Category Archives: Case Types

When we say our custom cases are made-to-order, we aren’t kidding around. Each Bel-Air plastic carry case we make is completely unique, designed to your specifications. Before we begin a new design project, we will discuss your options and consider which of the following options you might need.

1. Light-Duty Carrying Cases
Our attractive light-duty cases are perfect for non-delicate and lightweight items that won’t be shipped frequently. In fact, these custom plastic cases are perfect for your sales team, and we’ve seen them filled up with everything from medical equipment samples to high-end designer soaps. If you want a professional look that won’t break the bank, a light-duty case might be the perfect fit. They are lightweight, easy to tote around from place to place and quite attractive, as well.

2. Medium-Duty Carrying Cases
Our medium-duty carrying cases also are quite popular for use as sales kits, particularly if you need to tote items that are somewhat delicate. These also provide an excellent option for any type of fragile, fairly lightweight equipment that won’t be transported as airline luggage often. For instance, perhaps you need to carry diagnostic instruments or medical equipment or electronics. These custom plastic cases might be an ideal option, as they provide more protection than the light-duty case, yet are still very lightweight and easy to carry from place to place.

3. Heavy-Duty Carrying Cases
If you have heavier items or delicate items that you do need to transport often as luggage, we highly recommend that you opt for a heavy-duty carrying case. These cases are built using the same materials we use for our shipping cases, but they are formed on our tooling for carrying cases. This ensures that you have a highly durable case, yet it’s a bit easier to maneuver in tight quarters.

4. Shipping Cases
If you have delicate equipment or heavy equipment and you have to ship it often, we highly recommend that you skip the carrying case option and choose custom shipping cases instead. These cases meet ATA specifications and can handle the rigors of transport. Let them bump, toss or jostle your shipping cases. Bel-Air custom plastic cases can take it! These cases are formed from special tooling that add molded protective bumpers and stacking lugs into each case, ensuring that the case absorbs impacts and not the equipment or components inside the case.

5. Expo Cases
Heading to a trade show? Consider one of our stylish expo cases. These cases can handle the rigors of frequent transport and are perfect for lightweight items such as framed pictures, tradeshow components, sales displays and graphics materials, point-of-purchase displays and much more.

6. Handles
Every great case deserves a great handle and we’ve got plenty of options. We have handles ideal for a light-duty carry cases as well as telescoping handles that make it easy to move your custom plastic cases through a crowded airport or down a bustling city street.

7. Wheels
We also have a wide variety of wheel options. We have wheels ideal for cases that hold lighter weight items as well as heavy equipment. As with our other case components, the materials we use are meant to handle the rough and tumble of transport.

8. Latches & Locks
Whether you need a simple latch or a secure lock, we can add it to your case. Our latches and locks are built using materials that are both durable and lightweight. If you don’t see the exact type of lock or latch you need, we probably can get it for you.

9. Custom Logos & Decals
Adding a molded in logo or custom decal is a great way to make your cases stand out and add that professional touch. It also helps you identify which cases are yours in a crowded airport or at a trade show.

10. Color Options
Silver and black are the standard colors we offer for our custom plastic cases, but you also can form your cases using one of our additional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green or blue. With a minimum purchase, we also may be able to provide you with custom colors or even color matching.

11. Custom Foam
The exteriors of our cases are formed using durable high-density polyethylene with sturdy aluminum valances, and these rugged materials absorb impact and keep your items safe. However, we also can craft a completely custom foam interior for your case to provide even more protection.

Whether you need a simple foam liner or something quite complex, we can create it and for around the same price you’d expect to pay for cases filled with low-quality foam slabs or diced foam. We never use the cheap “pick and pluck” type of foam because it doesn’t provide the high level of protection that our customers need and this type of foam tends to break down quickly. Our custom foam protects your items and has a much longer life expectancy that these lesser quality types of foam.

12. Additional Interior Options
We are experts at creating complex case interiors such as fabricating interior walls, adding plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts. Give us your equipment specs and we will create a custom interior that protects your items and displays them to their best advantage.

