Custom Hard Cases: Build The Perfect Case
At Bel-Air Cases, we have 50 years of experience behind us and through the years, we’ve designed cases for just about every piece of equipment you could imagine. Our team has the experience and know-how to provide you with custom hard cases that can handle the rigors of transportation with ease.
What Goes In A Custom Bel-Air Case?
We can build a case to protect just about any piece of equipment, but here’s a short list of some of the items we’ve built custom hard customs to hold.
- Lighting Equipment
- Camera Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Medical & Diagnostic Equipment
- Musical Instruments & Music Equipment
- Computer Equipment
- Aerospace & Military Equipment
- Commercial Tooling
- Motorcycle Engines
- Sales Kits, Demo Kits & OEM Kits
We can build our cases to meet ATA specs and well as MIL specs. Just tell us what level of protection you need, and we will make it happen.
How We Build The Perfect Case: 5 Factors We Consider
Before we begin any new case design project, we study your product carefully and work with you to ensure that your custom hard cases meet all of your requirements.
- The Type Of Case You Need
At Bel-Air, we design heavy-duty shipping cases, carrying cases and expo cases, the latter of which are ideal for oddly-shaped displays and materials needed for trade shows and similar events.
Our rugged, heavy-duty shipping cases are designed and constructed to offer the ultimate level of protection. Not only are these cases rugged, but the materials we use are light in weight, which makes them easy to transport and may help reduce your shipping costs.
We also offer two levels of carry cases – medium-duty and heavy-duty. Medium-duty cases are ideal for sales kits, demo kits and OEM cases or for items that need protection but will rarely be transported as luggage.
Our heavy-duty carrying cases are tough enough to be frequently shipped as cargo or luggage, and these are ideal for delicate items, heavier items (over 30 to 40 pounds) and when the required case size isn’t available in our shipping case style.
- The Case Configuration
All of our cases are made-to-order, and we have no off-the-shelf cases. We build each case around whatever you intend to put inside the case. Whether you need camera cases, lighting cases, sales kits or any type of equipment cases, we carefully study what will be placed inside to determine the ideal size to protect your items.
- The Type of Custom Foam Inserts You Need
The exteriors of our cases are vacuumed-formed using rugged high-density polyethylene, and while the exteriors are built to handle the rough and tumble world of transportation, we also focus on creating custom foam inserts for each case, designed to cushion and protect your equipment.
Unlike too many plastic case manufacturers, we never hand off a padded equipment case with a hunk of diced foam. This cheap foam, also known and pick-and-pluck foam breaks down quickly and doesn’t offer the highest level of protection and it forces the customer to cut away at the foam to create cavities to hold their equipment.
If you are paying for a custom hard plastic case with foam inside, we believe this price should include a quality foam insert, and we can build any type of foam liner you might need. And we usually can construct custom foam sets for around the same price you’d expect to pay for cases filled with cheap foam slabs or diced foam.
We can do a basic foam shell, of course, but we are experts at fabricating interior walls and creating precise die cuts. We also can add panel mounts, shock mounts, interior doors, windows and plastic dividers.
- Additional Custom Features
When we say that each case is 100% custom, we mean it. We offer a myriad of custom hardware and accessories. Our standard hardware includes a 2” aluminum valance, stainless steel hinges and latches and a stainless-steel handle as well as a 9” heavy-duty lid stay.
We also have many option hardware options including stainless steel padlock hasp, stainless steel latch protectors, built-in key locks, pressure relief valves, humidity indicators, telescoping handles, built-in rigid wheels, removable casters and much more. If you don’t see precisely what you want within our selection, we probably can source it for you. With Bel-Air, it’s all about choice!
- Decorative Features
While our cases are durable and rugged, able to handle jostling and temperature extremes with ease, we also love adding a bit of style to our cases. We can provide you with molded-in logos, custom decals or engraved plates to personalize your case.
While black and silver are our standard case colors, we can form your cases using our additional stock colors, which include white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we also may be able to provide custom colors or color matching.
Request A Free Quote Now!
Whether you need just one case or many custom hard cases, we are here to help. To get started with a custom case project, just click on the Request a Quote tab on our homepage and fill out our contact form. A Bel-Air representative will soon be in touch to provide you with a cost quote and answer any questions you may have.
5 Facts About Our Custom Carry Case With Wheels
While a lightweight carrying case can be easy enough to tote if you have heavier equipment or simply want an easier way to transport your case, a custom carry case with wheels is your best option and the team at Bel-Air Cases can design and build any size of carrying case you might need. Here are a few facts about our custom cases.
1. We Offer Two “Levels” Of Carrying Cases
If you need a custom carry case with wheels, but you aren’t planning to use the case as luggage or ship it frequently, our medium-duty carrying cases are a great option. Our medium-duty cases are an excellent option for customers that need attractive sales kits, OEM cases or cases for expensive equipment that will only be transported in the trunk of a car or perhaps in an overhead storage bin.
For our customers that want the flexibility and ease of transport that a carrying case provides yet need a case durable enough to handle frequent transport as luggage or freight, our heavy-duty carrying cases are your best option.
The heavy-duty cases are the most durable and lightest in weight transport cases you can buy. We make these cases using the same materials we use for our shipping cases, but we form the cases using the molds for our carrying cases.
Our heavy-duty carrying cases can be used to store lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, medical equipment, diagnostic equipment, camera equipment and much more.
Heavy-Duty Cases Can Meet ATA Specifications
Just like our heavy-duty shipping cases, our heavy-duty carrying cases can be built to meet ATA specifications. These specifications were created by the airline industry, and cases built to ATA specs are able to handle hundreds of flights with ease without damaging the equipment inside the case.
While no airline endorses a specific product or case, the airline industry has created specifications that we can follow as a case manufacturer. For instance, an ATA case should be able to handle a minimum of 100 trips without damaging the contents of the case.
