Heavy-Duty Custom Equipment Cases With Foam
If you need to ship expensive equipment or gear, custom equipment cases with foam are usually the best option. Our custom cases provide you with peace of mind that your equipment will arrive safely at its destination whether it travels by plane, train, truck or ship.
At Bel-Air Cases, we’ve been designing heavy-duty equipment cases and carrying cases for more than 50 years and can create a case that meets all of your specifications. While a custom case can be more expensive than an off-the-shelf case, the extra cost can be well worth the price.
Custom Vs. Off-The-Shelf
For some items, a simple off-the-shelf case might be fine. If you need to ship or transport something relatively inexpensive, it might not make sense to spend extra money for a complete custom equipment case with a custom foam interior.
However, if you do often need to transport expensive and/or delicate gear, a custom shipping case with a custom foam interior ensures that your equipment is protected, even on the most harrowing of journeys. Our cases meet ATA specifications and can be built to meet MIL specs, as well. Whether you need ATA cases that can handle hundreds of flights, or you need a case that can handle military-level or aerospace-level extremes, we’ve got you covered.
Each of our shipping cases is made-to-order using high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This thermoform plastic material is one of the most durable case materials. Impact-resistant, moisture-resistant and resistant to many chemicals and solvents, our cases will protect your equipment from the rigors or transport as well as water damage or damage from humidity.
HDPE is highly protective, but it’s also lightweight, which makes it easier to move around a crowded airport and cheaper to ship than cases built from other materials. We also use lightweight, but highly durable aluminum for our valances. The result is a case that can handle hundreds of trips by plane, train, bus, ship, rocket or whatever mode of transport you need to use.
The Custom Foam Interior
The Bel-Air custom foam interior acts as an extra layer of protection for your equipment. Off-the-shelf cases and, sadly, cases from many custom manufacturers, place a chunk of diced foam (pick-and-pluck foam) in the case and hand it off to customers.
With diced foam, the customer must cut away and pluck away at the foam to create cavities for their equipment. The result is ill-fitting and not nearly as protective as a cavity built precisely around your equipment.
We believe that every custom equipment case deserves a quality foam interior, and we build the interiors to fit each piece of your equipment perfectly. We also use high-quality foam that cushions your equipment and protects it from jostling and vibrations. We also can design a completely custom case with custom foam for about the same price as you’d pay for a case with cheap diced foam.
Once Upon A Case: Fictional Characters & Their Equipment Cases
Throughout the last 50 years, we’ve designed and built carrying cases and shipping cases for just about every type of equipment. This includes designing cases for military applications and aerospace clients as well as cases to hold music equipment, camera equipment, lighting equipment, diagnostic equipment and much more.
While we are serious about cases and can design a case for anyone in the real world, sometimes we dream up the type of cases we’d create for some of our favorite fictional characters, including:
Mr. Spock’s Custom Phaser Case
There’s nothing illogical about Mr. Spock’s custom-designed carrying case. The simple black exterior boasts a molded-in Vulcan logo to make it easy for Spock to find his case among the cargo on Starship Enterprise. Inside, there are custom foam cavities to protect his phasers during journeys from one side of the universe to the other.
Harry Potter’s Custom Equipment Case
One doesn’t always want to carry one’s wand from place to place, and Harry’s custom cases can handle a ride in a flying car, a frenetic trip on the Knight Bus or in the cargo hold of the Hogwarts Express. We also created his equipment cases with wheels to make it easy to transport his gear throughout King’s Cross Station.
While he opted for some of our smaller shipping case sizes, the interiors magically fit Harry’s wand perfectly, with spots for his Marauder’s Map, his Nimbus 2000 as well as a complete Quidditch set, a set of scales, an invisibility cloak, a time-turner and a Remembrall. Of course, we designed the cases with a molded-in Gryffindor Logo in Gryffindor red with stylish gold handles.
Mary Poppins’ Shipping Case
Sometimes a magical carpet bag is simply not enough, and you need a custom padded equipment case. For Ms. Poppins, we designed a simple black case (nothing showy, mind you) that cam hold a bottle of medicine, many spoonsful of sugar, a measuring tape, a large floor lamp, a hat stand, a potted plant, a looking glass and many other odds and ends. Mary’s case holds everything safely and securely and, just like Mary, it’s practically perfect in every way.
