Heavy Duty Shipping Cases: Are These Your Best Option?
At Bel-Air Cases we manufacture many different types of custom cases, from lightweight carry cases to trade show expo cases to heavy-duty shipping cases. Our shipping cases are the perfect option for many different types of equipment, including the following.
Items Shipped Frequently
If you have any item or equipment that will be transported frequently as freight or luggage, heavy-duty shipping cases are almost always your best bet. Our shipping cases and carry cases are created using the same plastic materials, but the thickness of the plastic and the design of the cases is quite different.
Heavy-duty shipping cases feature molded-in bumpers that absorb impact instead of passing impact and vibrations to your equipment. We also craft our shipping cases with molded in ribs and channels for stacking stability.
These cases meet stringent ATA 300 Category 1 and many Mil specifications. This means they are capable of being transported hundreds of times without breaking down. They might endure a scratch or two, but they will protect whatever is placed inside.
While our light-duty and medium-duty carry cases are quite protective, these cases are not meant for frequent transport. If you do want a carry case but need one that can handle frequent flights or shipment, consider our heavy-duty carrying cases. These feature the same level of materials as our shipping cases, but our built using the tooling for our carry cases.
Heavy Items
If you have items that weigh 30 or 40 pounds or more, we highly recommend that you opt for our shipping cases rather than using our carrying cases. In some cases, our heavy-duty carrying cases might be an option, and we can talk with you about which type is the best fit for your equipment.
While the heavy-duty carrying cases can be a great option, keep in mind that we can add wheels and telescoping handles to our heavy-duty shipping cases, which can make it easy to navigate a case through a busy airport or wherever you might need to move it.
Delicate Equipment
Lighting equipment is particularly delicate, and we definitely recommend using our heavy-duty shipping cases for lighting and related equipment. Professional photography equipment also is a good fit for these heavy-duty cases as well as any type of audio and video equipment.
Electronics
If you have computers or other types of electronic equipment, our heavy-duty shipping cases are the perfect match. Each case also includes a custom foam interior that protects every inch of your equipment from jostling and movement as well as from static and vibrations.
Medical Equipment
Medical equipment is expensive and difficult to replace, and if you are transporting any type of medical items, you definitely need it to be well-protected for the journey. Whether you are headed on a medical mission or perhaps need a sales kit that displays your equipment to its best advantage, we can come up with the perfect design.
Military & Aerospace Equipment
We’ve been building cases for the U.S. military as well as related aerospace industries for decades and our cases can be built to handle just about whatever specifications you might need. In addition to shipping cases, our durable Mil-SPEC cases also are available as light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases.
Custom Options
No matter what type of cases you select, we have many additional custom options that you might want to consider. For instance, we can add molded in logos, custom plates or decals to any case.
Black and silver are the standard colors for our cases, but we have several optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we also may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
Additionally, we have a myriad of hardware options, including several different styles of wheels. You also can select from several different types of handles, hinges, latches and feet.
Of course, we also provide you with a completely custom interior. We never use cheap pick and pluck or diced foam. We can provide any level of foam interior you might need, from a basic foam liner to complicated designs with panels and doors, shock mounts and more.
If you would like to learn more about our heavy-duty shipping cases and determine whether or not they are the best option for your equipment, give us a call at (866) 235-2472 or click the Contact Us tab and fill out our quick contact form.
5 Reasons To Opt For Vacuum-Formed Shipping Cases With Wheels
Purchasing custom shipping cases with wheels is ideal if you have any delicate or expensive items that need to be transported frequently. Of course, there are many types of durable shipping cases to consider, so which one is right for you?
At Bel-Air Cases, we design custom vacuum-formed plastic shipping cases, and our cases have many advantages over other common types of shipping cases, such as roto-molded, injection molded, blow-molded, aluminum or fabricated wood cases, including:
1. Light Weight
For our shipping cases with wheels, we use sheets of high-density polyethylene, a type of thermoform plastic that is very lightweight. Not only does this light weight make it easier for our customer to handle, it also can reduce overall shipping weights, which can reduce your transportation costs. Commonly used cases, such a roto-molded and fabricated wood transport cases, while very protective, these cases also are very heavy and cumbersome.
2. Durability
Whenever you search for shipping cases with wheels, it is best to select cases that are built with ATA standards in mind. These standards, which were set by an organization that represents major airlines, ensure that your cases can withstand the rigors of transport.
