum-formed plastic cases. Our level of experience is unmatched, and through the years, we’ve designed custom carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases for every imaginable industry and type of equipment.
In addition to military cases, we can provide you with any type of equipment case or flight case you might need including:
- Aerospace Equipment Cases
- Custom Road Cases
- Trade Show Cases
- Lighting Cases
- Audio-Visual Equipment Cases
- Medical Equipment Cases
- Custom Instrument Cases
- OEM Cases & Demo/Sales Kits
This is just the tip of the iceberg, as we can design cases for virtually any type of equipment and, throughout the last 50+ years, we’ve done just that. We’ve built thousands of cases, and every Bel-Air is meant to last a lifetime and many of our original cases are still going strong.
Of course, if you need padded equipment cases, every Bel-Air includes a custom foam interior built to cushion and protect your delicate items. Unlike some case manufacturers, we never simply hand off a case with cheap pick-and-pluck foam. Instead, we design fully custom interiors built around your equipment to ensure that your items are always as safe as possible during transport.
Contact Bel-Air For Rugged Military Cases
Whether you need rugged military cases or just need a shipping case that can handle hundreds of trips as cargo or freight, the team at Bel-Air Cases can design whatever you might need. We also can add wheels and handles to most cases, as well as customizing the latches and locks. Contact us at any time to discuss your case needs!
The Bel-Air Hard Case With Foam: Protect Your Equipment
While a heavy duty shipping case can shield your expensive equipment from the bumps and jostles typical of the transportation industry, custom interior foam provides an important additional layer of protection. A Bel-Air hard case with foam is one of the best ways to ensure that your equipment stays safe on any type of journey and even in extreme conditions.
The Truth About Case Foam
In the world of plastic case manufacturing, foam is a controversial topic. Too often, case manufacturers build shipping cases and carrying cases that contain a cheap chunk of diced foam, also known as pick-and-pluck foam.
This foam is not designed specifically to protect your equipment. Instead, you as the customer are forced to cut away at the foam to create cavities for your items. The result is just what you’d expect. It’s a big mess and does a poor job of protecting your equipment.
When you order a Bel-Air plastic case with foam, we include a fully customized foam insert. We never simply hand off a case with cheap diced foam. If you are paying a premium for custom transport cases or shipping cases, we believe this should include a custom foam interior.
Our foam interiors can be as simple as a high-quality foam liner or as complex as needed. We are experts at fabricating foam interiors and in addition to die cuts that fit your equipment perfectly, we can create interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and plastic dividers.
A Bel-Air hard case with foam often will be used as OEM cases or as sales kits and demo kits, so crafting an attractive interior is crucial. Our foam interiors will display your items to their best advantage.
But, of course, protection is the ultimate goal with case foam, and we use only the highest quality foam for each of our cases. Our foam will cushion your equipment, limit the impact of vibrations and essentially act as an additional layer of security. Whether you need to ship your cases frequently as freight or airplane cargo or you need a case durable enough to handle the extremes of military or aerospace uses, we are equal to the task.
Which Case Type Is Right For You?
Throughout the case industry, you have many options to consider including vacuum-formed cases, roto-molded cases, injection-molded cases, aluminum cases, fabricated wood cases and blow-molded cases.
At Bel-Air Cases, we design custom vacuum-formed plastic cases built from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and we were the first company to use vacuum forming for custom cases. We chose this material for our plastic case exteriors because it’s durable, impact-resistant, moisture-resistant, chemical-resistant and capable of handling temperature extremes.
Additionally, HDPE is extremely lightweight, which improves maneuverability and reduces shipping and transport costs. HPDE also offers an ultimate level of customization.
Other case types typically don’t offer the same level of customization or cost-efficiency. Fabricated cases, often used as road cases, can be highly customized, but they tend to be more expensive and are far heavier than our HDPE cases. However, when we discuss your case needs during our initial consult, if we feel that a different type of case will be the best fit for your needs, we will let you know.