The Top-Secret Carrying Case
Of course, not all of these heavy-duty shipping cases and carrying cases need be magical, and an internationally known spy such as James Bond needs a case that can hold and protect an assortment of clever gadgets from Q’s top-secret workshop. Bond’s sleek silver case has 007 molded into the frame, to ensure that 006 and 008 don’t accidentally grab his case on their next mission.
Naturally, we’ve added an impenetrable locking system on the case, which can only be accessed with a fingerprint and corneal scan. Inside, you’ll find a special section for secret documents as well as custom foam cavities for a fountain pen that doubles as a pistol, a mini-rocket cigarette, a fingerprint scanner, a tiny spy camera, a watch that can deflect bullets and, naturally, a chilled cocktail glass and tiny bottles of Gordon’s gin, vodka, and a bit of lemon peel.
The Millennium Falcon Cases
Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, our team of designers created specialty smugglers shipping cases for a certain rogue pilot and his furry co-pilot. These cases could be used to hold blasters, kegs of illegal spices, the technical plans for a certain Death Star, lightsabers or whatever else would be needed to save the Rebellion and make a quick extra buck or two along the way. Because each case is lightweight, it also makes it easier for the Falcon to make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Order Your Bel-Air Equipment Cases Now!
While your equipment cases with foam might not need to carry a broomstick or a lightsaber, we know that your equipment is important to you. At Bel-Air Cases we will create a custom case with a quality custom foam interior that meets your specifications, even if they are MIL specs or you need a case that can handle a trip to Mars. To get started, just click on the Request A Quote tab on our homepage and let our team know more about your case project.
5 Benefits of Custom Case Foam For Your Shipping Cases
At Bel-Air Cases, we can design custom carrying cases and shipping cases for just about any type of equipment, and while the exterior of every Bel-Air Case is made-to-order, we also design high-quality custom foam interiors for every case. Here are just a few benefits of opting for cases with custom case foam.
1. High Level Of Protection
Equipment cases with foam are always your best option, but many cases manufacturers sell their cases with a hunk of cheap diced foam inside. Also known as cubed foam or pick-and-pluck foam, this solid foam is not custom-made for your items or equipment. Customers are forced to create their own cavities to fit their equipment. The result isn’t a perfect fit, to say the least, and you end up throwing away much of the foam, which is a waste of money.
At Bel-Air Cases, we never hand off a case with this cheap, diced foam. We create custom foam inserts that are designed around the items you plan to store in your case. Each component in your case will have a custom pre-cut cavity that fits perfectly, providing you with the highest possible level of protection.
2. Durable & Shock Resistant
The exterior of our shipping cases and heavy-duty carrying cases are meant to handle being jostled about in cargo holds and delivery trucks with ease. We use high-density polyethylene for our cases, which is a highly durable and shock-resistant type of thermoform plastic.
While the exteriors are tough, the interior case foam also absorbs vibrations and provides a high level of shock resistance. With a durable exterior and a durable custom foam interior, you can rest assured that your expensive equipment will be able to handle trips by air, land or sea with ease.
3. Our Case Foam Has A Longer Life Span
A Bel-Air case is meant to last a lifetime. We’ve been building custom carrying cases and custom shipping cases for more than 50 years and many of those early cases are still being used today. While they might have a scratch or two, these cases have stood the test of time.
When it comes to our case foam, the high-quality foam we use also will last for many years, far longer than the cheap pick-and-pluck foam used by many case manufacturers. This cheap diced foam typically breaks down within just a few years forcing you to purchase new foam and create new cavities for your equipment.
4. Custom Case Foam Is Cost-Effective
It might surprise you to learn that our custom case foam is not a huge extra expense. In fact, we usually can create a completely custom hard case with foam for what you would expect to pay for a case with cheap diced foam.
Custom foam is far more protective and provides an extra layer of insurance against damage, which means you are much less likely to have to shell out a bunch of cash to fix or replace broken gear. Our foam (and our case exteriors) also is extremely lightweight, which can reduce your shipping and transport costs.
5. Custom Foam Adds A Professional Touch
From an aesthetic standpoint, opting for custom case foam adds a truly professional touch to your shipping cases or carrying cases. Diced foam looks cheap because it is cheap, and if you want your cases to speak to your level of professionalism, opting for custom foam inserts is always a good option.
Of course, we have many other custom features that can add a touch of class to your heavy-duty shipping cases and carry cases. For instance, we can create your cases with a molded-in logo or add custom engraved plates or decals to your cases.
We also can provide you with a bit of color, if you like. In addition to our standard case colors of black and grey, we also have several additional stock colors including white, green, olive, blue, yellow, orange and red. If you are ordering a fleet of cases, such as for sales kits or OEM cases, we may be able to provide you with custom colors or color matching.