Our cases are built to ATA standards, and our vacuum-formed plastic materials are highly durable. Unlike materials such as fabricated wood, aluminum and blow-molded plastics, our cases can handle being jostled about on airplanes, container ships, vans, trains, helicopters and any other method of transportation. Only roto-molded cases are more durable, but these also are quite heavy, which can be a big disadvantage.
3. Design Options
With vacuum-forming, we can design just about any size shipping case you might need. Fabricated wood and aluminum cases also can be built in many sizes, although only fabricated wood cases equal vacuum-formed cases when it comes to customization. Roto-molded, injection molded, blow-molded and aluminum cases aren’t nearly as easy to customize.
For instance, we can provide you with a wide array of colors. Our standard colors are silver and black, but we also have a number of optional stock colors, including green, olive, white, red, yellow and blue. With a minimum order, we also may be able to provide color-matching services or create a custom color. We also can add a molded-in logo or add engraved plates or custom decals on your shipping cases.
We also can add different types of wheels and handles, including telescoping handles. We offer many custom latches, hinges, locks and case feet, and if we don’t have precisely want you want, we can probably get it. It’s all about choice and providing you with a completely custom case that meets all of your needs.
4. Affordability
One of the best things about our custom shipping cases with wheels is the affordability factor. Thermoform plastic is a highly inexpensive material, and with our in-house tooling, we can keep costs quite affordable. You’ll find our cases more affordable than roto-molded and fabricated wood shipping cases and fairly comparable with custom injection molded and aluminum case costs.
Keep in mind, that we don’t sell off-the-shelf cases; all of our shipping cases are custom-made with your specifications in mind. We design each case around your product, providing an ultimate level of protection that you just can’t get with an off-the-shelf case. And this leads us to our next point . . .
5. Custom Foam Interiors
In order to truly protect your expensive equipment or whatever you place in your case, it is important that we customize the interior of the case, as well as the exterior. We never simply toss a slab of pick and pluck foam in your case and hand it over to you.
Pick and pluck foam is common in our industry, but it’s completely inadequate to use as protection for expensive or delicate equipment. With this type of foam, the customer has to pick and cut away at it to make their own cavities for the equipment that goes inside the case. This type of foam is cheap, and tends to break down quickly, and you end up paying for a bunch of foam that you just throw away.
Our custom interiors are made using the highest quality foam, and we usually can construct a foam interior that is comparable in price to the pick and pluck foam. We can provide you with a basic foam liner or a complex design with interior walls, plastic dividers, interior doors, panel mounts, shock mounts and windows.
While our custom shipping cases with wheels are ideal for many types of equipment and delicate items, you may not be sure if a Bel-Air Case is your best option. We can discuss your case needs, and help you decide if one of our custom cases is your best bet or if you would be better off using another type of case or perhaps even an off-the-shelf shipping case.
We design shipping cases with wheels for a wide range of industries as well as the military. In addition to our military and aerospace cases, we can design cases for audio and video equipment, medical equipment, computer equipment, lighting equipment, sales kits, trade show displays and much more.
Hard Plastic Shipping Cases: Exceeding ATA Standards
In the last 50 years or so, we’ve built thousands of hard plastic shipping cases. Our cases are meant to handle the rigors of transport with ease whether they are bouncing along in a Boeing C-17 on route to Afghanistan or tossed around in a container ship during stormy weather or just used for a cross-country flight on a domestic carrier.
Our hard plastic shipping cases are built using some of the most durable materials on earth. Additionally, we design the cases to meet ATA guidelines as well as many MIL specifications.
What Are These ATA Standards?
You’ll often see companies sell hard plastic shipping cases (including our own) built to ATA 300 Category 1 specs or they might simply call their products ATA cases. But what does this mean and why is this important?
ATA stands for Air Transport Association, and this group was formed in 1936 to support the air transportation industry. It is now called Airlines for America and includes Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, United and UPS.
In 1960, when this group was still known as the ATA, they published a set of standards or specifications for shipping cases. Cases that meet these standards, which are known as ATA Specification 300 standards, are able to handle the rigors of air travel without damaging the contents of the cases.
When you buy an ATA case, this does not mean that the case has been approved by this group. It simply means that we have studied the standards and built cases that meet or exceed these standards. For any delicate or expensive item, we highly recommend that you find cases that meet ATA standards, such as our own.
When it comes to identifying Category 1 cases, these are reusable cases that are built to handle a minimum of 100 round trips via air travel. There are also Category II containers, but these are built to handle only a minimum of 10 round-trips.