With a Bel-Air plastic case with foam, you have three options. We offer a plastic carrying case, shipping cases and trade show cases. Our carrying cases are available in medium-duty and heavy-duty options. The medium-duty cases are ideal as OEM cases, sales or demo kits, but aren’t meant to be shipped frequently as cargo. If you need a highly maneuverable case that can be shipped or transported frequently, we recommend a heavy duty carrying case instead.
Custom Options
At Bel-Air, we can customize virtually any aspect of your shipping cases. In addition to customizing the size and configuration of your case and our quality custom foam interiors, we can customize the exterior, as well.
Our standard case colors are black and silver, but we do offer several additional stock colors – red, yellow, orange, blue, green, olive and white. Selecting one of these colors can add a truly professional touch to your cases. We also can add a molded-in logo or perhaps add engraved plates or custom decals to your case. For larger orders, we may even be able to provide you with color matching or custom colors.
We also can customize the hardware on your case. Whether you need a shipping case with wheels or a plastic carrying case with a handle, we can make it happen. We also offer an assortment of latches, locks, hinges and case feet. If you don’t see the specific item you want in our collection, we likely can find a source for whatever case components you need.
Rugged Cases For Every Industry
At Bel-Air, we’ve designed heavy-duty cases with custom foam interiors for thousands of unique items from a myriad of industries. Our cases are ideal for many uses, including
- Instrument Cases
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Cameras & Photography Gear
- Lighting Equipment
- Military Gear (we design military cases that meet most MIL specs)
- Aerospace Components & Equipment
- Medical Equipment
- Demo Kits & Sales Kits
- Testing & Measurement Equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters & more)
- Industrial Tools
- Scientific Instruments (spectrometers, microscopes & more)
- Optical Devices
Need Cases? Contact Bel-Air Today!
Whether you need one hard case with foam or dozens of custom shipping cases or carry cases, the team at Bel-Air Cases is here to help. To get started with a case project, simply head to the Request A Quote tab and fill out our contact form. A member of our sales team will be in touch as soon as possible to gather details and provide you with a free cost quote for our services.
Shipping Cases: 5 Reasons To Buy A Bel-Air Case
When it comes to protecting your valuable equipment during transit, not all shipping cases are created equal. Bel-Air Cases have set the standard for durability, reliability, and customizability in the world of heavy-duty plastic shipping cases for equipment.
Whether you’re shipping delicate instruments across the country or rugged equipment to remote job sites, Bel-Air offers unmatched protection designed to withstand the toughest conditions. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 reasons why investing in a Bel-Air case is the best decision you can make for safeguarding your equipment.
1. Custom Equipment Cases Offer Better Protection
An off-the-shelf case often can be a good option for inexpensive items that are easy to replace. However, if you have expensive equipment, you need shipping and transport cases that can handle the bumps and bruises typical of transport, a custom case is typically a much better option.
Our custom shipping cases for equipment are built around whatever you need to place inside the case. We can design just about any case configuration you might need. Just give us the specs for your equipment and we will design a case that meets all of your needs.
At Bel-Air, we also build cases to ATA standards, so if you’ve been searching for a custom ATA case, we can help. Our cases meet ATA standards, and we can design cases to meet most MIL specs. Through the years, we have designed many cases for military and aerospace clients and our design and production teams have extensive experience building cases to meet these exacting specifications.
2. Custom Interior Foam Cushions Your Equipment
While the exteriors of our heavy duty shipping cases are built to handle just about any extreme, our quality interior foam adds an extra layer of insurance, absorbing impacts and cushioning every inch of your equipment.
Unfortunately, many case manufacturers will sell cases that include a cheap chunk of diced foam, but this forces the customer to create cavities for their equipment and these cavities likely won’t provide an ultimate layer of protection. At Bel-Air Cases, this type of mediocrity is just not an option.
Instead, we design custom foam inserts for each of our shipping cases and, as with our case exteriors, we build this foam interior around your equipment, so that every component is cushioned and protected. Additionally, we use the highest quality foam available, which means the interior compartments will last for many years to come.