We’ve been creating custom plastic cases for more than 50 years for clients from a wide range of industries. Not only will our cases protect your items, our prices are more affordable than you might think a custom case would cost. While we don’t sell any cheap $40 cases, we also aren’t selling a bunch of $1,000 cases either. As an example, if you order five of our large shipping cases, you might pay about $400 per case. Order 100 lightweight sales kits featuring custom foam and these might cost around $120 each.

Typically, the production lead-time for new orders is around three to five weeks, depending on the order volume and your case options. For instance, custom foam inserts might add to the lead-time, and if you need a new case size that requires a new tool this typically takes about eight weeks.

Whether you need just one custom case or 100 custom plastic cases, you can rest assured that each case will receive the same benefits of our “made-to-order” practices and top-notch customer service so call us today and we’ll get started on your case project.

The airline industry can be pretty tough on luggage, and it can be expensive to travel with a ton of gear, but sometimes it’s a necessity. Whether you are heading to a trade show, a photo shoot or just travel frequently with a plethora of equipment, we’ve compiled a quick list of traveling tips for you and your Bel-Air plastic carry case.

1. Choose The Right Airline
If you are traveling with just one plastic carry case, it might not matter what airline you choose. However, if you have two or three or many cases, it might be wise to consider looking at airlines that allow travelers to check at least one case or bag at no charge.

For instance, Southwest Airlines allows travelers two checked pieces of baggage as long as the total size of each piece of baggage does not exceed 62 inches and the item weighs 50 pounds or less. Other airlines charge $25 to $50 per item, so if you are only traveling with two cases that fit the size and weight restrictions; you can save some money by selecting an airline that doesn’t charge for your first two checked bags.

2. Research Airline Cargo Rates
Of course, many of our customers don’t travel with just a single plastic case. They bring along tons of equipment in heavy-duty shipping cases, expo cases and other large cargo. For these types of trips, it can be wise to research the cargo rates from several different airlines. Before you call, be able to provide information such as the size of each plastic carry case and the weight when filled as well as the dimensions of each case. A little research could save you hundreds of dollars, especially if the airline also offers some good rates for your passengers.

3. Look At Special Rates
Some airlines offer what is known as a media rate. This is a flat rate offered to photographers, members of the media and filmmakers so if you fit in one of those categories, this could help you save a bit of money and provide you with the convenience of keeping you and your equipment together on the same flight.

4. Consider Alternatives To Air
If you can ship your equipment ahead of your trip, this is usually much less expensive that flying with your equipment. Ground transportation shipping will almost always be cheaper than flying with your cargo. Research the rates from UPS, FedEx, Greyhound and other freight carriers to find the best deal.

If you are traveling internationally, look into shipping via ocean rather than sending your cargo as air freight as this also can be less expensive. Of course, you will have to have your cases ready far in advance of your trip, but if this is an option, it can save hundreds of dollars. Some shipping companies also offer volume discounts if you ship a bunch of items at one time, so consider selecting a company that offers this type of discount.

5. Purchase Insurance
While a Bel-Air plastic carry case definitely can ensure that your equipment will arrive at their destination safe and sound, it’s still wise to purchase insurance for your freight. After all, what if a piece is lost in transit or stolen or the container ship hits an iceberg and sinks to the bottom of the sea? If you have expensive equipment, looking into cargo or freight insurance is a smart idea.

6. Choose The Right Plastic Case
We have many different types of plastic cases. Our light-duty carry cases and medium-duty carrying cases are fine in an overhead bin (provided they meet carry-on restrictions), but this type of plastic carry case is not meant to be transported as luggage or freight. Our heavy-duty carrying cases, our shipping cases and our expo cases are all built to withstand the rigors of transport and these are the cases you’ll want to select for delicate equipment or anything that will be transported frequently by land, air or sea transportation.

If you aren’t quite sure which plastic carry case to select, just give us a call at 866-235-2472. One of our helpful case experts will help narrow down which type of case will best suit your needs and then we will get started building your custom plastic cases.

A well-made custom equipment case just might be worth its weight in gold and while it might be a bit much to say that our custom equipment cases with wheels could save the world, Bel-Air Cases definitely have been known to save the day.