Of course, we also can add many other helpful features to each case. This includes wheels, locks, latches and feet as well as different types of handles. A Bel-Air case with wheels and a telescoping handle isn’t just attractive and protective, it’s also easy to maneuver through tight spaces and crowded airports.
Bel-Air Cases: Quality Since 1967!
All of our shipping cases, carrying cases and trade show cases (as well as our case foam) are proudly made in the United States, and we can design just about any size case you might need. If you need ATA cases, we build each case to meet ATA guidelines and we also can design cases to meet many MIL specifications. If you need custom cases, just click on the Request a Quote tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form.
Heavy Duty Cases: Protect Your Delicate Equipment
If you’ve ever suffered the misfortune of opening luggage only to discover that your expensive equipment has been damaged during transport, you aren’t alone. The transportation industry can take its toll on cases and luggage, but our Bel-Air heavy duty cases are built to handle the rigors of transport and protect your delicate or expensive items.
What Makes Bel-Air Different?
We are the first company to design and create vacuum-formed cases, and over the course of the last 50+ years, our cases have stood the test of time. In fact, many of those original cases are still going strong today. There are many case manufacturers and types of cases on the market, but our heavy-duty cases are unique for several reasons, including:
Materials
Back in the late 1960s, plastic cases were considered a new type of material, and we chose a specific type of plastic for our cases – high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This material has several advantages over other types of case materials, including other types of plastic.
HDPE is highly impact-resistant, which is crucial if you want to build shipping cases that can actually handle being shipped again and again. HDPE is water-resistant and chemical-resistant and also is able to handle temperature extremes. Whether your equipment case has to sit on a rain-drenched tarmac, spend a few weeks on the tundra of Antarctica or scuttle through a hot, humid jungle, your Bel-Air case will protect whatever is placed inside it.
Additionally, we use durable aluminum valances to join the two halves of each case together. These also can handle temperature extremes, moisture and humidity. Both HDPE and aluminum are lightweight, which improves maneuverability and can reduce your overall shipping costs.
If you need ATA cases, our cases meet or exceed ATA standards, and we also can meet MIL specs, as well. Through the years, we’ve designed many cases for the military, and if you need MIL spec cases, we can design whatever you might need.
Our cases are suitable for storing and transporting a wide range of equipment, including:
- Lighting Equipment
- Aerospace & Military Equipment
- Medical Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Diagnostic Equipment
- Computer Equipment & Much More
While our cases are suitable for just about any type of equipment, if our team believes that another type of case would be a better fit for your items, we will let you know. We believe that the customer always comes first and if we see a better option for your equipment, we will point you to a quality case manufacturer that meets all of your case needs.
Customization
With HDPE and the process of vacuum forming, we can create heavy duty cases in virtually any size you might need. For smaller items, our heavy-duty carrying cases might be a good option to consider. The heavy-duty carrying cases are built using the same materials as our shipping cases, but they are formed using our traditional carry case molds.
For larger and heavier items, our heavy-duty shipping cases are a perfect option, and these are available in a wide range of sizes. If we don’t have the exact size that you need, our team can create a new, custom shipping case size to fit your needs.
Quality Interior Foam
To further protect your equipment, our heavy-duty cases come with custom interior foam. Our high-quality foam absorbs impacts and prevents vibrations from damaging delicate equipment.
While many case manufacturers, either don’t provide custom foam interiors or simply hand off your case with cheap pick & pluck foam, we can usually construct custom foam sets for around the same price you’d pay for cases filled with cheap diced foam.
Our design team can fabricate interior walls, add plastic dividers and interior doors as well as die cuts, windows, panel mounts and shock mounts. With our design expertise, our foam interiors not only provide an ultimate level of protection, but also display your items to their best advantage. Our cases often are used for sales kits and as OEM cases, and our foam interiors can serve an impressive display for potential clients.
Additional Custom Features
While the main purpose of a heavy-duty transport case is to provide a high level of protection, at Bel-Air Cases, we also believe that heavy duty cases can be attractive. We can customize your cases with molded-in logos, engraved plates or custom decals.
We also can provide you with an assortment of color options. Black and silver are the standard colors we offer, but we have several additional stock colors, including blue, green, olive, red, orange, yellow and white. Color matching and custom colors also might be available with a specific minimum purchase.
Order Heavy-Duty Cases Today!