Cheap pick-and-pluck foam, which is common with off-the-shelf cases (and sometimes even custom cases) tends to break down quickly and will need to be replaced every couple of years. To be honest, if you find a custom case manufacturer that opts for cheap diced foam, we recommend finding another manufacturer. If you are paying for a custom plastic case with foam, you should expect to have the highest quality custom foam as a part of that purchase price.
3. We Use The Highest-Quality Case Materials
Did you know that Bel-Air Cases was the first company to produce vacuum-formed equipment cases? Back in those days (the 1960s), the plastics industry was booming and the main material we use, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was a relatively new plastic, invented in the 1950s by chemists at Philips Petroleum.
Vacuum-forming allows us to create HDPE shells of virtually any size, and HDPE is the perfect choice for equipment cases for a variety of reasons. For instance, HDPE is known for its exceptional level of durability as well as its impact resistance. HDPE also is weatherproof and resistant to temperature extremes as well as UV rays and moisture as well as many chemicals and solvents.
4. Plastic Cases Are Lightweight & Easy To Maneuver
HDPE has a high strength-to-weight ratio. So, while HDPE is a very strong material, it’s also extremely lightweight. This makes it easier for consumers to carry our shipping cases and carrying cases but also can reduce your shipping and freight costs significantly.
5. Stylish Designs & Many Custom Features
While we can customize the size for our shipping cases, that’s just one facet of customization we can deliver. We also have a huge selection of locks, latches, feet and hinges. Want equipment cases with wheels? No problem. Need a shipping case or a plastic carrying case with a handle? Done.
We also can add molded-in logos to any Bel-Air, and this can add an extra level of professionalism to your case. Additionally, we can add engraved plates or custom decals to any case. Case colors also can be customized. Silver and black are our standard colors, but we have several additional stock colors – blue, green, olive, white, red, yellow and orange.
As stated above, we also have the ability to fully customize the interior foam. We can provide you with custom die cuts, interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts, dividers and more all for around the same price you’d expect to pay for cases filled with foam slabs.
Order Shipping Cases Today!
At Bel-Air Cases, we are happy to design a single custom shipping case or a whole fleet of shipping cases, depending on your needs. For more than 50 years, we’ve been making quality, American-made shipping cases for equipment, and our team can design whatever you might need. To get started, just click on the Request a Quote tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form and a member of our team will compile your information and create a free custom cost quote for our services.
The Bel-Air Custom Road Case: Create Your Perfect Case
A custom road case can be your best friend on any long journey, protecting your equipment from the typical bumps and bruises of transport. At Bel-Air Cases, we have more than 50 years of expertise packed into every custom case we build, and through the years, we’ve built cases for just about any type of equipment you can imagine.
Our custom cases are built to protect delicate and expensive items. Bel-Air cases are ideal for music equipment, lighting equipment, electronics, camera equipment and anything else you might need to transport for your next event or production.
We offer three types of cases, all of which can be fully customized. These include medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases, as well as shipping cases and trade show cases. The heavy-duty carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases are all built to withstand frequent shipment as cargo or freight. The shipping cases are the perfect option for anyone needing a versatile and durable road case, and here’s a look at what you can expect from a Bel-Air case.
1. Versatile & Durable Case Materials
Our custom shipping cases are built for the harsh realities of transport. Our cases are built to meet or exceed ATA standards and can even be built to match many MIL specs. Our heavy-duty shipping cases can handle hundreds of flights with ease, protecting your delicate and expensive equipment.
We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for the shells and quality aluminum for the valances for each equipment case we build. These materials were chosen for many reasons, and durability was definitely a huge factor. HDPE is not only highly impact-resistant but also able to handle temperature extremes and humidity as well as providing a high level of moisture resistance and chemical resistance.
2. Lightweight & Easy-To-Maneuver
When you conjure up an image of a custom road case, you might think about a heavy wooden case and while those are common and highly durable, there’s no getting around the fact that they weigh a ton, even when empty and that can greatly increase your transportation costs.