Our equipment cases have been jostled around on military transports, transported through customs in just about every country in the world and, perhaps most impressive, some of our cases are built to withstand the rigor of space travel. So, once you book that Mars flight with Elon Musk, don’t forget to call us and order your some cases for your journey to the Red Planet.

If you’ve invested thousands of dollars in your equipment, our equipment cases with wheels provide the perfect way to transport your items. With shells built from durable high-density polyethylene and strong aluminum valances, our medium-duty and heavy-duty cases can protect the most delicate equipment. Each of our cases is made-to-order, inside and out, and we have a myriad of helpful custom options, including:

Custom Foam Interiors

Too often, a so-called custom case features a cheap “pick and pluck” foam insert. This isn’t ideal for several reasons. For one, customers have to do the work, picking and plucking away at foam in order to make cavities to fit various pieces of equipment. Another issue is that this type of foam is low quality and tends to break down quickly, not to mention that you end up paying for a bunch of foam that you pluck away and toss into a rubbish bin.

Finally, this type of foam doesn’t truly protect your items as well as a custom foam insert. At Bel-Air Cases, we can design a custom foam insert or multiple foam inserts to ensure that your equipment is well-protected. We use the highest quality foam for these inserts, meant to last for many years and provide an additional layer of impact resistance. We also can design plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts for your case.

Equipment Cases With Wheels & Handles

Should you add wheels to your custom equipment case? Absolutely, and we have several wheel options. Equipment cases with wheels are easy to transport, whether you are simply taking them into a business meeting or you have to lug them from Gate B12 to Gate B79 at Denver International. We have a large selection of handles, including telescoping handles, which makes it as easy as possible to move your case from place to place.

Logos, Decals & Custom Colors

Because we build each and every equipment case from scratch, we can create cases with molded-in logos for a professional and personalized appearance. We also can add engraved plates or custom decals, and our cases are available in an array of colors. Silver and black are the standard colors, but we also can create white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green or blue cases. With a minimum order, we may be able to provide you with color matching or custom colors for your equipment cases.

In the end, you can rest assured that everything you put in Bel-Air equipment cases will remain safe and sound throughout the journey. Will it save the world? If your case is filled with the antidote to catastrophic virus or perhaps contains the super-secret formula to harness the power of cold fusion, it just might.

There are plenty of companies out there selling heavy-duty shipping cases, but not all of these cases truly possess the unique features we provide at Bel-Air Cases. We’d like to take a moment to share a few of the reasons why we are an industry leader and why our custom cases stand out from the pack.

1. We Use The Most Impact-Resistant Materials Possible
As a leading manufacturer of heavy duty shipping cases, our goal is to create a case that truly can withstand the punishment of frequent transport. Of course, we also want to create cases that are as lightweight as possible. After all, when it comes to shipping, every pound counts, cost-wise.

The exterior of our cases are created using a process known as thermoforming, and we are the first company to create cases using this process! As a basic definition, this means we take large sheets of high-density polyethylene, heat them up and mold them into the shape of your custom heavy-duty shipping cases. We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a type of plastic, specifically because of its ability to withstand a great deal of impact. The lightweight and the low cost of this material add to its advantages.

For the case valences, we use aluminum, again because of its durability and impact-resistance, as well as for its lightweight. Aluminum also is an inexpensive material, so using HDPE and aluminum helps us keep the cost of our heavy-duty shipping cases as low as possible without sacrificing quality.

2. We Meet ATA 300 & Military Specifications
At Bel-Air Cases, we serve a wide range of clients, including military and aerospace clients. With these clients particularly, the equipment transported in our heavy duty shipping cases not only can be fragile, it’s also extremely expensive, and so we’ve designed our cases to meet stringent ATA 300 and many military transport specifications.

Fun Facts: ATA stands for the Air Transport Association, and this group includes major U.S. airlines, such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, United and several others, including Federal Express and UPS. The ATA, however, is now known as Airlines 4 America or A4A. Technically, this is a lobbying group, but in 1960, this group did create packaging and shipping guidelines known as ATA Spec 300. There are several requirements set forth in these original specifications, such as, in order for a shipping case to adhere to ATA Spec 300, that case needed to be able to withstand the rigors of at least 100 shipments, and our heavy duty shipping cases are up to the challenge.