Additionally, through the years, we have built carrying cases and shipping cases for military clients as well as aerospace clients, so we are familiar with MIL specs and can build your case to meet most military specifications if needed.
Our Cases Are Waterproof & Temperature-Resistant
While a typical travel case filled with the usual clothing and other odds and ends might not be as affected by moisture or temperature extremes, our clients typically tote expensive and often delicate equipment in their carrying cases. High humidity and extremely low or high temperatures can damage some types of equipment, but Bel-Air Cases are built to withstand moisture and extreme temperatures.
We Offer Custom Foam Interiors
While the exterior of a Bel-Air heavy-duty carrying case is built to withstand frequent travel, we further protect your delicate or sensitive equipment with our custom foam interiors.
Too often, case manufacturers hand off a custom case with a big hunk of diced foam inside. Also known as pick and pluck foam, this is a cheap type of foam and customers are forced to pluck or cut cavities in the foam to fit around their equipment. This doesn’t provide an adequate level of protection for your equipment, and we feel that if a customer is paying for a custom-made case, this should include a quality custom foam insert.
At Bel-Air, we can construct foam sets for about the same price as you’d expect to pay for cases with foam slabs or diced foam. We are experts at fabricating interior walls, plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts.
Wheels & Other Options
While our cases are lightweight, we know that a rolling case is something that many customers want. We offer a wide range of wheel options, and we can even add a telescoping handle to your case for your convenience. With wheels and a telescoping handle, you can move through a busy airport or city street with ease.
We also can customize your case with built-in logos or custom decals. Our standard colors are silver and black, but we also have several additional stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, blue, green and olive. With a specific minimum order, we may be able to provide custom colors or color matching.
We also offer many types of handles, hinges, latches and feet. If you need your case locked, we have several lock options, including key locks and combination locks. If our catalog of hardware doesn’t include precisely what you want, we likely can source the component you need.
How Much Do Our Cases Cost?
We don’t post prices on our website simply because all of our cases feature custom designs, and the costs vary based upon the size and components a customer selects. While we don’t sell any cheap $50 cases, you also won’t find many $900 cases either. In general, you can expect to pay about $250 for a custom heavy-duty carrying case with wheels.
Keep in mind that our cases are meant to last a lifetime. While we have no written case warranty, we stand behind our cases throughout their lifetime. If a case component breaks, we’ll fix it and we usually can repair most case defects for no charge, other than your shipping costs. We can’t guarantee that your case will never be damaged, after all the transit industry is rough on cases and luggage, but we assure each customer that we will always repair the damage for as long as you own the case.
Request A Free Quote Today!
If you need a custom carry case with wheels, just click on the Request A Quote tab on our homepage and complete our quote form. If you have any questions about our cases, just click on the Contact Us tab, fill out our quick contact form and a company representative will be in touch as soon as possible.
Bel-Air Cases: Quality Custom Road Cases
Whether you are a DJ or part of the crew for a band or perhaps on the road for video production, heavy-duty custom road cases are nearly as important as the equipment itself. As a professional, you put a significant amount of money into the tools of your trade, and it’s also essential to put money into protecting them.
A custom road case is an integral piece of equipment for a musician or band, a recording studio, a DJ, or an AV professional. Whether you’re storing, transporting or shipping your equipment, these cases ensure that your equipment gets protected from physical damage and moisture and dust.
At Bel-Air Cases, we can provide you with custom road cases that fit your needs and completely protect whatever you place inside. Here’s a quick look at our made-to-order road cases.
Why Custom Cases?
Made-to-order road cases are custom designed to protect a specific piece or pieces of equipment safely and securely. With off-the-shelf cases, you won’t enjoy the same level of protection as a custom case can provide. Our cases are built around your equipment, which provides you with the highest possible level of protection.
While custom cases come with a higher price tag than off-the-shelf cases, the quality workmanship and custom foam interiors act as a sort of insurance against the type of damage that typically occurs when you ship and transport expensive equipment.
Our heavy-duty shipping cases not only can withstand the punishment the transportation industry tends to inflict on shipping cases but they also are built to handle extreme conditions and environments. Our cases can withstand temperature extremes and high humidity with ease, protecting your equipment from heat-related or moisture-related damage.
Traditional Vs. Plastic Custom Road Cases
When you think of road cases, the typical fabricated wood or composite cases probably spring to mind. While these traditional road cases do offer a high level of customization, they do lack a few of the features you would enjoy with our heavy-duty shipping cases.
Bel-Air Cases Offer High Durability
You want a case that can withstand the rigors of the road, and our heavy-duty, custom road cases are built to handle the abuse of transportation. Our vacuum-formed cases are built using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shells with durable aluminum valances.
Our cases meet ATA standards and even many military specifications, and if the armed forces trust our cases to protect their equipment, you can rest assured that your music and audio equipment will be well-protected.
How Strong Is High-Density Polyethylene Plastic?
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is one of the most common and reliable plastics on the market today. This durable plastic is even used for many applications in the automotive and industrial markets.
HDPE can be used for carrying heavy loads, shipping, and storing. It’s lightweight and durable, making it an ideal option for many shipping needs.
HDPE is resistant to corrosion and damage from chemicals. It’s this reason that it is one of the most commonly used plastics in the marine industry. It’s also why it gets used as a liner in concrete forms when constructing buildings, bridges, and other large structures. While you wouldn’t anticipate your road cases coming into contact with chemicals, they can protect your equipment from water damage or just about any other liquid.
Our Custom Foam Interiors Add Extra Protection
While the exterior of our custom road cases can handle just about anything the transportation industry throws at it, we believe the custom foam interiors are just important.
We use high-quality, durable foam and each insert is custom-made to cushion and protect your equipment perfectly. The padding helps absorb impact as well as limit vibration, which can damage some types of delicate equipment.