On the other hand, Bel-Air cases are extremely lightweight, which makes transport easier and much less expensive. We also can add wheels and handles to most shipping cases, which makes it even easier to navigate your bulky case through a crowded airport or a trade show floor, a concert venue or wherever you need to go.
3. Many Custom Options
One reason why traditional wood custom road cases were so popular is that they offer a high level of flexibility in design, but HDPE offers a similarly high level of design customization. We can create durable transport cases in virtually any size configuration you might need, but that’s just one of the facets we can customize.
We offer a myriad of color options. Our standard colors are black and silver, but we have several optional stock colors including red, yellow, orange, white, blue, green and olive. In some cases, with larger orders, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching, and we also can design cases with molded-in logos or add custom decals or engraved plates.
Customizing the color or adding a logo or decal can be a great option if you plan to order several cases. This makes it easier to identify your case in a crowded setting, but also adds a professional touch to your cases and boosts your brand identity.
Additionally, we offer a huge selection of handles, latches, locks, wheels and case feet. If you don’t see quite what you want among our selection of hardware, we typically can find a source for whatever you need. With Bel-Air, it’s all about providing the customer with an ultimate level of customization and quality.
4. Quality Interior Foam
While the exterior of a custom road case needs to be able to handle the rigors of transport, we believe the interior should be equally protective. To often, though, when you purchase custom equipment cases with foam inside, the manufacturers hand off the case with a chunk of cheap pick-and-pluck foam. Not only is this foam of low quality, but it forces the customer to cut away at the foam to make cavities for their equipment.
At Bel-Air Cases, our cases always include a high-quality foam interior. We can provide you with a basic foam liner, but we also are experts at fabricating interior case designs. Whether you need die cuts to cushion and protect your equipment or you also need panel mounts, shock mounts, interior doors, interior windows or other custom interior design features, we can provide you with whatever you need.
Order Custom Cases Now
To get started on your custom road case order, simply head to the Contact Us tab and fill our quick contact form. You also can select the Request a Quote tab and provide us with some details about your case needs, and a member of our sales team will put together a free cost quote for our services. We are proud to be American-owned and operated, and all of our cases are produced at our manufacturing facility in Ontario, California.
Take Off Securely With A Bel-Air Custom Flight Case
By its very definition, a flight case should be capable of handling the jostling and bumping typical of any cargo hold. If you’re tired of arriving at your destination only to find that your expensive equipment was damaged during the journey, opting for Bel-Air custom flight cases can be the solution to this common problem.
Custom-Made Flight Cases: The Ultimate Level Of Protection
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing custom shipping cases and custom built flight cases for more than 50 years. During that time our custom equipment cases have served as cargo on a wide range of conveyances – including some of the toughest military vehicles, and the equipment inside remained unscathed from even the bumpiest rides.
While custom flight cases do come with a higher price tag than off-the-shelf shipping cases, we believe there are some compelling advantages of investing in custom cases, including the following:
Custom Cases Offer Enhanced Protection
Custom flight cases are designed specifically for your equipment, providing superior protection against impacts, vibrations, and other potential damage during transit. They often include shock-absorbing materials and tailored padding to ensure your gear remains safe.
Our Custom Flight Cases Have A Long Life
Some of our earliest carrying cases and transport cases, from way back in the 1960s, are still going strong! We use the highest quality materials for our cases, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for the shells as well as building out each case with high-quality custom foam inserts. A Bel-Air Case is meant to last for decades, and we like to think of each case as a lifetime companion for your equipment.
A Perfect Fit
With an off-the-shelf case, there’s no guarantee that your equipment will fit well into the case, and this can lead to problems during transit. Custom flight cases are tailored to the exact dimensions of your equipment, ensuring a snug fit that minimizes movement and potential damage. This level of customization is not possible with standard, off-the-shelf cases.
A Well-Organized Interior
The interior of our custom cases can be designed with specific compartments, plastic dividers and interior doors to keep your equipment organized and easily accessible. This helps in quickly locating and using your gear without rummaging through a cluttered case.