3. A Design Built For Rough Handling
In addition to being able to handle at least 100 shipments, our cases adhere to other ATA Spec 300 guidelines. For instance, each of our heavy-duty shipping cases includes rounded edges. These rounded edges absorb the impact, rather than the items inside the case. Each case also includes molded-in bumpers for unsurpassed product protection.

Our custom foam interiors offer another layer of protection, further absorbing any impact. We know how rough the transportation industry can be on shipping cases, so we’ve designed our cases to take all the punishment, and not your precious equipment.
We also include recessed handles, which is another ATA Spec 300 requirement.

4. Extreme Conditions? No Problem
In addition to durability, the light weight and the low cost, HDPE also has a few advantages which might come into play if your heavy-duty shipping cases are exposed to extreme conditions. For instance, our heavy-duty cases can withstand extreme temperatures, from -80 degrees F up to 180 degrees. These cases also are moisture-resistant, water-proof and resistant to solvents. No matter what happens, the items inside your case will stay safe and dry, and the case exterior won’t be affected by extreme heat or cold.

5. Many Custom Options
We design our heavy-duty shipping cases with molded-in ribs and channels for stacking ability, and we also offer a myriad of custom options. In addition to customizing the handles and wheels of your case, you also can add casters, locks, latch protectors, a telescoping handle, humidity indicators and much more. We can create cases with molded-in logos and there are several color options. With a minimum order, we can even use a custom color. And, of course, we design fully custom interiors using the highest quality foam.

Our heavy-duty shipping cases can be used to transport heavy items (40 pounds or more) as well as delicate items, such as medical equipment, lighting equipment, electronics, computers and more. If you need affordable, custom heavy-duty shipping cases that truly can withstand the rigors of transportation, contact Bel-Air Cases today.

In the market for custom equipment cases? At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been crafting high-quality carry cases, equipment cases, expo cases and shipping cases for more than 50 years. While we are confident about the quality of our cases, we know that not all equipment cases are built to our exacting standards, so before you order custom cases, be sure to find answers for these 12 essential questions.

1. Are Your Cases Truly “Made-To-Order?”
In some cases, your custom equipment cases might not truly be “custom.” A manufacturer might have a wide variety of stock cases and might offer to customize the interior, but this isn’t really a custom case. At Bel-Air Cases, each of our cases in made from scratch based upon your specifications. This allows the customer a far greater range of options, including the size of your cases, the color, the type of handles and hardware and more.

2. Can You Create A Custom Interior?
For custom equipment cases, it is essential that each case includes a fully custom interior. We can create made-to-order foam interiors with custom hand-cuts or die-cuts that surround and protect every inch of your fragile equipment. We never use pick-and-pluck foam, also known as “diced” foam. This is an inexpensive type of foam that a consumer can pick or tear away at in order to create cavities to hold equipment. It’s seems like an easy option, but this type of foam tends to break down very quickly, and the customer ends up paying for a bunch of foam they don’t need.

3. What Materials Are Used To Build A Case?
To build our custom equipment cases, we use high-density polyethylene, which is a durable type of thermoform plastic. Not only is high-density polyethylene durable, it is impact resistant and lightweight. It’s actually even a recyclable material, and while our cases are meant to last for decades, it’s always nice to know that the shell can be recycled and reused for something else.

4. What Materials Are Used For Case Valances?
When we design your custom equipment cases, we begin by creating the plastic lid and base shells and then hardware is added. This includes a sturdy aluminum valance. We use aluminum because of its durability and it’s lightweight. We pride ourselves on creating cases that are able to handle the rigors of transport yet still be as lightweight as possible.

5. What Type Of Case Should I Select?
When you browse through our website, you’ll see that we offer several different case types. This includes light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty carry cases, as well as shipping cases and expo cases. For custom equipment cases, we often recommend opting for heavy-duty cases, as these typically are the best option for fragile equipment.