These standards also identify the types of materials that should be used to build shipping cases, as well as the configuration and size, the interior cushioning, closure fasteners and hardware, and even the handles.
Materials
For Category I cases, materials such as metal, plastic, fiberglass and plywood are acceptable. We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for our hard plastic shipping cases, which has many benefits over other ATA-approved materials.
Our plastic is very lightweight, which makes it easier for our clients to transport or carry their cases, as well as possibly lessening shipping costs. HDPE also is a highly affordable material, which lowers overall costs for our clients. HDPE is durable and resistant to moisture and water as well as chemicals and solvents. Basically, if your case is left standing on a tarmac in a puddle of jet fuel as the rain beats down on it, whatever is inside will remain safe and dry.
In order to comply with ATA standards, a shipping case must be able to withstand temperatures that range from -40°F up to 130°F. Our hard plastic shipping cases go well beyond this standard and can handle temperatures between -80°F up to 180°F. So drag your case through Death Valley in the middle of August or send it on an expedition to Antarctica and rest assured your case can handle the extremes.
Design
ATA standards also include a section regarding the design, configuration and size of a shipping case. Of particular importance, the ATA standards also discuss the type of interior cushioning that must be present.
The interior cushioning must be able to protect your equipment from vibrations or shock. Additionally, the interior cushioning must be crafted from materials that are durable, resilient, mold-resistant and these materials cannot produce dust.
At Bel-Air Cases, we take a great deal of pride in our foam interiors. We study your equipment carefully to create custom foam interiors that truly protect your items from damage. If a case is dropped, jostled or bumped, we ensure that the impact is absorbed by the case and the foam and not your products. We also can add features such as shock mounts, panel mounts, interior doors and so forth to ensure that every inch of your equipment fits perfectly and is perfectly protected.
The ATA standards also specify the types of closure fasteners, hardware and handles that should be placed on a case. For instance, all of these items should be flush or recessed so that they don’t protrude beyond the case edges. This ensures that handles and latches and fasteners aren’t damaged as they are being jostled about in a cargo hold or along a conveyor belt. If handles cannot be recessed or flush, guarded surface-mounted handles can be used.
We have a wide variety of handles, hinges, latches and feet and if you don’t see exactly what you want or need, we can probably track it down. With Bel-Air Cases, it’s all about choice and creating custom cases that fully meet your needs.
The ATA standards even discuss the color of the cases, and while they recommend that all Category I cases be white, this is not a requirement for compliance and we offer many different color options for our hard plastic shipping cases. Our standard colors are black and silver, but we also have an assortment of optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. We also can add decals, molded in logos and even engraved plates if requested.
No matter what color you select, your Bel-Air case is built to withstand whatever the transportation industry throws at it – literally. In addition to shipping cases, we also create custom expo cases as well as light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases.
Come & Take A Tour
All of our hard plastic shipping cases as well as our carrying cases and expo cases are designed and built at our Ontario, California, facility. If you’re ever in the area, feel free to stop by and we’ll give you a tour.
How To Order
If you need hard plastic shipping cases, we can provide you with just about any size of case you might need as well as custom foam interiors for each case. To get started, just click on the Contact Us tab at the top of our homepage and fill our quick contact form. A friendly customer service rep will be in touch quickly to start discussing your project.
Heavy-Duty Custom Shipping & Transport Cases
At Bel-Air Cases, we know a thing or two about the transportation industry and how rough it can be on cases, boxes and luggage. If you have to ship something delicate or expensive, your transport cases need to feature an exceptional design that protects your items and absorbs the shock of multiple rounds of jostling and bumping.
Case Cost Vs. Replacement Value
You might be wondering if custom transport cases are worth the cost. The best way to decide is to compare the case cost with the replacement value of your equipment. Our heavy-duty custom shipping cases are built with ATA and MIL specifications in mind and designed to absorb impact, rather than passing that impact on to your equipment.
Obviously, a custom transport case or custom shipping case isn’t going to be just $40 or $50, but you won’t find many $900 cases on our site either. As a basic estimate, you can expect to pay about $400 each for five large heavy-duty shipping cases. If your equipment costs thousands of dollars, and a $300 or $400 case will protect this equipment from harm for many years, the value is pretty clear.
Keep in mind, that we do not sell off-the-shelf cases. Each of our transport cases is made-to-order from the inside out. Each case also includes a custom foam insert. We never just build a case and pass it off to you with a chunk of cheap diced foam. We design custom foam inserts that truly protect every inch of your equipment. Your case is built to last a lifetime, protecting your equipment through hundreds of trips via airplane, truck, boat, bus, train, chariot, Batmobile, helicopter or whatever method of transportation is required.