As a side note, we never hand off a case to a client without creating a custom foam interior. Too many case manufacturers sell cases that simply contain a chunk of cheap diced foam, forcing the customer to create cavities for their equipment. This foam will not stand the test of time, nor will it protect your equipment properly. We use the highest quality case foam and design case interiors that cushion and protect every inch of your equipment.
Security Features
Many custom flight cases come with advanced security features such as lockable latches and combination locks, as well as GPS tracking and other options. These features provide peace of mind, knowing that your valuable equipment is safe from theft and unauthorized access.
Weather Resistance
The materials we use, especially the HDPE for the case shells, provide a high level of weather resistance. If your flight case is drenched on an airport tarmac, the equipment inside will stay nice and dry. Our cases also can protect your equipment from humidity, dust and extreme temperatures. Whether you need to take your cases to the South Pole or Death Valley, you can rest assured that the case will maintain its integrity.
Ease of Transport
We can add wheels and handles to just about any case, which makes it easy to move your cases wherever they need to go. For instance, our flight cases can be designed with ergonomic handles, wheels, and other transport-friendly features, making it easier to move heavy or bulky equipment. This convenience is especially valuable for frequent travelers and touring professionals.
Branding Opportunities
Because every flight case we make is built from scratch, this allows us an ultimate level of customization and that includes adding your brand to your case. We can design cases with molded-in-logos or add custom decals or engraved plates to any case. We also offer a wide selection of case colors including black, silver, white, green, olive, blue, red, yellow and orange.
Long-Term Savings
While the initial investment in a custom flight case may be higher, the long-term savings from reduced equipment damage, repairs, and replacements can make it a cost-effective choice. Protecting your gear with a durable, custom case helps avoid expensive mishaps.
Our Cases Are Versatile!
What can a Bel-Air Case hold? Just about anything you can imagine. Through the years, we’ve built cases to hold medical equipment, audio-visual equipment, lighting equipment, diagnostic equipment, military equipment, music equipment and so much more. Whether you are in a band and need a durable, dependable custom road casev or perhaps heading to a movie or photo shoot with a ton of expensive gear, our custom flight cases will protect your precious items.
Order Custom Flight Cases Today!
Whether you need just one flight case or a fleet of cases, the team at Bel-Air can design and build whatever you might need. To get started on a custom case order, simply head to the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our contact form. A member of our sales team will be in touch as soon as possible to gather all the details needed to create your heavy duty shipping cases.
Custom Shipping Cases: Design Your Perfect Case
Transporting delicate or expensive equipment can be a perilous experience. Will your equipment arrive unscathed? It’s certainly not unusual to open your case and discover that items have been damaged. Unless, of course, you opt for a Bel-Air custom shipping case. Our made-to-order custom shipping cases are not only lightweight, attractive and fully customizable, they also shield your items from the harsh realities of travel.
Industries We Serve
At Bel-Air Cases, we design and manufacture custom shipping cases for a wide range of industries including the medical industry, entertainment industry, aerospace industry and the military.
Whether you need to transport or store diagnostic equipment, lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, lighting, camera gear or anything expensive or fragile, opting for a custom shipping case from Bel-Air is the best way to ensure that your equipment stays safe in just about any condition. If you need an ATA shipping case, our designs and materials meet or exceed ATA case standards and can be built to MIL specs, as well.
Why Plastic? 10 Reasons We Use HDPE
At Bel-Air, we were the first company to produce vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases. Plastic might not seem like the material of choice for durable transport cases, but the plastic we use has many advantages over other materials.
The vacuum-formed shells of each custom shipping case are created using high-density polyethylene. HDPE is an ideal material for manufacturing durable and effective shipping cases. Here are 10 facts about HDPE that emphasize its suitability and benefits for creating custom shipping cases.
- High Impact Resistance: HDPE has a high strength-to-density ratio, which provides it with exceptional resistance to impacts. This makes it an excellent material for protecting sensitive equipment during transportation.