However, if your equipment is small and will not be shipped or transported as luggage, a medium-duty or light-duty carrying case might be a good option. Before we construct a case, we talk with the customer about the type of equipment that will be placed in the case as well as the way the case will be transported in order to select the best options for your custom equipment cases.

6. Do Your Cases Meet ATA & MIL Specifications?
We have many cases that can withstand the rigors of transportation, so if you often ship your equipment, you can rest assured that your fragile items will be secure. As manufactured, our heavy-duty shipping cases do meet ATA guidelines as well as many MIL specifications. Of course, as our cases are made-to-order, we also can configure these heavy-duty shipping cases and other case styles to meet most airline, military, government and even aerospace specifications.

7. Can I Customize My Cases With Handles, Wheels & Locks?
We have a wide variety of hardware ware options, including wheels, handles, hinges, feet, latches and locks. If you want a case with wheels and a telescoping handle, it’s no problem. If you need a specific type of lock, we probably have that, as well. Moreover, if there is a case component that you need, and we don’t have it, we can probably get it for you.

8. What Case Colors Are Available?
Our standard colors are silver and black, but we also offer several 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 and color matching. Additionally, we can design your case with a molded-in logo or add engraved plates or custom decals. Your Bel-Air Cases truly can be custom in every way.

9. Can I Order Just One Case? Is There A Minimum Order?
While some companies require a minimum purchase, we are happy to create just one case or 1,000 cases or anywhere in between. We put the same level of care and craftsmanship into every order, whether you order just one of our custom equipment cases or many.

10. How Much Do The Cases Cost?
While our custom equipment cases are made-to-order, the cost is surprisingly affordable. However, we don’t list prices on our website simply because it would be difficult to provide a narrow range of pricing for our cases given the wide variety of styles, sizes and configurations we offer. While we don’t sell any cheap $40 cases, we also aren’t selling many $900 cases either. Typically, an order of five large shipping cases might run about $400 per case, while an order of 100 lightweight sales kits with custom foam inserts might sell for around $120 each.

11. How Long Until I Receive My Custom Equipment Cases?
In general, new orders have a production lead-time of three to five weeks, depending on the order volume and the options you select for your custom equipment cases. If you select custom foam inserts, this could increase the lead-time. In some cases, if you are requesting a new size which requires a new tool, this might take up to eight weeks. Typically, though, you can estimate about a four-week lead-time.

12. What Type Of Warranty Is Provided?
We actually have no written case warranty, and we’ve never needed one. We stand by our cases throughout their lifetime. If a case component breaks, we’ll fix it. We know that the transportation industry is tough on packages and cases, so while we cannot guarantee that your case will never be damaged, we assure you that we will always repair the damages for as long as you own your custom equipment cases.

Ready to order? Have more questions? Get in touch with the team at Bel-Air Cases today. Whether you need custom equipment cases or something else entirely, we can provide you with any type of case you might need. To receive a free quote, you can give us a call or select the Request a Quote tab on our homepage.

While it might be tempting to simply purchase off-the-shelf shipping cases for your equipment and supplies, there are many reasons why it’s smarter to consider ordering a custom shipping case. Off-the-shelf cases might have a slightly lower price tag, but they also present the following problems.

1. Substandard Materials
When you purchase an off-the-shelf case, you really have no idea what type of materials were used. Order a custom shipping case from Bel-Air Cases and you ensure that your case is built using the highest quality materials possible. We build our cases using high-density polyethylene, which is one of the most durable and impact-resistant materials on earth. We also use aluminum for all of our case valances, as this also is a highly durable material that can absorb impacts and handle the typical jostling and rough handling associated with frequent transport and shipping.

While these off-the-shelf cases might have a lower price tag, if they don’t offer the same level of protection as our Bel-Air Cases, you may end up repairing or replacing equipment that becomes damaged during transport. We all know that the transportation industry is tough on luggage and cases, and our custom shipping cases offer an exceptional level of protection.

2. Substandard Interiors
Off-the-shelf cases often come with no interior foam or, if they do, it’s a cheap type of pluck and pick foam that we would never use. Each custom shipping case from Bel-Air includes a custom foam interior. In some cases, this might be a simple foam insert but for many cases, this includes a highly custom foam insert that cushions and protects each piece of your equipment precisely.