Which Custom Shipping Case Do You Need?
At Bel-Air Cases, we build many different types of custom plastic cases. We have light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases; heavy-duty shipping cases; and expo cases ideal for transporting oddly-sized trade show displays.
For transport cases, we typically assume that you need heavy-duty cases that can withstand frequent transport. Heavy-duty carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases can be transported frequently, and they are perfect for delicate items that weigh more than 30 pounds.
The difference between the heavy-duty shipping cases and carrying cases lies in the design. Our custom shipping cases are built with protruding corner bumpers and stacking lugs for extra protection and stacking ability, while our heavy-duty carrying cases do not feature these design elements, making them durable yet easy to maneuver in tight quarters. Keep in mind we can add wheels and telescoping handles to any case, either a carrying case or a shipping case.
OEM Transport Cases
Do you have a product that needs a case? We can help. We can design OEM carrying cases as well as heavy-duty transport cases for your product. Over the years, we’ve built light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty OEM cases for a wide range of clients. This includes designing custom foam inserts specifically for your product for a truly professional and polished look.
Additionally, we can add molded-in logos, engraved plates or custom decals. When it comes to the color or your OEM case, our standard colors are black and silver, but we have several optional stock colors, including green, olive, white, yellow, blue, orange and red. With a minimum purchase, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
With our OEM cases, you may or may not need heavy-duty transport cases. If you do need cases that can handle constant shipping and transport, we can provide you with what you need. But if you need some light-duty carrying cases, such as for sales kits or for lightweight items that aren’t particularly expensive or won’t be transported or shipped, we can provide you with those types of cases, as well.
No matter what type of transport cases you need, we are equal to the task. We design custom shipping cases for just about any industry imaginable, and can create a custom case for lighting equipment, video & motion picture equipment, photography equipment, military equipment, medical equipment, music equipment, sales kits and more. To get started, just click on the Request a Quote tab at the top of our homepage.
Custom Shipping Cases: Rugged, Lightweight & Affordable
When it comes to shipping cases, protecting your product is the most crucial factor, but if you could find a shipping case that was also lightweight, attractive and affordable, wouldn’t this seal the deal? At Bel-Air Cases we can provide you with a handsome, durable, fully custom case that won’t break the bank.
Off-the-shelf shipping cases might be fine for inexpensive items, but for items such as lighting equipment, music equipment, medical equipment or anything that’s expensive and fragile, a custom case is essential. The transportation industry is tough on cases, so yours needs to be able to handle being dropped, bumped and jostled without affecting whatever is inside. Keeping that in mind, we always prioritize the following factors when designing your cases.
1. Cases Are Built Around Your Equipment/Product
We don’t sell off-the-shelf cases, and your custom shipping cases will be built according to the specifications needed to fully protect your equipment or whatever items you need to transport.
We use high-density polyethylene to build the shells of our shipping cases. This material was selected for several reasons. It offer high impact resistance, it’s durable, it’s lightweight and it’s also quite affordable. Shipping cases also include aluminum valances, and this material also is lightweight, durable and affordable. Our stainless steel hinges and latches also are built to handle the rigors of transport.
When we begin the design process, we aren’t just thinking about the exterior of the case, but also the foam interior. You’ll need a custom foam interior large enough to fully protect every inch of your equipment, and this can affect the size of your case overall. We have many standard size options, but, if needed, we can create an entirely custom size to fit your needs.
2. Foam Load & Foam Quality Are Crucial
Foam is more complex than you probably ever thought. There are many different types of foam and they all possess unique characteristics in terms of weight, firmness and density. Many companies will simply stash a big chunk of diced foam or pick & pluck foam in your case, and then you have to pick or cut away at the foam to create cavities for your product or equipment.
This is in no way acceptable to us here at Bel-Air Cases. We firmly believe that custom foam inserts are crucial and provide the extra protection that you equipment needs. The foam can be designed to further divert impact from your product. In order to do this, we have to think about foam load.
To calculate foam load we calculate the weight of your item and divide that by the side surface area. This allows us to design a foam insert that has the strength and support your product needs.
3. Temperature Control
Of course, when it comes to protecting your equipment, it’s not just about the jostling that occurs during transport. Changes in temperature and humidity also should be factored in when you select a company to create your shipping cases.