- Moisture Resistant: HDPE is naturally water-resistant, which means it doesn’t absorb water and can protect contents from moisture. This quality ensures that the cases are suitable for use in various environmental conditions.
- Chemical Resistance: HDPE is resistant to many chemicals, making it ideal for heavy duty shipping cases that might be exposed to corrosive substances or various industrial environments.
- Durability: HDPE is known for its high tensile strength and durability. It can withstand harsh treatment, such as being dropped or knocked around during transit, without deforming.
- Lightweight: Despite its strength and durability, HDPE is a relatively lightweight material, which helps reduce shipping costs and makes the cases easier to handle.
- UV Resistance: HDPE is resistant to ultraviolet (UV) rays, preventing the material from breaking down or degrading when exposed to sunlight over time. This is crucial for cases used frequently outdoors.
- Recyclable: HDPE is a recyclable material, making it an environmentally friendly choice for businesses concerned with sustainability. This feature can be particularly appealing to eco-conscious customers. Of course, keep in mind, that your Bel-Air shipping case is meant to last a lifetime, so it may never go near a recycling bin. Many of our original cases (from the 1960s) are still going strong today.
- Temperature Resistance: HDPE remains stable and functional in both very low and high temperatures, making it suitable for a wide range of climates and operational conditions.
- Ease of Fabrication: The material is easy to mold and fabricate into various shapes, which is ideal for manufacturing custom shipping cases that fit specific items or equipment snugly.
- Longevity: HDPE does not rot, mold, or mildew, which contributes to its longevity. Our shipping cases and trade show cases made from HDPE can be used repeatedly over many years without a decrease in performance.
Custom Cases – Inside & Out
We offer a wide range of custom features for our cases, but the most important option is probably our custom foam interiors. If you are paying for a custom shipping case, we believe this cost should include a custom foam interior. We don’t simply hand you a case with a cheap pick-and-pluck foam insert. This is a common type of low-quality foam and it simply doesn’t provide enough protection for your equipment.
Pick-and-pluck foam, also known as diced foam, is a common problem in our industry. It’s not only a cheap option but using this type of foam also forces the customer to pick away at the foam to create cavities to fit their items. This is hardly attractive, and, quite frankly, if you are paying a premium for custom shipping cases, you should expect custom foam inserts.
When it comes to plastic cases with foam, this interior can be as simple or as complicated as you might need. It could be a thick slab of quality foam with several die cuts designed to perfectly fit your equipment. You also could opt for a foam interior with windows, interior doors, plastic dividers and other helpful features. Not only does this protect your equipment, but it also creates an attractive display, which adds a truly professional look to your case.
Additional Shipping Case Options
The exterior size and configuration of your case can be customized, as well as the foam interior, but we offer many other custom features. Case hardware, such as handles, latches, locks, wheels and feet all can be customized, and we have a huge selection of hardware options.
We can personalize your custom shipping cases with molded-in logos or add decals or engraved plates to your case. We also can customize the case color. We offer black and silver as our standard colors, but we have several additional stock colors and often can provide custom colors or color matching for larger orders.
Order A Custom Bel-Air Case Now
Whether you need durable custom shipping cases that can handle flight after flight after flight or need custom carry cases or perhaps trade show shipping cases, we can provide whatever you might need. There’s no order minimum either, so if you need just one case or hundreds, the team at Bel-Air Cases is ready to provide you with a custom case that meets all of your specifications.
Bel-Air: The Ultimate Plastic Carrying Case
If you need a durable, lightweight plastic carrying case with a handle that can endure frequent transport, a Bel-Air plastic carrying case is the ideal choice. For more than 50 years, we’ve been creating custom cases that not only look great but also offer the ultimate level of protection for whatever you place inside your case.
100% Made-To-Order Cases
For many items, an off-the-shelf case might be a great choice. For instance, if you need to transport inexpensive items or something not particularly delicate, purchasing a ready-made case can be an affordable, practical option.