We never use pick and pluck foam, which is essentially just a large chunk of cheap foam. Consumers have to do the actual work of cutting into the foam to create cavities to hold various pieces of equipment. Not only is this hardly a custom solution, this type of foam breaks down quickly and, before you know it, you’ll need to purchase a new foam insert for your case. Additionally, after you’ve cut up the foam, you are left with a ton of excess foam. Why pay for foam that simply ends up in a trash bin? A custom foam interior ensures an ultimate level of protection and you won’t be paying for a bunch of wasted foam.

3. A Not-So-Perfect Fit
With an off-the-shelf case, you may end up paying for a larger case than you really need, simply because that’s the best fit. A custom shipping case can be designed to your exact specifications and this can result in a much lighter and smaller case that stills offer a high level of protection. Transporting a smaller, lighter case can reduce your shipping costs, which definitely saves you money in the long run.

4. Zero Extras
When you opt for off-the-shelf cases, you get what you get. With a custom shipping case, you can customize virtually every inch of your case. At Bel-Air Cases, we offer a variety of stock colors and can provide custom color matching with a specific minimum order. We can add a molded-in logo or custom decals, and we can customize the valance and the hardware. If you need wheels or handles, we have a wide variety of options, as well as pressure relief valves, locking mechanisms, sealed case options and much more. No matter what you want, the team at Bel-Air Cases is equal to the task.

5. A Short Life
Off-the-shelf cases tend to have a short life span, which means you may end up replacing your case long before what’s inside the case has worn out. Our Bel-Air Cases are meant to last a lifetime and we stand by our manufacturing. While we have no written warranty (we’ve never needed one), we stand by our cases throughout their lifetime. If a case component breaks, we’ll fix it. Additionally, we usually can repair most case defects for no charge. The transit industry is rough on packages, so while we cannot guarantee that your cases will never be damaged, we can assure that we are happy to repair the damages for as long as your own your custom shipping case.

Whether you need one custom shipping case or 100, we are ready to help, and our prices are surprisingly affordable. While you won’t find us selling any cheap $40 or $50 cases, we also don’t sell many $900 cases either. Depending on the size and type of case and the size of your order, you typically can expect to pay around $120 up to about $500 per case.

Ready to get started? Just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form, give us a call or send us an email. We’ve been creating quality custom cases for more than 50 years, and we look forward to designing a custom shipping case, an expo case, a carrying case or whatever type of case you might need.

Our custom cases can be used to hold a myriad of products, from sales kits to expensive and delicate equipment. For instance, we often design lighting cases for companies that must transport lighting equipment from place to place. Our cases ensure that your equipment remains undamaged, and during the case design process, we consider the following factors.

1. Everyday Usage
When it comes to lighting cases, as well as most of the cases we make, how they will be used is a huge factor in the design process. For instance, some clients need lighting cases that can withstand the rigors of frequent transport, either through the mail or via airplane or train. For these instances, we recommend our heavy-duty lighting cases, as these are built to withstand the abuse of travel.

If your equipment is never shipped or transported as luggage, then a light-duty case might be just fine, although with very delicate equipment, it usually is wise to select either medium-duty or heavy-duty case options. Our cases, and the materials we use, ensure that the case absorbs the impacts associated with transport and not your precious lighting equipment.

2. The Interior
A custom interior is a good option for just about any product, but it’s absolutely essential with lighting cases. You need a sturdy foam interior that will cushion and protect every centimeter of your equipment. At Bel-Air Cases, we not only customize the exterior of your cases, we also create custom foam interiors. We never use pick and pluck foam, as this simply doesn’t provide a high enough level of protection. Our design team will study your lighting components and equipment carefully to design the perfect custom foam interior.

3. The Details
What type of handle should your lighting cases feature? What about latches and locks? Do you need wheels? Each Bel-Air Case is made-to-order and that includes the hardware options. If our standard hardware options don’t suit your needs, you can select from a myriad of upgrades hardware. This includes a variety of wheels, handles, hinges, latches and feet. To learn more about these options, go to our homepage and click on the Case Options tab. If you don’t see precisely what you need, the chances are that if we don’t have it, we can probably get it for you.

