Shenzhen Jinwangxin’s JWX-ME-105 model is made of electrolytic cold-rolled plates and aluminum.

Makers boast facilities with mold-making to inspection and testing equipment. Most run ISO 9001-compliant operations.

Capability to handle various requirements stays on the agenda of suppliers in China’s electronic instrument enclosures segment. For this reason and to better control production and output quality, most manufacturers have invested in molding to testing machinery. They have secured ISO 9001 certification as further assurance, while a rising number are working to obtain ISO 14001 and TS 16949 approval as well. Suppliers pursuing the latter standard eye the demand uptick in the automotive sector.

For mold making, Dongguan Qiangfa Metal Product Co. Ltd uses Sodick wire-cutting machines, a CNC machining center and electric discharge machining units. Shenzhen Jinwangxin Hardware Co. Ltd has five wire-cutting, six milling and four grinding apparatuses, and three CNC machining centers.

The former manufacturer runs more than 40 10 to 1,000T stamping equipment. It is building another factory with an area covering 40,000sqm. Once operational in 4Q14, the facility will boost production capacity by 200 percent. The existing plant meets ISO 9001:2000, 14001:2004, QC 080000 and ISO/TS 16949 standards. Shenzhen Jinwangxin has 48 stamping, two CNC bending, one digital shearing, 20 tapping and 26 drilling units.

For strict QC, Dongguan Qiangfa adopts a Mitutoyo coordinate-measuring machine or CMM and an Easson EP-2/ES-8 projector. Shenzhen Jinwangxin has projectors, besides a CMM and hardness testing equipment. ISO 9001- and TS 16949-compliant Hebei Grande Precision Machinery Co. Ltd employs spectrometers, tensile and hardness testers, and CMMs. It follows PED guidelines and is preparing for ISO 14001.

Makers hope to benefit from the global electronic equipment and instruments’ climbing sales, which are forecast to hit $2.4 trillion by 2016 from $1.8 trillion in 2011, according to MarketLine. This translates to about 5 percent steady annual revenue increase for the corresponding enclosures line in the years ahead. In China, the projection is as much as 10 percent sales growth yearly.

More than 500 enterprises make up the line in the country. The majority are in the provinces of Jiangsu, Guangdong and Zhejiang.

Range by process, material

Products are categorized by forming techniques and metal types. Based on the process, there are stamped, cast, forged and sheet metal units. The first leads output.

Stamped enclosures constitute 100 percent of yield of Dongguan Qiangfa and Shenzhen Jinwangxin. Hebei Grande focuses on casting.

In terms of input, the options are iron, steel, copper and aluminum alloy. Models based on the second represent more than 90 percent of turnout. These are classified into hot- and cold-rolled carbon, galvanized, silicon and stainless steel kinds.

By surface treatment, there are painting, plating, powder coating, anodizing and polishing.

The common tolerance is 0.02 to 0.05mm. Dongguan Qiangfa can achieve ±0.03mm.

Companies accept specifications on the material and finish to be used, and product tolerance and dimensions.

Makers turn to local providers of metal, sourcing from foreign suppliers mainly from Japan and Germany on buyers’ request.

Prices are expected to stay at current levels in coming months owing to steady metal costs.

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Product gallery

Dongguan Qiangfa Metal Product Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: 1106750
MOQ: 500 units
Delivery: 20 days
Description: Stamped metal case; white powder coating; CAM, CAE, AutoCAD, Pro/Engineer; coordinate-measuring machine; OEM/ODM orders accepted

Hebei Grande Precision Machinery Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: Cap
MOQ: 1,000 units
Delivery: 40 days
Description: Instrument cap; CF8, CF8M or CF-3M; silica sol precision casting, investment machining; coordinate-measuring, universal testing machines; 60x30mm; 0.69kg; for water treatment, oil transport, construction, marine engineering applications; CE0035, DVGW, PED

Ocean Spring & Metal Mfg Ltd
(Hong Kong)

Model: Enclosure with Standoff Assembly/AAAA4
Description: 630 stainless steel; gray powder coating; REACH, RoHS

Shenzhen Jinwangxin Hardware Co. Ltd
(Mainland China)

Model: JWX-ME-105
MOQ: 1,000 units
Delivery: 30 days
Description: Electrolytic cold-rolled plates, aluminum; painting, powder coating, silk-screening; CNC punching, stamping machines; OEM/ODM orders accepted

Sun Strong Precision Metal International Ltd
(Hong Kong)

Model: Metal Stamping 89
Description: Ventilator chassis; 1mm 316 stainless steel; ASTM-A380-96 passivation; PEM inserts; for electronic medical devices