It is important to note that, unlike some case manufacturers, Bel-Air Cases will never hand off a custom road case with a chunk of diced or pick-and-pluck foam. This is a cheap type of foam common to the case industry and using this type of foam forces the customer to pick and cut away at the foam to create cavities for their equipment.
Not only does this provide inadequate protection, but this cheap foam also tends to break down quickly. Additionally, if you are paying for a custom case, we believe that this should include a custom foam interior and we can provide any type of foam interior you might need from simple foam liners to foam interiors with custom die cuts, interior walls, plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts.
Lightweight = Lower Shipping Costs
These days, with astronomical gas prices, shipping costs are skyrocketing. Our HDPE cases are much lighter than traditional road cases and this can help to reduce your shipping costs. Lighter cases are easier to manage, as well, and we can add wheels and handles to your cases to further increase the ease of transport.
Many Custom Features
At Bel-Air Cases, we offer an unparalleled number of custom features. For instance, while our stock colors are black and silver, we offer several other optional stock colors including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a specific minimum order, we also may be able to provide custom colors or color matching.
We can add custom engraved plates or custom decals to any case, and we can even design your cases with a molded-in logo, which adds a professional, personalized touch to any case.
Our custom features also include many different types of wheels, handles, latches and case feet, as well as case locks. If we don’t have precisely what you are looking for among our stock items, we will do our best to find what you need and provide you with complete customization that meets all of your case needs.
Why Choose Bel-Air Cases?
Bel-Air Cases has been an industry leader for custom road cases, carry cases and shipping cases for more than 50 years. Our cases are custom-made to fit your exact requirements and can be used for a wide range of equipment, audio, lighting and video, and more.
We love working with musicians and bands, and our team includes professionals who understand the importance of protecting your equipment. Bel-Air’s heavy-duty shipping cases are built to handle any kind of transport, which makes them ideal for use as custom road cases.
Order Your Custom Road Cases Today!
Our custom road cases can protect your gear for many years and even decades. If you are ready to get started on a custom case project, you can click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form or give us a call at (866) 235-2472.
ATA Shipping Cases: Advantages of Custom Shipping Cases
Do you wring your hands in fear every time you send your specialized equipment through air mail? How about when you check it on planes? If so, you’re not overreacting. Airlines mishandle and break millions of checked packages and bags every year, and that’s why ATA shipping cases can be so important.
Basic shipping cases don’t lend as much protection as ATA shipping cases custom-built for the purpose. These shipping cases are designed and built to rigorous standards that were created by the airline industry to ensure that they can handle the jostling and bumping common during transport yet still protect whatever might be inside.
If you aren’t certain whether to opt for a stock shipping case versus one of our custom shipping cases, let’s take a look at some of the key advantages of opting for custom cases before sending your equipment on its next journey.
Avoid Airline Shipping Drama
If you’ve ever had damaged cargo, you know how hard it is to get any reimbursement from the airlines. With ATA custom shipping cases, the wasted time and drama of arguing with stubborn airlines and shippers are things of the past. You don’t need to fret over whether you have the right shipping for medical equipment, scientific goods, or even musical instruments.
ATA stands for the Air Transport Association, which is now called Airlines for America and is the trade association for the United States’ biggest airlines. They don’t inspect ATA cases but set guidelines that companies making shipping for lighting equipment and other sensitive goods follow. Their standards protect airlines’ equipment and yours as well.
There’s No Wiggle Room in Custom ATA Shipping Cases
If you’re reading this, chances are good that you’re not sure of the best ways to ship expensive and fragile goods. Yet, non-custom shipping case companies make you do all the work. They want you to think you’re an expert in shipping medical equipment and other specialty items!
You’d be right to feel they don’t care about your equipment at all.
That might sound silly for companies that make their names selling protective plastic cases, but they show their feelings with the standard “pick and pluck” style of case lining. Unlike the custom foam linings in Bel-Air’s ATA shipping cases, these aren’t suited to shipping for lighting equipment, medical equipment and other valuable things. The company that’s supposed to help protect your things hands off a case full of chopped-up foam to pick at until your equipment fits.
This is a particular issue with shipping for diagnostic equipment and other sensitive tools that have both large areas and small, sensitive parts like probes. Even doing your best, picking away at diced foam leaves uneven areas where the shipping process causes jostling. In many cases, that damages the encased items.
Custom shipping cases, on the other hand, have every nook and cranny custom-made with your specific equipment in mind. There’s no wiggle room, making them perfect shipping for medical equipment, camera equipment, audio equipment and similar breakable things.
Add Special Compartments
Another downside of typical, cubed shipping case foam is that it doesn’t have exact compartments for different items. If you want to keep an item with its accessories in a standard shipping case, you have an organizational nightmare.
All you can do is cross your fingers that all the items fit in one case. Trying to find space in the pick and pull foam for things like five items in a computer set often leads to one or two odd items out. A custom case lets you add compartments for those things and keep everything together for more convenient shipping.
Spend a Little, Save a Lot
Consider how much bad shipping for lighting equipment and other sensitive items can cost you. Large shipping cases could crush your items or knock them around, and poorly-fitting shipping material would lead to damage.
With that in mind, ATA shipping cases are an obvious investment with great value. Using them, you don’t have to spend an endless amount as airlines and shippers damage your equipment year after year. Even in rough conditions, ATA cases tend to many years (or even decades) before needing replacement. Our shipping cases are built to meet or exceed ATA standards and designed to protect each piece of your equipment perfectly.
Don’t Risk the Weather
High-quality ATA custom shipping cases are great for keeping the elements away. Most premade, standard cases offer no such guarantee. That’s not a risk you want to take with shipping diagnostic equipment or other expensive items.
Even standard shipping cases that claim weather resistance aren’t appropriate for special things. Shipping for medical equipment must have a custom fit or there could be issues with rain, snow, and even dust storms.
Equipment parts that are a little too wide or fit awkwardly strain the seams and closures of poorly-fitted cases. This could make room for water or dirt to make its way into the case. Custom shipping cases that fit ATA guidelines avoid this devastating problem and our heavy-duty shipping cases are up to the challenge.