If you need custom heavy-duty cases, contact our team at any time. Whether you need just one custom shipping case or many, we can build cases that protect your equipment perfectly. You can request a quote by calling us at (866) 235-2472 or clicking on the Contact Us tab on our homepage and filling out our quick contact form. All of our cases are built-to-order and designed and made in the USA.
Quality Heavy-Duty Cases For Equipment
If you need to transport any type of delicate or expensive equipment, you need custom cases that can protect your items from the bustling and bumping the transportation industry inflicts on freight and luggage. At Bel-Air Cases, we design heavy-duty cases for equipment that can withstand hundreds of trips by air, land or sea (or spaceship).
How To Choose The Best Custom Case Option
There are many different kinds of cases for equipment, including vacuum-formed, roto-molded, injection molded, aluminum, laminated wood and blow-molded cases. At Bel-Air Cases, we focus on providing vacuum-formed hard plastic cases for our clients, and we believe these cases have some distinct advantages over other types of cases.
With vacuum forming, we can create nearly endless case sizes and can create special features such as molded-in bumpers and custom molded-in logos. We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for the case shells and this versatile, durable plastic not only can absorb impact but also is moisture-resistant and chemical-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures.
Aside from versatility and strength, HDPE is extremely lightweight, which not only makes it easier to move a case through a crowded airport or train terminal but also reduces your overall shipping costs.
When choosing a custom case for equipment, there are several factors that we will discuss with you, including:
1. Size
We consider the size and dimensions of the equipment you need to protect, as this will help us select the best shipping case size for your needs. Keep in mind, with vacuum-forming, just about any size of custom case is possible.
2. Environments
We talk about the environments where the equipment will be used. Our cases can be used safely in conditions such as high-humidity or damp locations or in places where high or freezing temperatures are common. Dust resistance and pressure resistance also can be important factors when selecting a case.
3. Level Of Protection
At Bel-Air Cases, we can design heavy-duty shipping cases and carrying cases that meet ATA standards and most MIL specs, if needed. We’ve designed many cases for military clients and the aerospace industry, so if you need ATA cases or MIL cases, you’ve come to the right place.
Through the years, we’ve created custom shipping cases and carrying cases for a myriad of different types of equipment. Here are just a few examples:
- Lighting Equipment
- Camera Equipment
- Audio-Visual Equipment
- Music Equipment
- Diagnostic Equipment
- Military Gear & Equipment
- Aerospace Equipment
- Medical Equipment
- Sales Kits & OEM Cases
4. Customization
At Bel-Air Cases, our custom carrying cases, shipping cases and trade show cases can be customized in a number of ways. Aside from the many size configurations available, we also can add custom hardware to your cases, including wheels, feet and handles, including creating cases with telescoping handles and wheels.
We also can a myriad of different latches and locks to any case, and we can create custom engraved plates, custom decals or molded-in logos for your custom case. In addition to our standard colors of black and silver, we also have several additional stock colors including white, orange, yellow, blue, green and olive. In some cases, we also might be able to provide color matching or custom colors.
Custom Foam Interiors
At Bel-Air Cases, we don’t just design tough, durable case exteriors, we also design high-quality custom foam interiors for each case. Our custom foam will cushion every piece of equipment, protecting it from impact and vibrations.
Too often, when a person purchases a custom hard plastic case with foam inside, the case manufacturer simply hands it off to their client with a chunk of diced foam. This low-quality foam, also known as pick-and-pluck foam, forces the client to create cavities for their equipment, and if you are paying for custom equipment cases, we believe this should include a custom foam interior not just a hunk of cheap foam.
We are experts at crafting case interiors and while we certainly can provide you with just a simple, quality foam liner, we also can fabricate interior doors and windows, create custom die cuts for your equipment, add shock mounts and panel mounts and much more. Our padded equipment cases offer the ultimate level of protection for your equipment.
Contact Us Today!
If you need custom cases for equipment, the team at Bel-Air Cases is always here to help. To get started on your custom case project, just click on the Contact Us tab at the top of our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A member of our sales team will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss your case needs.
Hard Cases With Foam: Shipping & Carrying Cases
Our protective, heavy-duty cases are built to handle frequent transport as luggage or freight and while this level of durability is crucial, that’s only one of several reasons to consider purchasing a custom Bel-Air hard case with foam.
Weatherproof & Protective In Any Environment
Every Bel-Air hard case with foam is built to handle the jostling and bumping that accompanies travel by plane, train, ship or even crossing a desert in a Humvee. But our equipment cases also are built to handle rugged environments.