When it comes to fluctuations in temperature, it’s crucial that your case be up to the challenge. A typical airplane cargo hold might be just 8 degrees Fahrenheit, and while you can sometimes arrange to place your shipping cases in a temperature-controlled cargo area or bin, this might not be available every time you ship via a commercial airliner.
If you are transporting your shipping cases on a large container ship, both temperature and humidity can be a factor. The interior of shipping containers can be climate controlled, but if your items will be shipped in non-climate controlled containers, it’s essential that your case can withstand the heat and the humidity often present in these containers.
Our shipping cases can withstand temperatures ranging from -80 degrees Fahrenheit up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, our cases are solvent, moisture and water-resistant. Our cases are able to meet stringent ATA 300 – Category 1 and MIL specifications, so whether you are traipsing through the Amazon rainforest, meandering across the Mojave or on an Arctic expedition, your case will remain strong and protective.
Of course, we offer many other custom features to make your shipping cases entirely unique. We have a variety of standard and optional stock colors and we can add a molded in logo, decals or engraved plates to any case. We also have a variety of handle and wheel options, to help make transport a breeze.
No matter what type of shipping cases you might need, the team at Bel-Air Cases can create an attractive and affordable design that truly protects your products from transport and the elements. To get started, just head to our homepage and click on the Request a Quote tab and fill out our quick contact form.
Equipment Cases With Foam: How To Choose A Perfect Case
Whether you need equipment cases with foam to transport lighting equipment, medical equipment, electronics equipment or perhaps a 14th century Ming Dynasty porcelain dragon vase, we can create a custom case that suits your needs.
We design equipment cases with foam for customers in just about any industry. Our cases are completely customized, and we build your case from scratch, based upon agreed-upon specs. Before we start building your case, we consider many factors, including the following:
1. Type Of Transport
We have several different levels of equipment cases with foam – light-duty carrying cases, medium-duty carrying cases, heavy-duty carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases. Carrying cases tend to be a bit smaller, and although we call them carrying cases, we certainly can add all types of wheels and handles to make transport as easy as possible.
One of the first questions we ask a customer is how the case will be transported. For instance, our light-duty carrying cases and medium-duty carrying cases are ideal for items that won’t be transported as luggage frequently. While these cases are quite protective, they are meant more for items that might be transported in a backseat or car trunk, and not jostled around by luggage and baggage handlers and bounced along conveyor belts.
For items that you do need to ship frequently, we recommend either our heavy-duty carrying cases or our heavy-duty shipping cases. These cases are built to withstand the rigors of transport and can be shipped or transported as luggage by trains, planes, automobiles, boats or even aboard an Apache helicopter during a combat mission should you need that level of protection.
2. Type Of Equipment
Our light-duty carrying cases and medium-duty carrying cases are ideal for lightweight items that aren’t particularly delicate or expensive, but still are important enough that they deserve a handsome, professional-looking custom case. Light-duty cases often are used to house sales kits, OEM packaging, medical equipment and samples of various lightweight products.
Medium-duty cases are more durable, and can be used as airline luggage on occasion, and these cases are ideal for items that might be a bit more delicate than those packed in a light-duty case, such as diagnostic instruments and electronic devices. These often are utilized for sales kits, as well, particularly if you need just a more protection for the items in the kit or will need to use it as luggage once in a while.
If you do have very delicate and expensive items, or heavier items, even if they won’t frequently transported or shipped, we recommend that you opt for our heavy-duty equipment cases with foam or our shipping cases. These are built using our most durable materials and designed to absorb impact and protect every inch of your equipment.
We use high-density polyethylene for the shells of our cases, which is one of the most durable materials in the world and also provides very high impact resistance. We also use durable aluminum valances and heavy-duty stainless steel hinges. Shipping cases also include molded-in protective corner bumpers and stacking lugs to further absorb impact and protect your equipment. Additionally, these materials are quite lightweight, which makes it easier for the customer to transport and can even reduce shipping costs in general.
3. Equipment Shape & Size
As we stated before, each of our equipment cases with foam is completely custom. We don’t have cases sitting around on the shelf. We don’t build a case until you place your order, so we can design just about any size of case you might need. If you have large or oddly-shaped equipment, we can build a case around it and create a custom foam insert that fits your equipment precisely.
When it comes to equipment cases with foam, we don’t simply build a case and provide you with a chunk of pick and pluck foam. This is a cheap type of foam common in our industry. With this type of foam, the customer has to pick and cut away pieces of foam to create cavities to accommodate your equipment.