Make Your Shipping Case Your Own
Even standard shipping cases with colorful options and prints only have so much variety. It’s easy to mix them up during shipment, delivery, or pick-up because they look alike. You can mark yours, but labels wear and peel and tags fall off.
Instead, it’s better to opt for professional custom shipping cases instead of trying to personalize basic cases. Choosing a unique combination of molded designs, engraved labels and custom colors will distinguish your shipping case from others.
Specially-designed custom shipping cases with personalized designs also look better than self-decorated ones. Chances are good that your items have a professional use and shipping for medical equipment or a band’s instruments should have a dignified look. Investing in branded custom ATA shipping cases will bolster your or your organization’s reputation.
We offer black and silver as our stock case colors, but we also offer several additional colors including white, yellow, orange, blue, red, green and olive. With a bulk case order, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching. We also can add a molded-in logo to your cases or add custom decals or engraved plates.
We Have the Custom Shipping Cases You Need
ATA-quality equipment cases are ideal for transporting all your valuable equipment, and we build each case from scratch, to meet all of your specific case needs. At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing custom shipping cases and carry cases for more than 50 years and can provide you with whatever you might need. Don’t hesitate to get in touch online or call (866) 235-2472 to learn more about our ATA shipping cases to start an order.
Rugged Custom Shipping Cases With Wheels
While a shipping case is meant to withstand the rigors of transport, too often these cases are bulky, heavy and difficult to handle. Our heavy-duty shipping cases with wheels are the perfect option – lightweight and easy to maneuver yet tough enough to handle hundreds of trips by land, sea and air.
As you can see from the picture above, we have a large selection of case wheels. Adding wheels can be a great option for just about any case, and we also have a large selection of handles. This includes telescoping handles, which make it easy to maneuver your Bel-Air case through a crowded airport or train station or any other high-traffic area. If you don’t find the exact type or style of wheels or handles you want on our website, just let us know what you need, and we probably will be able to find a good source for your components.
Of course, we also offer many other custom options. If you would prefer a shipping case without wheels, we can provide you with different types of case feet. We also have a large selection of latches and locks and can design cases either with built-in rigid wheels or removable casters.
Naturally, we also offer an assortment of color options for your case. Our standard case colors are silver or black, but we have several additional stock colors including white, blue, green, olive, red and yellow. With a specific minimum order, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching. We also can create a molded-in logo for your case or custom decals or engraved plates.
These color and customization options add a professional flair to any shipping cases with wheels and make it easier for your team to identify shipping cases at the airport, on a trade show floor or anywhere else you need to take them.
Top Protection – Even In Extreme Conditions
We also can add humidity indicators and pressure relief valves to your custom case. Our team has designed custom cases for military and aerospace applications for many years, and these clients often need what is known as a controlled breather case. These cases have tight seals to lock out dust, humidity and moisture, but we add a pressure relief valve to ensure that allows some air intake while still locking out moisture. The pressure relief valve also ensures that the user can open the case easily even when exposed to fluctuations in temperature or altitude.
Off-The-Shelf Vs. Custom Shipping Cases
If you need to transport equipment as luggage or freight frequently, you have several options to consider. You can purchase an off-the-shelf shipping case or a custom shipping case. Off-the-shelf shipping cases can be a good option if you just need one case or the items you are transporting aren’t very expensive or delicate or if you need cases available right away.
Custom shipping cases with wheels are a better option if you need to transport anything particularly delicate or expensive (or both). Our shipping cases are built from scratch and designed around your equipment or products. While it takes a few weeks to build a Bel-Air Case, these cases are highly protective and meant to last for years and years. We have customers from the 1960s that still use their 50-year-old cases.
Of course, there are several different types of custom equipment cases. Our shipping cases with wheels are vacuum-formed from high-density polyethylene, which is a durable, lightweight, moisture-resistant and impact-resistant type of thermoform plastic.
Other options include roto-molded cases or injection-molded cases. These also use plastic shells, and while roto-molded cases are highly durable, they are very heavy and neither injection-molded or roto-molded cases are as customizable as our vacuum-formed shipping cases.
Fabricated cases, which are created out of laminated wood or composites, are available in just about any size or configuration you might need, but these also are quite heavy and tend to be more expensive than cases made from plastic. Still, if our vacuum-formed cases don’t seem like the right fit for your equipment, we will let you know and help you find another source.
Custom Foam Interiors
While the exterior of your shipping cases needs to be durable, the foam inside the case can be just as important. Too often, a case manufacturer focuses only on the exterior shell and just hands off a case with a chunk of diced foam. Then the customer has to cut away at the foam to create cavities for their equipment. These imprecise cavities won’t really protect your equipment and this type of foam tends to break down quickly and will need to be replaced.
We never hand off a case filled with cheap “pick and pluck foam,” instead we fabricate high-quality custom foam interiors for each case, built around your equipment. Our foam cushions every centimeter of your equipment and provides additional impact resistance and protects against damage from vibrations, as well.
Our design team can fabricate any type of foam interior that you might need, and we are experts at creating complex die-cuts, interior walls, shock mounts, panel mounts, windows, plastic dividers or whatever else you might need.
How To Get Started
If you need shipping cases with wheels, you can simply click on the Request a Quote tab on our homepage. First, provide us with contact information and then you have the option of filling out our Simple RFQ Form or the Complete RFQ form. Once you’ve completed the form, just click submit and one of our case specialists will begin working on your free quote. If you have questions, just click on the Contact Us tab and fill out our quick contact form or call us at (866) 235-2472.
Heavy-Duty Lighting Cases From Bel-Air Cases
Lighting equipment is both expensive and delicate, and if you need to transport any type of lighting or related equipment, you need lighting cases that are tough enough to handle rugged environments. At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing custom lighting cases for more than 50 years and can provide you with attractive, protective shipping cases that can handle the rigors of transportation.