4. Appearance
We believe that lighting cases should be attractive as well as functional, which is why we offer a wide range of color options. Our standard colors are black or silver, although we also can create cases using colors such as red, yellow, orange, green, olive, white and blue. We also can create custom colors or provide color matching, although a minimum order may be required. Additionally, we can personalize your lighting cases with graphics and logos, as well as adding engraved plates or a custom decal.

Of course, it goes without saying that our design team also factors in your budget. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality custom lighting cases available and the most affordable prices possible. Ready to order some custom lighting cases? Simply head to the homepage and click on the Contact Us tab. For more than 50 years, we’ve been creating custom thermoformed cases, and we look forward to working on your unique project.

While our name, Bel-Air Cases, might conjure up an image of a posh Los Angeles enclave teeming with gracious manor homes, our cases are tough and durable, capable of standing up to the rigors of transport. In other words, our heavy-duty shipping cases are attractive enough for the glamour of Bel-Air and tough enough for the gritty underworld of shipping and transport. Read on to learn more about our amazing custom shipping cases.

1. We Use Impact-Resistant Plastic
Each shell of our custom shipping cases is crafted from high-density polyethylene, a type of plastic that is extremely lightweight and durable, not to mention extremely affordable. As your case gets jostled around during transport, the plastic shell will absorb the impact rather than impacting and potentially damaging your equipment. The design itself also improves impact resistance, and each shipping case includes molded-in bumpers for extra protection.

2. Aluminum Also Helps Keep The Weight Down
In addition to creating the body of your shipping cases out of high-density polyethylene, we create valances from aluminum, which, just like high-density polyethylene, is both lightweight and highly durable. This valance is the backbone of our shipping cases, providing a highly level of impact resistance.

3. Stainless Steel Adds Strength
For the hinges and latches, we use steel to ensure that your case stays closed securely, even during the most turbulent transport scenarios.

4. Our Cases Stack Up
We mean that, literally. The design of each shipping case features molded-in ribs so that you can stack multiple shipping cases easily, which is great for transport as well as storage.

5. We Can Take The Heat (and the Cold)
While you probably aren’t shipping your cases to Antarctica, our heavy-duty shipping cases can withstand temperatures as low as -80 degrees Fahrenheit. Our cases also can withstand temperatures up to 180 degrees, so you can rest assured that your case won’t be comprised by changes in temperature.

6. Bad Weather? No Problem
While it might be tough on humans to endure a torrential downpour, your Bel-Air shipping case is moisture-resistant and water-resistant, keeping your equipment dry and safe. The shipping cases also are solvent-resistant, as well, so if you case ends up in the laboratory of an evil comic book villain, its exterior will be able to withstand exposure to most liquids.

7. We Reduce Your Shipping Costs
Shipping delicate and expensive equipment is costly, but the light weight of our shipping cases ensures that you won’t have to pay more than absolutely necessary to ship your precious items. Additionally, because our cases prevent damage, you won’t have to make costly repairs or replace damaged equipment.

8. We Meet Airline Standards
Airlines are well aware that transport is tough on luggage and shipping cases, and not all cases can handle frequent transport and shipping. The Air Transportation Association has set guidelines for case construction and cases that meet these guidelines provide the level of protection needed to keep your equipment safe during handling and flights. Our cases are built to meet these stringent specifications, as well as many Military specifications.

9. Standard Or Custom? We Offer Both
If you look on our homepage, you see that we advertise the creation of custom shipping cases. If you browse a bit further, you will see that we also offer a wide range of “standard” case sizes. You can select one of these standard sizes or have our design team create a case based upon your unique specifications. What we don’t offer are “stock” or “off-the-shelf” shipping cases. We don’t have a warehouse full of one-size-fits-all cases.
Each of our shipping cases is made to order, inside and out, so when you place an order, we will be building your case from scratch, even if you select from one of our many standard sizes.