Not only does this type of foam not provide a high level of protection, it tends to break down quickly and when you pick away foam, the cavities created aren’t truly custom and your equipment really isn’t fully protected. At Bel-Air Cases, we can create any type of custom foam insert you might need.
We will study your equipment carefully and create the perfect foam insert. We can create anything you might need, from a basic foam liner to complicated designs with plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and more. No matter what you need, we can create the perfect equipment case.
We also offer a variety of decorative options. In addition to our standard colors of silver and black, we also can form your cases in several optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we also may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching. We also can personalize your case with a molded-in logo, engraved plates or custom decals.
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been creating custom equipment cases with foam for more than 50 years, and whether you need just one carrying case or 100, we can design the perfect case for your needs. To get started, head to our homepage and click on the Request A Quote tab or the Contact Us tab, and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Trade Show Cases, Booth Displays & Other Tips For Success
Trade shows abound with opportunity, but these can be missed opportunities if you don’t take advantage of the situation. At Bel-Air Cases, we can provide with amazing custom trade show cases, and provide you with a few extra tips for trade show success.
1. Spread The Word As Soon As Possible
Trade shows don’t really start on the morning of the show, you need to building interest in your booth and making contacts long before the doors swing open. Be sure to advertise your presence via social media and generate some excitement. Send out some email blasts or even send handwritten notes to a few potential clients.
Also, don’t forget to spread the word during the trade show. For instance, if you are planning a demonstration or giving away a freebie, get it out there on Twitter and Instagram. If you are hosting an after-hours event, publicize the event before and after it occurs.
2. Create A List Of Goals
Before you head out to any trade show, you and your team need to be clear about the goals of the show. Trade shows can be a big investment, so you want to earn a big payoff. For some companies, that might be closing a set amount of sales, for other companies it might be cultivating a set amount of new leads. In addition to meeting goals, simply having goals makes it easier for your team to develop materials and present their sales pitch more effectively.
3. Build An Amazing Display
Your trade show display can make or break your chances of enjoying a successful event. The design should reflect your product and your customer base. For instance, a booth for the tech industry will look quite a bit different than a booth for the food industry. The same thoughtful approach you used for packaging design should factor into your booth design.
Of course, not every sells a product, and many booths are providing services. The same logic still applies, however, and you want to design a booth that will appeal to your customer base. No matter what you create, keep in mind that you only have a few precious seconds to attract someone’s attention. In many cases, hiring a professional designer can be the way to go.
4. Small Booth? Make A Big Impact
Obviously larger companies probably have a larger budget, but just because you are a hosting a small booth, this doesn’t mean you can’t make a solid impact on passersby. Typically, a small booth includes a backdrop and a table stacked with information, but you could skip the table and instead set up an open space that’s more accessible for clients.
Consider placing items on shelves against the booth wall rather than just displaying items on tables. You might have one small round table at one end of the booth where you can talk with clients, but keep as much of the floor space open so that people can enter and look around.
For instance, perhaps you sell organic beauty products. You might use natural materials to line the back wall of your booth, such as burlap or cotton fabric or even reclaimed wooden pallets. Add some string lights, or bouquets of dried flowers to decorate the top of the booth. Keep your logo visible while creating an inviting, warm ambiance that draws clients into your booth.
5. Provide Thoughtful Giveaways
Giveaways are always a good idea, provided that they will hold some value for potential customers and keep your company in mind even after the show has ended. Reusable water bottles, coffee flasks, flash drives and tote bags are just a few of the many items that can be customized with your company information and used again and again, keeping your logo or company name fresh in mind.
Another option to consider is giving away food or water. Walking the trade show floor can be exhausting, and a candy bar, cookie or bottle of water (all customized for your company) can draw attention to your booth and create a memorable experience for potential new clients.
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve attended and presented at a fair share of trade shows, and one thing we know for sure, is that our custom trade show cases can make set up, take down and transport a breeze. Our trade show cases are built to withstand the rigors of transport, but also built to accommodate the unique sizes of trade show displays and materials.
Additionally, we can customize each of your trade show cases with custom decals, molded-in logos or perhaps engraved plates. We offer an assortment of stock colors, as well, so that you can order a fleet of cases that will be easy to identify, even on the most crowded trade show floors.
Choosing Plastic Shipping Cases: 5 Mistakes To Avoid
Hard plastic shipping cases can be your best defense against the rigors of transport, but not all cases truly are built to withstand the rigors of transport. In order to select the best possible case options, avoid these common shipping case mistakes.