Lighting Case Options
At Bel-Air Cases, we offer two options for equipment and lighting cases – you can choose between our carrying cases or our heavy-duty shipping cases. Our heavy-duty carry case might be a good match for smaller pieces of equipment, such as cameras, lenses, light meters and other smaller items.
For larger pieces of lighting equipment, our heavy-duty shipping cases are the best option, and we can add wheels and handles to any case to make them easier to maneuver. Our shipping cases also are built to stack neatly and efficiently, which makes it easier to store your equipment, and each shipping case includes molded bumpers and stacking lugs.
For cases smaller than 30”, we can add a telescoping handle and wheels, but for larger shipping cases, we usually recommend adding a 3” or 7” end handle as these cases already are long enough for easy and comfortable maneuvering. All of the hardware is created using durable materials such as stainless steel, and we use tough aluminum valances for each case.
The exterior shells of our equipment and lighting cases are vacuum-formed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE). We chose HDPE as our top material choice for several reasons. HDPE is a highly affordable plastic, but, more importantly, this is one of the most rugged, durable materials available. HDPE has high impact resistance and high moisture resistance, and our cases can handle temperature extremes and rugged conditions without affecting the equipment inside the case.
Furthermore, HDPE is an excellent option because it is extremely lightweight. Not only does this make it easier for the customer to carry or move their lighting cases, but it also can reduce your shipping costs. Other case types typically are formed using heavier materials, and it costs more to ship a heavy case. We also build each case around your equipment, so there’s no excess material. With HDPE, you can have a smaller, lighter case that is easier and less expensive to transport yet still highly protective.
Lighting & Equipment Cases With Foam
While the exterior of your lighting cases needs to be able to handle rugged environments, such as the cargo hold of a plane, we also focus on designing custom foam inserts for all of our equipment cases. Each case can include a custom foam insert that is built specifically for each piece of your lighting equipment. Our quality foam will cushion and protect your lighting equipment, camera equipment, audio-visual equipment or anything else you need to store and protect.
Custom foam is always a big part of any lighting case project, and we never simply hand off our cases with a chunk of diced foam. This is a cheap type of foam, also known and pick and pluck foam. This poor-quality foam doesn’t last as long as the durable polyethylene foam we use, and when customers receive this cheap diced foam, they are forced to cut or pick away at the foam to make cavities for their equipment.
We believe that if you are paying for custom lighting cases, this should include a custom foam interior. We can usually construct foam sets for around the same price you’d expect to pay for cases with foam slabs or diced foam, and our foam provides far greater protection for your delicate items.
Many Custom Options
While we can customize the size and configuration of your lighting cases, as well as the interior foam, we also have many other custom options available. We offer two standard colors for our plastic shipping cases – black and silver, but we also have additional stock colors, including red, orange, yellow, blue, green, olive and white. With a minimum order, we may be able to provide you with color matching or custom colors.
We also can personalize the shell of your equipment and lighting cases with a molded-in logo, custom engraved plates or custom decals. This adds a professional touch to your shipping cases and also makes them easier to identify at a busy airport or perhaps at a large event or trade show.
Contact Us Today!
While creating hard plastic cases for lighting, including LED lighting, is one of our areas of specialization, we can create heavy-duty shipping cases for just about any type of equipment. Through the years, we have built equipment for military and aerospace clients, as well as medical equipment cases, diagnostic equipment cases and even carry cases for sales kits and OEM cases.
If you have any questions about our custom lighting cases, you can contact us at (866) 235-2472 or click the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. If you are ready to make a purchase, simply click on the Request A Quote tab and provide us with some information about the type of shipping cases that you need us to manufacture.
Bel-Air Cargo Cases: Rugged Custom Shipping Cases
If you need to ship expensive or delicate items as luggage or cargo, you need cargo cases that can withstand the punishment inflicted by the transportation industry. Our Bel-Air custom shipping cases can protect your products whether they are transported by airplane, container ship, train, trucks, tanks or even in a rocket to the International Space Station.
There are plenty of case manufacturers out there, so why choose us over an off-the-shelf case company or another custom cargo case or shipping case manufacturer? There are several reasons why we believe Bel-Air Cases is the best option for many types of equipment.
5 Reasons To Choose Bel-Air Cargo Cases
- We Have 50+ Years Of Experience
Bel-Air Cases is the original manufacturer of vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases. Since the 1960s, we’ve designed and built cases for just about any item imaginable, and our team has the experience and know-how to create a case that is perfect for your needs, no matter what those might be.
- Our Heavy-Duty Cases Meet ATA Guidelines
ATA specifications were created by the airline industry to help consumers find cases that were built to withstand frequent air travel. The airline industry can be tough on cases, but our heavy-duty shipping cases can handle flight after flight with ease and continue to protect whatever you place inside your case.
ATA specifications require that an ATA case be able to handle at least 100 round-trip flights, and we think you will find that our ATA shipping cases can go well beyond this standard and our shipping cases also meet many MIL specifications.
Whether you need ATA cases or you need cases that meet military, government or aerospace specifications, we are likely to be able to provide you with cargo cases that meet all of your transportation needs.
If you need waterproof cargo cases, our cases fit the bill. You can drag our custom shipping cases through a Brazilian rainforest without worrying about damaging what’s inside. Our cases also can handle temperature extremes, so whether you need a case that can handle the freezing temperatures of Antarctica or the heat of Death Valley, we have you covered.
- Our Shipping Cases Are Made-To-Order, Yet Affordable
At Bel-Air Cases, we do not offer any off-the-shelf cases as every case is made to order. This means we don’t have any cases already, completely build, in stock or ready to ship. Our goal is to build the best cargo cases for your requirements and not try to fit you into the closest size case we might already happen to have. This provides you with a much greater range of sizes and options, assembled just the way you want it.
