How To Read A Protective Case Datasheet
A protective case datasheet has four groups of numbers: the envelope (internal and external dimensions, narrow internal width, lid and base depth split), the structure (wall thickness, material, hardware), the mass (net and gross) and the logistics block (carton dimensions, pieces per carton, pallet and container figures). Read the internal envelope first and the marketing copy last.
Key points
- If a sheet shows one set of dimensions without labelling it, treat it as unreliable — the difference can be 20-40 mm per axis.
- Usable interior volume is always below the theoretical L × W × H figure because of radii, the seal channel and hardware.
- Net weight is the empty case; gross weight includes packing and varies by configuration.
- MOQ is not one number: stock, foam, logo, colour, OEM and mould each have their own threshold.
- Anything presented as a certification should name the standard, the laboratory and the tested configuration.
Field by field
| Field | Read It As |
|---|---|
| External L × W × H | Pallet, rack, vehicle and airline fit |
| Internal L × W × H | Whether your equipment fits. Size on this. |
| Narrow internal width | The minimum internal width where the shell tapers — matters in a rack |
| Lid / base depth | Split such as 44 + 320 mm; decides whether the item sits in the base |
| Wall thickness | Stacking behaviour and whether a gasket channel is viable |
| Internal vs usable volume | Theoretical vs what you can actually fill |
| Net / gross weight | Empty case vs packed for shipment |
| Carton + pieces per carton | The only way to build a freight plan without a sample shipment |
| MOQ tiers | Stock, foam, logo, colour, OEM and mould are separate thresholds |
Three questions to ask when a sheet is thin
Applications
This matters most where the case is part of a movement chain rather than shelf packaging. In industrial equipment the same shell is specified differently because the handling, the environment and the verification requirement differ.
- Industrial Equipment — In an industrial setting the case is a working surface as much as a container, and its interior …
Customisation
Everything described above is configurable on a standard shell: interior layout (pick-and-pluck, die-cut or CNC-cut), foam grade and thickness, colour, logo method, latch and lock count, pressure-equalisation valve, cable ports, document holder and identification plate. A bespoke exterior geometry requires a new mould — 125 days, from 3,000 units per moulded component.
Procurement considerations
| Question | What to send us |
|---|---|
| Which shell fits? | Equipment L × W × H as packed, plus required clearance per axis |
| What does it cost? | Order quantity and estimated annual quantity — the two drive different answers |
| Is tooling needed? | Whether an existing shell clears the envelope with usable foam depth |
| Lead time? | Your required delivery date, not just the order date |
| Certification? | The exact standard your tender names — we will say whether we can test to it |
| Freight? | Destination and preferred terms; carton and pallet data supplied with the quotation |
Comparison and selection guide
The tables on this page exist because a protective case is chosen by comparing three things: the envelope, the environment and the handling chain. Where no table applies, the rule below is.
| Situation | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Sea freight | Sealed configuration plus desiccant; salt spray is a handling issue, not a material issue. |
| Air freight | Mass and external dimensions drive cost more than volume. |
| Repeated movement | Replaceable latches, hinges and gaskets; keep a spares kit with the first order. |
- Size on internal dimensions plus clearance, never on a product name.
- Choose the carrying method before the shell: it changes the series, not just the price.
- Specify the interior last, and decide up front whether the end user will reconfigure it.
How To Read A Protective Case Datasheet relates to Logistics & Packing Guide. Related families: Equipment Transport Cases. Related sectors: Industrial Equipment. Continue in the Logistics & Packing Guide cluster.
This page is written from our own production data. If your requirement differs, send the dimensions and we will tell you which of the 155 models fits, or whether a custom route is needed.