1. Don’t Opt For Off-The-Shelf
When it comes to general luggage for clothing and personal items, off-the-shelf is perfectly adequate, but when you have to transport delicate or expensive equipment, a custom hard plastic shipping case can be your best friend.
Buy why does custom matter so much? At Bel-Air Cases, we build our cases around your equipment specifications. For instance, when it comes to transporting electronics and computer equipment, we know that jostling and even vibrations can ruin your equipment. Therefore, we design each case so that the case and its foam interior are what absorb impact, and not the items in your plastic shipping cases.
2. Don’t Level Down From Shipping Cases
At Bel-Air Cases, we build shipping cases and carrying cases. Our carrying cases are tough and durable, but our light-duty and medium-duty carrying cases truly aren’t made for frequent transport. They are great when you need to transport something in a car or perhaps in the overhead bin of an airplane, but they aren’t meant for frequent shipping.
While it might be a few dollars cheaper to select a carrying case, if you are going to ship something as freight, it’s in your best interest to spend a little bit more and opt for our heavy duty plastic shipping cases. These cases are constructed from thicker plastic and we use more durable valances and hinges to ensure that they can be tossed, jostled, dropped and generally thrown through the ringer and still protect whatever is inside the case.
3. Never Settle For Cheap Foam
While the outside of your plastic shipping cases obviously needs to be durable, the interior also should match the quality of the exterior. We never simply hand over a case with a chunk of pick and pluck or diced foam. We can provide any level of custom foam interior you might need, from a basic foam liner to inserts with custom cavities, plastic dividers, interior doors, panel mounts and more.
A custom foam interior is crucial, as it cushions and protects every inch of your equipment and absorbs impact. When you are transporting equipment that costs thousands of dollars, opting for custom foam interiors just makes good financial sense.
4. Cases Should Meet ATA Specifications
The airline industry has set certain standards for cases and luggage, and cases that meet these standards are the type you want to select for your equipment. The ATA, or Air Transport Association (now called Airlines for America) does not actually put its stamp of approval on cases, stating whether or not they are ATA approved.
However, at Bel-Air Cases, we build our cases to meet or exceed most ATA specifications. For instance, ATA specifications state that cases should be able to handle temperature extremes of between -40°F up to 130°F. Our hard plastic shipping cases are built to handle temperature extremes between -80°F up to 180°F.
Additionally, ATA specifications should be able to handle drops and other types of impact as well as providing a high level of shock absorption and water resistance. Our heavy-duty plastic shipping cases are solvent, moisture and water-resistant. In fact our cases are able to meet both stringent ATA 300 specifications as well as MIL specifications. You can ship our cases again and again knowing your equipment is well protected and safe.
5. Don’t Pay Too Much
While a cheap $40 shipping case probably won’t offer you the level of protection you need, you also don’t have to spend $1,000 per case in order to ensure that your items are well protected.
At Bel-Air Cases, you’ll find that our prices are quite reasonable, especially given the level of customization we provide. For instance, if you purchase five large plastic shipping cases, you can expect to pay about $400 per case, depending on the features you select.
In addition to customizing the size of your plastic shipping cases, your interior foam and exterior features, such as handles and hinges, we also offer many design customizations. For instance, while silver and black are our standard colors, we also have several additional stock colors and, with a minimum purchase, we may be able to provide color matching. We also can add a molded-in logo, custom decal or engraved plate to your cases, it’s all about choice.
If you need any size of hard plastic shipping cases, contact the team at Bel-Air Cases today. We’ve been creating durable vacuum-formed plastic shipping cases and equipment cases for more than 50 years, and can create whatever you might need, whether it’s just one case or 100 cases.
The Bel-Air Hard Plastic Case With Foam Inside
Can a case be extremely lightweight yet still be durable enough for transport via plane, train or perhaps an automobile navigating a Los Angeles freeway during rush hour? Can a case be stylish and sleek and yet still be able to handle a trek through the jungles of Brazil, a journey across the Sahara desert or perhaps an expedition to Antarctica? If it’s a Bel-Air hard plastic case with foam inside, it’s definitely equal to the task.
If you need a custom hard plastic case with foam inside, we have been the experts for more than 50 years. In fact, we are the first company to create vacuum-formed equipment cases. Our cases are durable, lightweight, affordable and each case is made-to-order, so you’re free to customize everything, inside and out.
The exterior of each case is formed using high-density polyethylene, a durable type of plastic known for its impact-resistance as well as its ability to repel moisture. Cases are joined together using hardy aluminum valances, another material known for its impact resistance and durability.