While each case is made to order, our customers often are surprised at the overall affordability. We certainly don’t sell cheap $50 cases, but you also won’t find many $900 cases either. Typically, you can expect to pay about $400 each for five large shipping cases, which is actually a great value for made-to-order thermoformed cases.
- Each Case Includes Custom Foam
While the exterior of our cargo cases is tough and durable, our shipping cases also include a custom foam insert. Unlike many companies in the case industry, we never hand off a case with a hunk of cheap pick and pluck foam, also known as diced foam. This is a low-quality type of foam, and not only is it not as protective as our custom foam, but the customer also is forced to create custom cavities for their equipment by snipping away at the foam with scissors or blades.
If a customer is paying for a hard case with foam, we firmly believe they should not have to deal with this cheap diced foam. Our custom foam interiors can be as simple as a high-quality foam liner, or we can fabricate interior walls, add dividers or interior doors, add panel mounts or shock mounts and much more. We design each foam insert specifically around the products placed inside, and the case foam adds another layer of protection to keep your delicate equipment safe from the bumps and jolts typical during transportation.
- You Can Customize Everything!
In addition to customizing the size of your cargo cases and the interior foam, we have many other custom options. You can add different types of wheels and handles to your cases, including telescoping handles. You can choose from a wide selection of locks and latches, and if you don’t see precisely what you want on our website, we can probably find what you are looking for and we are happy to search around until we find the perfect match.
Additionally, we can provide you with an assortment of case colors. Black and silver are our standard case colors, but we can create your cargo cases in several other stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum order, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching. We also can add molded-in logos, custom decals or engraved plates to your cases.
What Can You Ship In Our Cargo Cases?
While you can place just about anything inside a custom Bel-Air shipping case, here are just a few items for which our heavy-duty equipment cases are commonly used:
- Aerospace Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Cameras & Related Equipment
- Commercial Tooling
- Computer Equipment (and Electronics)
- Diagnostic & Testing Equipment
- Industrial Tooling
- Lighting Equipment (Industrial & Commercial)
- Medical Equipment
- Military Equipment
- Motorcycle Engines
- Surveying & Seismographic Devices
Additionally, we also produce custom expo cases, which are ideal for trade show displays and graphics or any other item with an odd size or shape that won’t fit easily into a standard shipping case.
We also produce medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases. These carry cases can be used to hold many types of equipment and also are used frequently as sales kits and OEM cases. Our medium-duty cases are not appropriate for items that will be frequently shipped as luggage or cargo, but our heavy-duty carrying cases can handle the rigors of transport with ease.
Contact Bel-Air Cases Today!
If you need rugged custom shipping cases or cargo cases, contact us at any time. If we don’t think our cases are the perfect fit for your equipment, we will let you know, but we typically can match every customer to custom cases that meet their specifications and their budget. You can contact us by phone at (866) 235-2472 or via email at info@bel-air-cases.com.
Plastic Cases With Foam Inserts: Why Foam Matters
At Bel-Air Cases, our custom plastic carrying cases and shipping cases are built to be protective and durable, but we are well aware that if you truly want to protect what’s inside a case, plastic cases with foam inserts are essential. Still, it’s not just about adding foam, it’s about adding the highest quality foam inserts, which is the only kind of foam we provide for our clients.
Custom Foam Vs. Pick & Pluck Foam
Too often in the case industry, a custom case maker hands off a case with a chunk of diced foam inside. This also is known as pick and pluck foam because the new owner of the case has to pick away and pluck away at the foam in order to create cavities for their equipment.
Not only does this look sloppy, but it’s also not nearly as protective as a custom foam insert. Pick and pluck foam tends to be low-quality foam, as well, and will break down quickly, forcing the case owner to purchase new foam and pick and pluck and cut out new cavities.
We’ve been designing and producing carrying cases, shipping cases and expo cases for more than 50 years and not once have we ever handed off a case with a chunk of diced foam. Each of our plastic cases with foam includes a custom foam insert. It might be as simple as a quality foam liner, or we can provide you with a design that shields and cushions every piece of equipment that will go inside the case.
Foam is crucial because it protects delicate and expensive items from the typical jostling involved in transportation, and our durable foam also absorbs vibrations. Our custom foam inserts are designed to fit precisely around your equipment, providing the highest level of support and protection.
Which Type Of Case Do You Need?
We offer three different categories of custom plastic cases – carrying cases, shipping cases and expo cases.
Carrying Cases – We offer medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases and these are ideal for sales kits, diagnostic equipment, medical kits, smaller photography equipment and even as OEM cases.
Medium-duty cases are best used for items that only occasionally will be transported as luggage and for items that weigh between five and 40 pounds. Typically, a medium-duty carrying case will be transported by car or perhaps in the overhead bin of an airplane, but they aren’t really meant to be used as freight cases.
If you need a carrying case that can be transported frequently as luggage or cargo, our heavy-duty cases are your best option. These cases can protect delicate items and heavy items that weigh 30 to 40 pounds.
Shipping Cases – If you need tough, durable cases that can handle the rigors of transportation and frequent shipping, our heavy-duty shipping cases are your best option. These cases can be built to accommodate most ATA and MIL specifications and are designed using the toughest materials and hardware we carry. In fact, our client list includes many aerospace companies as well as the U.S. military, so our plastic cases with foam truly can handle the toughest environments.
Expo Cases – These cases (also known as trade show cases) are built using the same tough materials as our shipping cases, but they come in unique sizes to carry items frequently transported to trade shows, such as posters, graphics, displays, banners and other objects that just don’t fit into our regular style cases.
How We Make Plastic Cases With Foam
Bel-Air Cases was the first company to produce vacuum-formed hard plastic cases. Each of our equipment cases, carry cases and shipping cases are custom-made to order, and we do not offer any off-the-shelf cases.