10. The Inside Counts
The exterior of our shipping cases is designed to absorb impact and protect your equipment, and so is the interior. We offer custom foam interior design to ensure that every centimeter of your equipment is protected. We can do a basic foam liner or create custom hand-cut or die-cut foam interiors, depending on your needs.

11. There’s No Plucking Or Picking
We never use pick-or-pluck foam, which is a common foam interior option for many shipping cases. This type of foam does not provide adequate protection for your products. First of all, you have to pluck away bits of foam to create cavities for each part of your equipment. What if you pluck away a bit too much? It’s not like you can just re-attach the foam. Secondly, this type of cheaper foam tends to break down over time, further reducing its protectability factor. Of course, you also end paying up for extra foam that you pluck away and toss. It’s far better to let us design a custom foam insert for each of your shipping cases.

12. We Love Thermoforming
Thermoforming is a process by which large sheets of plastic are heated and then vacuum-forced into molds. This is how we create each of our custom shipping cases. We are the first company to create shipping and carrying cases use this method, which is why we call our products the “Original Vacuum-Formed Equipment Cases.” Thermoforming is a versatile process that allows us to quickly create heavy-duty shipping cases in virtually any configuration.

13. Durability & Beauty Are A Winning Combination
Who says a shipping case has to be dull and boring? We can create shipping cases in a variety of colors, including white, silver, black, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. We also may be able to provide custom colors and color matching services. Your shipping cases also can be personalized to feature a variety of graphics or logos, and we also can add engraved plates or custom decals to your cases.

If you need any size of custom shipping cases, contact the team at Bel-Air Cases. You can contact us by phone at (866) 235-2472 or simply click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form and one of our friendly customer service specialists will be in touch with you shortly.

When it comes to carrying cases and transport cases, purchasing a custom carry case with wheels might be more important than you might think. At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been crafting custom cases for more than 50 years, and find that many customers only ask us about wheels and accessories such as telescoping handles for our large shipping and expo cases. However, even smaller carrying cases can benefit from these handy accessories.

Our smallest light-duty carry cases only weigh about 2 or 3 pounds, which is extremely lightweight and our heaviest light-duty cases only go up to about 15 pounds. However, once you fill the case with your equipment, this, of course, adds additional weight. While the smaller light-duty cases are not meant to be transported as luggage or shipped as freight, you might be walking around quite a bit with your Bel-Air Case, heading out to sales calls and other meetings. If you have other items to carry, adding wheels and a telescoping handle can make a lot of sense, and our lightweight cases are economical enough that adding this additional hardware won’t boost the overall cost significantly.

We highly recommend adding wheels to our medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases, as well as our shipping cases and expo cases, as this simply makes it easier to move your case from place to place. Our medium-duty carry case with wheels ranges in weight from about three pounds up to 15 pounds, and our heavy-duty carrying cases range from about five pounds up to 40 pounds, depending on the dimensions. Naturally our shipping cases and expo cases also benefit from wheels, as these sturdy cases typically are shipped or transported as luggage, and tend to contain heavier items.

Not only can we create virtually any size carry case with wheels, there are quite a few different wheel options to consider. Our design team can help you determine which wheel options will be the best fit for your case. In addition, we offer many other handy accessories. This includes different types of hinges, latches and feet as well as an assortment of handle options. We also can design custom foam interiors for any case. Whether you need a basic foam insert or a complex design to hold many parts or products, we can build it.

Our lightweight carrying cases are divided into three categories. Our light-duty cases are ideal for lightweight and non-delicate items that will not be shipped or transported frequently. Our medium-duty carrying cases can hold more delicate items, but these cases also are not meant to be shipped frequently. Light-duty and medium-duty cases are ideal options for sales kits or items that you tote in the backseat of a car or a vehicle trunk. If you do need to ship carrying cases often or have more delicate equipment, our heavy-duty carrying cases are your best option.

If you need a carry case with wheels, the team at Bel-Air Cases can create it! For more than 50 years, we’ve been crafting carry cases, shipping cases and expo cases for clients in a wide range of industries. Each of our affordable cases is made-to-order, and you can order one case or 1,000 or something in between. Give us a call or click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage to get started on your custom case project.