However, if you need to transport delicate or expensive equipment, opting for a custom plastic carrying case is the best option. At Bel-Air, every equipment case we make is made to order and we build it to cushion and protect whatever you intend to place inside the case. We like to think of our cases as a type of insurance, providing the highest possible level of protection for your equipment.
Throughout the years, we have designed transport cases for just about anything you could imagine. This includes lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, camera equipment and gear, medical and diagnostic equipment and even military and aerospace gear. If you need an ATA case, our cases meet or exceed ATA standards and we can build cases to meet most MIL specifications.
The bottom line is that the transportation industry is tough on cases, that’s just a fact of life. And while your Bel-Air plastic carrying cases might suffer from a scratch or two, when you pop open the case, your equipment will still be in tip-top shape and ready to go.
Materials We Use
Bel-Air Cases was the first producer of vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases. Every case we make is vacuum-formed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with aluminum valances. We chose these two materials because they provide a high level of durability yet are still lightweight and manageable.
Throughout the case industry, you’ll find vacuum-formed cases like ours as well as roto-molded cases, injection molded cases, aluminum cases and fabricated wood cases. Any of these can be custom-made to fit your gear, but few have the advantages you’ll enjoy with a vacuum-formed HDPE case.
For instance, fabricated wood cases, which often are used as road cases, offer a high level of customization and can be made in virtually any size. However, these cases are extremely heavy, which makes maneuverability difficult and can seriously impact your shipping budget.
Roto-molded cases are extremely durable, but they also are quite heavy and there’s little room for customization. Injection-molded cases are lighter in weight, but are only available in certain sizes, again limiting your ability to customize.
Our vacuum-formed cases tend to be the best option for most types of equipment, but if we take a look at your items and determine that another type of case would be a better fit, we will let you know and help you find a good source for the type of case you need.
Medium-Duty Vs. Heavy-Duty Cases
We offer two different types of custom carrying cases – a medium-duty case and a heavy duty carrying case. Medium-duty cases are ideal for items that won’t be transported as luggage or freight. For instance, these cases often are used as sales kits, demo kits and OEM kits.
If you need a lightweight plastic carrying case that can handle frequent trips in the cargo hold of a train, plane or perhaps a rocket ship, our heavy-duty plastic carrying case is the best option. We build these cases using the same heavy-duty materials we use for our shipping cases, but we form the case on our carrying case molds. The result is an amazing, durable case that’s also easy to transport.
Custom Foam Inserts
While the durability of the case exterior is vital, our custom foam interiors provide a second layer of protection. We use the highest quality foam in the case industry and every interior is crafted specifically to cushion your equipment. Too often, a case maker will present you with a case filled with cheap pick-and-pluck foam. This foam not only breaks down quickly, but it’s just a chunk of foam without any custom cavities for your equipment.
If you are paying for a custom plastic carrying case, we believe that case should include 100% customized foam. We are experts at fabricating interior foam and can add any features you need. Our design team can provide you with a simple foam liner or include a foam design with plastic dividers, interior walls, die cuts, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Customize Colors, Handles, Locks & More
If you’ve been searching the web for a high-quality “plastic carrying case with handle,” you’ve come to the right place. Generally, most carrying cases do include a handle, but at Bel-Air, we offer a huge selection of handles, including a telescoping handle that can be a perfect addition to a case with wheels.
Additionally, you can customize the case wheels as well as the hinges, locks and latches. We also can provide you with a variety of color options. Our standard case colors are silver and black, but we do offer several additional stock colors including blue, green, olive, red, orange, yellow and white.
We also can build cases with molded-in logos or add custom engraved plates or decals. Imagine a fleet of carrying cases and shipping cases featuring your company logo in a distinctive color. This level of customization adds a truly professional touch and it can be a great option for sales kits and OEM cases.
Order Plastic Carrying Cases Today
Whether you need just one plastic carrying case with a handle or you need dozens of cases, we can build cases that meet all of your specifications. We also can build custom shipping cases and custom trade show cases with wheels. To get started on a case project, just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form.