To build each case, we use thick sheets of high-density polyethylene, which is a durable, impact-resistant and moisture-resistant thermoform plastic. We chose this material because of its durability as well as its ability to withstand temperature extremes and keep out moisture and water. It’s also very lightweight, which can reduce your shipping costs.
Each sheet of plastic is heated to a malleable temperature and then vacuum-formed using a custom mold. Once each half of your case has been vacuum-formed, we use heavy-duty aluminum valances to hold the two halves together. We can then add a variety of standard and optional hardware components including hinges, latches, handles and wheels.
In addition to offering many options for custom handles, wheels, latches and other hardware, we also can customize the look of your cases. Our standard colors are silver and black, but we have several optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue. With a minimum purchase, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
Many of our customers also like to personalize their cases with graphics and logos. We can add a molded-in logo to each of your hard plastic case with foam inside or add engraved plates or custom decals. These can be a great option for OEM cases and sales kits, providing you with a truly professional look, but they also can make it easy to gather up your cases at a busy airport, trade show or other events.
Our Foam Options
While we offer tons of custom options for your case exterior, we are experts at fabricating foam interiors. We can create custom die-cut cavities, fabricate interior walls, add plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts depending on your needs and the type of equipment or items you intend to place inside.
Custom foam is the best option for just about any carrying case or shipping case, and we usually can construct custom foam sets for around the same price as you’d expect to pay for cases filled with diced foam or cheap foam slabs.
If you need custom plastic cases with foam inserts, the team at Bel-Air Cases is ready to help. We can provide you with carrying cases, expo cases and durable shipping cases. To get started with a case project, just click on the Contact tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. You also can call us at (866) 235-2472 or email us at info@bel-air-cases.com.
Shipping Your Hard Case With Foam
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing and producing custom cases for more than 50 years, and if you need a hard case with foam that can handle the rigors of transportation, we’ve got you covered. But, we also have some helpful information about shipping your cases, and which carriers might offer the best options for your needs.
First, A Look At Our Foam
While the exterior of a Bel-Air hard case with foam is built to handle shipping as cargo or freight, the foam interiors are just as important and as you came to this page looking for a “hard case with foam,” let’s talk about foam for a minute.
It’s not uncommon within the case industry for manufacturers to hand off completed cases with a chunk of diced foam inside. This also is known as pick and pluck foam, and it’s a cheap type of foam that is not built specifically for your case. In fact, the customer is responsible for cutting away at the foam with a razor blade in order to create cavities to hold their equipment. While this practice is common, we find it unacceptable.
We believe that if a customer is investing in a quality custom hard case with foam, that foam needs to be high-quality and customized to whatever will be going inside. We can design any type of foam interior you might need and are experts in fabricating interior walls, plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts.
Our quality foam also will hold up for many years, unlike the diced foam that some manufacturers use. If you truly want a highly protective hard case with foam that can stand up to the punishment inflicted by the transportation industry, our plastic cases are equal to the task.
Your Shipping Options
Our heavy-duty carrying cases and heavy-duty shipping cases can be shipped without any additional packaging. Depending on the size of the case, you have many shipping options including UPS, FedEx, DHL and the United States Postal Service (USPS). If your case fits within an airline’s luggage specifications, you also maybe be able to simply bring it with you are cargo during your flight.
USPS will not ship packages more than 130 inches in combined length and girth, and once your parcel is more than 108 inches, your case falls in the Very Large USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select categories.
UPS has similar restrictions, as well as a weight limit of 150 pounds for regular parcels. If you are over that size or weight, you will need to opt for UPS’ freight services and they offer a variety of freight services, both domestically and internationally. FedEx also places packages greater in weight than 150 pounds in the freight services category.
Keep in mind, our largest shipping case has a combined total measurement of less than 108 inches, so if the total weight is less than 150 pounds, you may be able to ship the case without opting for freight services. We can build larger cases if you need them, of course, but our largest standard model is 48×24 and up to 27 inches in total height. When it comes to our heavy-duty carrying cases, only our very largest sizes exceed 108 inches and are just over 40 pounds empty at their heaviest.
In many situations, it’s smart to look beyond USPS, UPS or FedEx for your freight shipping needs. For instance, you could look into less-than-load freight shipping, also known as less-than-truckload shipping or just LTL shipping. Basically, with LTL shipping, you are taking up a portion of space on a truck and because other shippers also are paying for a portion of the space, the overall costs can be more affordable than with other types of freight shipping.
When it comes to expo cases, which we also produce, and cases shipped for trade shows, we recommend you look into special event shipping companies. These companies specialize in moving freight for companies involved in trade shows and other big events, and they often have better pricing than you would find through a more traditional type of freight company.
If you are shipping your case, we recommend having them built with locking mechanisms, and we have several options, including key locks and combination locks. Our best tip is to let us know how you intend to ship your hard case with foam so that we can build it out with that in mind.
Which Case Is Your Best Option?
If you plan on shipping your cases frequently, you have several options when it comes to case type, and each has its pros and cons. The most important factor is to ensure that the shipping cases you purchase are built to ATA standards.
ATA standards were created by the airline industry for suitcase and shipping case manufacturers and when cases are built to ATA standards, it means they are built to handle frequent transport, whether it’s as cargo on an airplane, truck, train or ship. We can build you cases that meet most ATA and MIL specs. Our clients include the aerospace industry and the military, so we have many years of experience building cases that have to handle the toughest conditions.
We specialize in designing and producing custom vacuum-formed hard plastic cases. Our cases are built using high-density polyethylene, which is a durable type of plastic known for its impact resistance. This polyethylene also is moisture-resistant and resistant to many chemicals and can handle temperature extremes. Polyethylene also is very lightweight, which helps keep your shipping costs down.
