Custom Shipping Cases: Built To ATA Standards

When your equipment needs to travel safely through the toughest airline conditions, custom shipping cases built to ATA standards offer the durability and protection you can count on. With Bel-Air’s precision construction and custom engineering, you get shipping cases that combine strength, longevity, and a perfect fit for your equipment.

What Are ATA Standards?

Airlines for America, formerly the Air Transport Association (ATA), sets rigorous standards for shipping cases and luggage. To meet ATA standards, an ATA equipment case or ATA shipping case needs to be able to withstand 100 or more round-trip flights without incurring structural damage or damage to the contents of the case. 

A custom ATA case needs to feature a tough outer shell with reinforced corners as well as heavy-duty hardware and a high-quality foam interior. At Bel-Air Cases, our exterior shells are formed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a highly durable and impact-resistant material. 

We also build protective corner bumpers and stacking lugs into our shipping cases. This ensures that the toughest part of our custom cases absorbs impacts, instead of the case hardware or your equipment. 

Furthermore, all of our transit cases include a custom foam interior. A hard case with foam offers the best level of protection, provided that the case manufacturer uses high-quality foam. Too often, manufacturers hand off cases with a slab of pick-and-pluck foam. Not only is the customer forced to create cavities to hold their equipment, but this type of cheap, diced foam breaks down quickly.

At Bel-Air, we use top-quality foam and design interiors built around your equipment. We can design any type of foam interior you might need with custom die cuts, shock mounts, panel mounts, windows, doors, and more. Our foam adds an essential layer of protection that absorbs impacts and vibration.

What About Military Specifications?

MIL-SPECS were developed by the Department of Defense, and while these standards do focus on transport durability, they extend the requirements to focus on extreme environments and extreme conditions.

For instance, a military case may need to be able to withstand temperature extremes, and our custom shipping cases can handle temperatures between -80◦ F up to 180◦ F. MIL SPECS also often require that cases can handle dust and sand intrusion, water immersion, and resistance to certain chemicals or corrosion.

If you need a case that meets MIL-SPECS, we typically can design a tough, durable shipping case that adheres to your specifications.  Throughout the last 50 years, we have built many cases for aerospace and military clients, and we have extensive experience designing cases that can meet these stringent requirements.

Custom Cases = Better Protection

At Bel-Air, we have no off-the-shelf cases. Each of our cases is custom-made to a client’s exact specifications and built around their equipment. Whether you need a custom road case to hold music and A/V gear, custom instrument cases, a medical case, or heavy duty cases to hold any type of delicate or expensive equipment, opting for a custom case is always the best option.

Additionally, not only do we build cases with your gear in mind, but we also can customize other features, such as the hardware, color, and branding. We have a huge selection of latches, locks, and feet and offer two standard colors (black and silver) as well as several stock colors – red, orange, yellow, white, green, olive, and blue. We also can add molded-in logos, custom decals, or engraved plates to any case, boosting your brand identity.

Our shipping cases are ideal for many applications, including:

• Broadcast & Video Equipment
• Industrial & Commercial Tools
• Surveying Equipment
• Computers & Electronics
• Diagnostic & Testing Equipment
• Lighting Equipment
• Camera Equipment
• Medical Equipment

Each shipping case features standard hardware, including a two-inch aluminum valance, steel knuckle twist-draw latches, four-inch stainless steel hinges, and steel spring-loaded handles. We also can provide optional hardware, including:

• 2” Aluminum valance with ½” flange for panel mount applications
• Telescoping end handles
• 7” spring-loaded end handle
• Built-in edge wheels
• Removal casters, bottom or end-mounted
• Stainless steel or black hardware components
• Stainless steel padlock hasp
• Stainless steel latch protectors
• Sealed case with an automatic or manual pressure relief valve
• Humidity indicators
• Label and card holders

Those are just a few of the custom features we can provide. Additionally, if we don’t have the items you want in our stock, we likely can source whatever custom feature you need. With Bel-Air Cases, it’s all about choice.

Need Heavy-Duty Shipping Cases? Contact Bel-Air Today!

Since 1967, Bel-Air has set the gold standard for durable custom cases. In addition to shipping cases, we also design and manufacture custom carrying cases and trade show cases. Whether you need custom shipping cases or another of our cases, we can design a case that meets all of your specifications.