Whether your transport case is sitting on a tarmac in the middle of a monsoon or being hauled across a remote rainforest, the equipment inside your case will be protected from the elements.
Need ATA cases? Our cases meet ATA specs as well as many MIL specs and our clients include various branches of the military as well as aerospace companies. If you need to trek out to the tundra or are planning on a mission to Mars, a Bel-Air hard case with foam can be equal to the task. Just let us know what you need, and we will build a case that suits your specifications.
Light In Weight & Easy-To-Maneuver
A durable, protective case shouldn’t be difficult to lug from place to place. The materials we use include hard plastic shells crafted from high-density polyethylene. While this material is durable, moisture-resistant and chemical-resistant, it’s also extremely lightweight.
This makes it easier to move from place to place, but also can reduce your shipping costs. Keep in mind, we can add wheels and telescoping handles to many cases to further increase your maneuverability.
Custom Foam Adds Extra Protection
Every Bel-Air case includes a custom foam interior. This could be a simple, quality foam lining or a complicated design that includes die cuts, interior walls and doors, plastic dividers, windows, shock mounts and panel mounts.
Many case manufacturers simply provide their customers with basic foam slabs or diced foam. This cheap pick-and-pluck type of foam breaks down quickly, and the customer is forced to cut away at the foam to create cavities for their equipment.
If you are paying for a custom hard case, we believe a custom foam interior should be included. We usually can construct a completely custom foam interior for around the same price as cases that are just filled with cheap pick-and-pluck foam.
Many Custom Features
Our cases are built to last, but we also offer our customers many stylish options. For instance, we can create cases with molded-in logos or perhaps engraved plates or custom decals.
Our standard case colors are black and silver, but we have several additional stock colors including white, orange, yellow, blue, red, green and olive. With a specific minimum order, we also can provide you with custom colors and perhaps color matching.
This can be a great option if you have to transport many cases at once. The custom color and logo can make your cases easy to identify. Additionally, if you need OEM cases, a custom color and molded-in logo or decal add a professional touch to your case design.
Additionally, we offer a wide assortment of hardware options including different types of case handles, case locks, hinges, latches and feet. If you don’t see precisely what you want, we usually can find a source for what you want.
Choose Your Case Type
At Bel-Air, we create three different types of hard cases with foam. Our medium-duty and heavy-duty carrying cases are ideal for lightweight and fragile items weighing about 30 pounds or less, as well as for sales kits, medical kits and diagnostic equipment.
The medium-duty carry cases are not meant to be shipped as freight but may be shipped as luggage occasionally. If you want a carrying case that can be shipped frequently either as freight or luggage, our heavy-duty carrying cases will be a better fit.
Our heavy-duty shipping cases are the perfect option for just about any type of equipment that you need to transport frequently. These cases can handle hundreds of trips with ease, and they include built-in protective bumpers and stacking lugs. These features ensure that the toughest part of your case absorbs impacts and not either the case hardware or the items inside the shipping cases.
We also offer custom expo cases, which also are often just called trade show cases. These heavy-duty cases are ideal for shipping and storing graphic materials, trade show displays and other objects that don’t fit into our regular-style shipping cases. These cases also feature a unique overlapping lid design which can reduce shipping costs by providing you with more case height flexibility.
Get Your Custom Case Quote
Whether you need just one hard case with foam or a fleet of cases, we can help. To get started, just click on the Contact Us tab and fill out our quick contact form or click on the Request a Quote form and provide us with a few details about what you need in terms of case design.
Hard Carrying Cases & Shipping Cases With Custom Foam
If you need custom hard carrying cases or custom shipping cases, the team at Bel-Air Cases can design the perfect case to house your equipment. Each carry case also can include a high-quality custom foam insert and many other custom features.
Is A Plastic Carrying Case The Right Option For You?
If you need to transport expensive or delicate equipment, our custom vacuum-formed cases can be the most versatile and protective option. Other case types, such as roto-molded and injection-molded cases have limitations that make them a less attractive option for some case projects.
For instance, injection-molded cases while durable and waterproof are only available in limited sizes and the ability to customize these cases also is limited. Roto-molded cases are highly durable, but they are quite heavy, which can be a disadvantage, especially if your equipment is also heavy.
Fabricated laminated wood cases are another common case option, and these can be highly customized, but they aren’t as durable as plastic cases, and they also are quite heavy. If you are looking for road cases that are highly durable and lighter in weight, our custom heavy-duty shipping cases can be a good option to consider.