Bel-Air Carrying Cases: Ultimate Protection For Valuables
If you need to protect valuable items such as electronics, diagnostic equipment, medical equipment, photography equipment or perhaps something else expensive or fragile, our custom carrying cases can be a perfect fit.
What Type Of Carry Case Should You Select?
We offer two “levels” of carrying cases, our medium-duty carry cases and our heavy-duty carrying cases. Our medium-duty cases can be created in hundreds of sizes and almost limitless custom configurations. Your cases will look, function, protect and display your products precisely the way you require.
These cases are perfect for OEM applications as well as for sales kits, diagnostic instruments and electronics. Typically, we recommend that these cases not be used as shipping cases, although they are fine as airline luggage on occasion.
If you do need a plastic carrying case that can be transported frequently as luggage or freight, then you would want to opt for our heavy-duty carrying cases. These cases are created using the same materials that we would use for our heavy-duty shipping cases, but we form them on our carrying case molds.
The result is a highly durable, yet lightweight case that fully protects your expensive and delicate items. If you need ATA cases, the heavy-duty carry cases can be built to meet ATA specs as well as many MIL specs. The heavy-duty carrying case is perfect when you have items to ship frequently, yet you want a case that is smaller and easier to maneuver in tight spaces.
Why Plastic?
There are many different case materials for consumers to consider, but plastic has some distinct advantages over materials such as aluminum and wood. While aluminum is lightweight, it’s easily damaged and the level of customization is much lower. Fabricated wood cases, often used for custom road cases, can be created in just about any size, but these are quite heavy and expensive to ship.
Our plastic materials, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are lightweight, which makes them easier to transport and less expensive to transport. Additionally, HDPE is highly water-resistant and chemical-resistant, as well as being able to handle temperature extremes.
Our equipment cases with foam also are created using vacuum-forming, which allows us to create cases in a vast array of configurations. Other plastic cases, such as injection-molded and roto-molded cases are quite durable, but the level of customization is far lower.
Our team will assess your case needs to determine if a Bel-Air Case or another type of case is the best fit for your needs. If we find that another type of case is the best fit, we will point you in the right direction to find a quality manufacturer.
Why Choose Custom Cases?
1. A Perfect Fit
Custom carrying cases can be tailored to precisely fit the items you want to protect, ensuring a snug and secure fit. Off-the-shelf cases may not provide the exact dimensions or interior configurations needed for your items, which could lead to them shifting around or getting damaged during transport.
2. Enhanced Protection
Custom carrying cases often include features designed to provide additional protection, such as our custom foam inserts or compartments that are specifically molded to accommodate your items. These added features can minimize the risk of damage from impacts, vibrations, and other environmental factors, unlike generic cases that may lack such specialized protection.
Our custom cases include custom foam interiors. Some manufacturers will sell you a custom case with a chunk of cheap pick-and-pluck foam inside. This cheap diced foam breaks down easily and the customer is forced to create cavities for their equipment.
At Bel-Air Cases, we use the highest quality case foam, and we believe that if you are paying for a custom case, it should include a custom foam interior. We can create any type of hard case with foam that you need, adding special interior features such as panel mounts, shock mounts, windows, interior doors and more.
3. Personalization & Branding
Custom carrying cases can be designed to showcase your brand identity or personal style. You can choose colors, logos, and other design elements that make the case unique and easily identifiable. Off-the-shelf cases typically come in standard designs and colors, limiting the opportunity for personalization.
With Bel-Air Cases, you can customize the size and configuration, interior features and add many custom elements to your padded equipment case. We offer a wide variety of latches, locks, feet, wheels and handles. In addition to our standard colors (black and silver), we offer an array of stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, green, olive and blue. We also can add molded-in logos or add custom engraved plates and decals to each case.
Order Custom Carrying Cases Today!
Whether you need just one carrying case or a fleet of carrying cases, the team at Bel-Air cases is here to help. Simply click on the Request A Quote tab on our homepage and provide us with some basic details about your custom case project. We also can provide you with heavy-duty shipping cases as well as heavy-duty trade show cases.