Of course, we’ve promised you a hard plastic case with foam inside, so let’s talk about the foam. Many case companies simply design a case and provide you with a large chunk of diced foam. Then you have to pick and pluck away the foam in order to create cavities to fit each component or piece of equipment you place in the case.
At Bel-Air Cases, when we build a hard plastic case with foam inside, we create custom foam inserts. This might be as simple as a basic foam liner or it might be a foam insert with multiple cavities, designed specifically to hold each piece of your equipment. We also can include interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and plastic dividers for the case interior, depending on your needs.
We can create your hard plastic case using our standard colors of black or silver, and we have several optional stock colors, including blue, green, olive, white, yellow, orange and red. With a minimum purchase, custom colors and color matching may be available. We can further customize your cases with molded-in logos or perhaps with graphics, engraved plates or custom decals.
Of course, you also can customize the handles and hinges and latches or add wheels to your case and even a telescoping handle. While our cases are lightweight, a handle and wheels definitely make it easier to move through a crowded airport, navigate a busy urban street or trek across a huge convention center floor. There’s really nowhere you can’t go with a Bel-Air hard plastic case with foam inside.
Our heavy-duty carry cases, shipping cases and expo cases meet rigorous ATA specifications as well as many military specifications. We’ve designed cases to hold delicate medical equipment, lighting equipment and camera equipment, as well as musical instruments, super-secret classified government documents, sales kits and much more.
With new orders, we typically have a production lead time of about three to five weeks, depending on the order volume and the case options you have chosen. For a hard case with foam inside, it may add to that lead-time. To get started, you can give us a call or click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage, which leads you to our quick contact form. A helpful customer service representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible to talk about your custom case project.
Custom Instrument Cases: A Traveling Musician’s Best Friend
Whether you rock a Fender Stratocaster, a Stradivarius violin or perhaps a vintage clarinet, keeping it safe during your travels is crucial. Custom instrument cases can prevent damage and bring you some peace of mind.
In many cases, musicians will purchase a separate seat for their instrument, particularly if it is a rare, large or extremely expensive item. However, we’ve also read several horror stories of travelers that purchased tickets for their beloved instruments, yet the tickets were revoked because the flight was full or overbooked. Then your instrument ends up tossed around by baggage handlers, which is precisely what a musician does not want.
Additionally, if your instrument is damaged, it can be a huge hassle to receive compensation for these damages. In some cases, airline policy limits the amount of damage compensation they will provide, and it might be far less than the cost of repairs. If you have a vintage or antique instrument, there’s also always the chance that repairs won’t really undo the damage caused by transporting your instrument.
Your best defense is a good offense, and custom instrument cases from Bel-Air Cases can handle the rigors of transportation. Our heavy-duty shipping cases are built to meet or exceed ATA guidelines. These guidelines were created by the airline industry and specify how cases need to be constructed in order to handle the jostling typically inflicted upon them by the transportation industry.
The exterior of our custom instrument cases is built using highly durable the materials. Shells are built using tough polyethylene and the valances are crafted from sturdy aluminum. The case design as well as the materials we use ensure that case itself absorbs any impact and not your precious musical instrument.
Additionally, our custom instrument cases can include a custom foam interior that protects every centimeter of your instrument. We use the highest quality foam for these interiors and never simply stick a chunk of pick and pluck foam inside a case. Pick and pluck foam is a type of low-quality foam that breaks down quickly and doesn’t fully protect your instruments from damage. We never use this type of foam, and, when we design Bel-Air custom instrument cases, every bit of your case is custom inside and out.
Of course, we also can add a bit of flair to your case. We offer black and silver as our standard case colors, but you also can request us to build your case with one of our stock colors, which include white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. Additionally, we can add a molded-in logo to your custom instrument cases or add engraved plates or custom decals.
We also have many other custom options to consider such as handles, hinges, latches and locks. We can design a custom instrument case with wheels and a telescoping handle to make it easy for you to maneuver through airports, concert halls or wherever else you need to move your instrument.
Using our Bel-Air Custom instrument cases can be the best way to avoid enduring the heartbreak of a damaged instrument. Whether you book a seat for your instrument or check the instrument as luggage, you won’t spend your flight worrying about whether or not your guitar, cello, tuba, violin, clarinet, saxophone or perhaps your mandolin is safe. To start a custom case order, you can click on the Request A Custom Quote tab on our homepage or give us a call at (866) 235-2472.