While our hard carrying cases and shipping cases can be a great option for a wide range of items, if we feel that a different type of case is a better fit for your needs, we will let you know and point you in the direction of a great case supplier.
5 Reasons To Select Bel-Air Hard Carrying Cases
- 50+ Years of Experience
Bel-Air Cases was the first company to offer custom vacuum-formed plastic cases and through the years, we’ve built cases for clients from just about every imaginable industry. We can build cases for just about any type of equipment or product, and our carry cases often are used for sales kits, demo kits and OEM cases.
- We Use Durable, Rugged Materials
The materials we use for our custom hard carrying cases and shipping cases include shells that are vacuum-formed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). For the valances, we use aluminum and case components such as latches and locks are made from stainless steel.
HDPE was chosen for several reasons. This thermoform plastic is lightweight, which makes it easier for our customers to handle and can reduce shipping costs. HDPE also is highly durable and resistant to moisture and many chemicals. Likewise, aluminum is a lightweight, durable material that can handle the rigors of transportation and stainless steel also was chosen for its strength and durability.
- Protection Against The Elements
While some carry cases are toted gently from place to place without so much as encountering a drop of dew, some hard carrying cases need to be able to deal with temperature extremes, humidity extremes and inclement weather.
If you need a tough, water-resistant, weather-resistant carrying case or shipping case, a Bel-Air case is built to withstand the extreme. For instance, our heavy-duty cases often are used by the military, and they require cases that can handle a bumpy trek across a hot desert or slogging through a hot, humid jungle with ease as well as bumping about in the cargo hold of a C-17.
- Custom Foam Inserts
Case exteriors need to be able to absorb impacts, but we also believe that the interior foam needs to be just as protective. We design custom foam inserts for our carry cases and shipping cases built entirely around your equipment or items and we use the highest quality case foam.
Too often, custom case manufacturers provide customers with a chunk of diced foam instead of a custom foam interior. This cheap type of pick-and-pluck foam forces the customer to cut away at the material to create cavities for their equipment.
Not only is this a poor way to protect your items, but if you are paying for a custom hard plastic case with foam inside, we think that custom foam should be included in that cost. We usually can construct custom foam sets for around the same price as you’d expect to pay for cases filled with foam slabs or diced foam. At Bel-Air, we can provide you with custom foam inserts that include die cuts, interior walls, interior doors, plastic dividers, panel mounts, shock mounts and more.
Additionally, we offer many other custom features. We have many options for wheels, handles, latches and locks. We also can add custom decals, molded-in logos or add an engraved plate to your case. Our standard case colors include black and silver, but we have several optional stock colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, olive, green and blue.
- Great Value
We don’t provide a price sheet for our cases, simply because every case we make is 100% custom. While we don’t sell any cheap $50 cases, you won’t find many $900 cases either, and we offer an exceptional value for made-to-order thermoformed cases.
In general, you can expect to pay about $400 each for five large shipping cases, while a lightweight medium-duty carry case with custom foam might sell for about $150 each. Off-the-shelf cases can be more affordable, but they typically don’t provide the level of protection that our cases afford. A custom Bel-Air Case offers extra insurance, keeping your items safe and secure no matter what type of transportation conditions the case might endure.
Which Type Of Bel-Air Case Do You Need?
We offer two types of carry cases – our medium-duty cases and heavy-duty carry cases. Medium-duty cases are ideal for items that won’t be shipped or rarely need to be transported as luggage. These are ideal for sales kits and demo kits and items weighing less than 40 pounds.
Our heavy-duty carrying cases are among the most durable and lightest-in-weight transport cases you can buy. For these cases, we use the same heavy-duty materials as our shipping cases, but the case shells are formed on our traditional carry case molds.
If you need hard carrying cases that can be shipped again and again, heavy-duty carrying cases are the perfect option. These also are ideal for heavier items, weighing 30 to 40 pounds or for highly delicate items.
If you need shipping cases rather than a carry case, our heavy-duty shipping cases are formed from special tooling that adds molded protective corner bumpers and stacking lugs into each case. These features ensure that the toughest part of the containers absorbs impacts instead of the case hardware or your equipment case components.
Get Started With A Case Project Now!
If you need a simple carry case or several hard carrying cases or shipping cases, you can get your project started by clicking on the Request a Quote tab at the top of our homepage. Simply provide us with basic information and one of our case specialists will be in touch with you as quickly as possible to provide a free quote, get started on your order or answer any question you may have.
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.