Other options include roto-molded cases, injection-mold cases and fabricated wood cases. Each of these types of cases has its pros and cons. For instance, roto-molded cases and fabricated wood are very heavy, but roto-molded cases are quite durable and fabricated cases can be easily customized to whatever configuration you need. The team at Bel-Air Cases will let you know if our vacuum-formed cases are your best option or something else might be a better fit as we want all of our customers matched to the best possible case type for their needs.
With vacuum-forming, we can design cases in almost unlimited sizes and configurations. Through the years, we have collected a wide variety of case tooling, with more than 50 different configurations ready to go. However, if you need a unique size, we can build that for you, as well, although it might add a few extra weeks to your case project.
If you need a hard case with foam (or many), the team at Bel-Air Cases can help. We’ve been designing custom shipping cases and carrying cases since the 1960s for everything from lighting equipment to audio-visual equipment to military equipment. Our cases can be used for sales kits, medical kits, diagnostic equipment and even as OEM cases. Give us a call at any time and let’s get started on your custom case project.
Bel-Air Plastic Carrying Cases With Handles
If you’ve been searching the internet for a custom “plastic carrying case with handle,” the team at Bel-Air Cases can design whatever you might need. We’ve been designing and producing plastic carrying cases and shipping cases for more than 50 years for clients in a wide range of industries. Here are four quick facts about Bel-Air Cases and what we provide for our clients.
- We Have Two Plastic Carrying Case “Levels”
At Bel-Air Cases, we offer a medium-duty plastic carrying case and a heavy-duty plastic carrying case. The medium-duty cases are designed to be used as sales kits, demo kits and OEM cases and for items that weigh up to 40 pounds. While these cases can be transported occasionally as luggage, they aren’t meant for frequent transport. Most of our medium-duty cases tend to be used for short-distance travel, typically in a vehicle trunk or backseat.
If you do need the convenience of a plastic carrying case, but also intend to ship that case frequently as cargo or luggage, our heavy-duty carrying cases are the perfect option. This is also a great option for heavier items that weigh 30 to 40 pounds.
These cases are built using the same materials we use for our shipping cases, but they are formed using our carrying case molds, which results in an easy-to-transport case that offers maximum protection. In fact, our heavy-duty plastic carrying case with a handle can meet MIL and ATA specifications. Over the years, we’ve had many military and aerospace clients that use our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases, and these cases definitely can hold up to the rigors of military and aerospace transport.
- We Use Tough Materials
When you think about the term, “plastic carrying case,” you might not correlate the idea of plastic with words like durable and tough, but the polyethylene we use for our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases is one of the most durable case materials available.
Plastic materials are tough and impact-resistant, as well as moisture-resistant. Our cases can handle temperature extremes and changing weather conditions. Whether you need to take a Bel-Air Case to a research station in Antarctica or into the Brazilian rainforest, your Bel-Air case can handle the temperature changes or even a torrential downpour. Our plastic materials are chemical-resistant and UV-resistant, as well.
Of course, many people worry that in order for cases to be tough, they will end up with an excessively heavy carrying case, but polyethylene is extremely lightweight and the aluminum we use for the case valances is also lightweight, yet highly durable. While our heavy-duty cases can handle the rigors of transport with ease, your plastic case with handle also will be easy to tote.
- We Have Many Handle Options
Every Bel-Air Case is made-to-order, we don’t have any off-the-shelf cases, and this provides customers with the freedom to create completely custom plastic carrying cases with handles. Obviously, every case needs a sturdy handle, and we have a wide variety, including everything from telescoping handles to strap and briefcase type handles. Handles can be recessed, as well, which complies with ATA specifications.
Of course, it’s not just about customizing a plastic carrying case with a handle, we also have a variety of other custom features, including wheels, hinges, latches and locks. While our carrying cases can be carried easily, adding wheels and a telescoping handle can be a great option if your case contains heavier items. We also can add a variety of locking mechanisms, including key locks and combination locks.
In addition to creating a custom plastic carrying case with handle, wheels, locks and latches, we also can add in a molded-in logo, a custom decal or engraved plates. Our standard colors include silver and black, but we also have several optional stock colors. With a specific minimum order, we may be able to provide you with color matching or a custom color.
- We Provide Custom Foam Interiors
While the exterior of your case is important and protective, the interior can be just as important. We design our custom foam interiors with your products or equipment in mind, and each custom cavity or die-cut will surround and cushion your equipment precisely.
Too often, custom case makers will hand off a great-looking plastic carrying case with a handle, but once you open it, you find a chunk of diced foam inside. This low-quality type of foam, also known and pick and pluck foam, is a problem for several reasons. Not only does it force the client to cut away at the foam to create custom cavities for their client, but it also tends to break down quickly and you’ll have to replace the foam again and again. Of course, once you finish plucking away at the foam, you will have a bunch of foam let over that you end up throwing away.
We think our clients deserve better. If you’re paying for a custom carrying case or custom shipping case, a custom foam interior should be part of the project. We can design any type of custom foam interior you might need from a simple foam liner to foam interiors with plastic dividers, interior doors, windows, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Selecting A Case
At Bel-Air, our focus is on designing and building vacuum-formed plastic carrying cases and shipping cases, but those aren’t the only case option to consider. Our cases are ideal for many types of products including lighting equipment, audio-visual equipment, medical equipment, etc. Our heavy-duty carrying cases and shipping cases often are used to protect and store military or aerospace equipment, but they can be built around just about any item.
Our cases are ideal for any client that needs a high level of durability and/or a high level of customization. The process of vacuum forming is versatile and allows us nearly complete freedom in terms of case size and configuration. Additionally, our cases are much more lightweight than fabricated wood cases or roto-molded cases, which can greatly reduce your shipping costs. Our design team will help you determine if our vacuum-formed cases are the most appropriate options for your requirements. If not, we will help you find another source.
Contact Us Today
Whether you need just one custom plastic carrying case with a handle or you need a whole fleet of them, we can help. To get started with a custom case project, just click on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. You also can contact us by phone at (866) 235-2472 or email at info@bel-air-cases.com.