Mashup: The New Goal for B2B
Once upon a time, business-to-business customers didn’t mind making a choice between a fair price, a short lead time and a high quality product. As long as they had one of those items checked off their list of “wants,” they were generally satisfied.
But in today’s economy, B2B customers want and expect all three, no excuses. That means it’s incumbent upon B2B providers to provide a “mashup” of those three critical checklist items – and that’s what we try to do here at Bel-Air Cases. To us, a mashup is more than a pop music phenomenon involving a great synchronization of two songs from different genres; it’s a goal we try to meet in order to retain our valuable B2B customers.
We know that if we have a competitive price so that customers can watch their bottom lines, reasonable lead times so that orders arrive on schedule, and durable products that last for decades, then we’re going to keep our
customers satisfied. Whether or not they know it, B2B customers love mashups!
That being said, here’s a list of the top 10 mashup songs for 2016 – because you still have to have fun, no matter what your business is. Enjoy!
Protect Your Trade Show Materials with Trade Show Cases
Presenting your company at a trade show can be a critical first step to increasing visibility and credibility. Trade shows provide a powerful platform for acquiring new customers, reaching out to your existing clientele and showcasing new products. Putting a face to the company is essential for establishing your brand as reliable and trustworthy.
Your booth will tell your potential clients a lot about your company and your presentation needs to be professional. Your banners and poster, TV screens and other visual aids, sales and marketing displays and other trade show components require special care to ensure that your investment in these materials last a long time. Transporting these materials properly can be a daunting task without the right trade show cases to keep them safe. And just think, with the right equipment to hold and transport your materials, set up and tear down will become easier and more organized.
Bel-Air Expo Travel Cases are made of high density polyethylene plastic for strength and impact resistance that will not only survive the rough treatment they will get at the airport or in shipping facilities, they’ll exceed your expectations at protecting your wares. Built with a sturdy spring-loaded steel handle and featuring durable nylon straps with tough plastic buckles and set atop built-in 3″ skate wheels with a metal housing, our trade show cases were built for convenience, ease of use and exceptional performance that will last many years to come.
With different sizes and shapes, you are sure to find the perfect case to fit your particular needs. From shallow and small to larger equipment options, our team has put together a line of trade show cases to fit all your transportation needs.
Not sure what you need? Call or email and we’ll be happy to help!
We Advise Against Pick and Pluck Case Foam Interior
Many case manufacturers use what’s call Pick and Pluck foam in their interiors because it easily creates snug, special shapes and and can conform to many sizes for cases and packaging. At Bel-Air Cases we advocate strongly against using Pick and Pluck foam.
There are two reasons we don’t agree with using Pick and Pluck foam (sometimes called Diced foam too) in our case interiors.
The first reason is the quality of the foam itself. Pick and Pluck foam is die-cut foam that results in foam slabs with perforated cubes. The idea is that by being able to tear away (or pick and pluck) the foam cubes, you can easily create foam cavities for a case interior. It’s actually not a bad idea. However, from previous customer experience it usually results in a terrible overall interior solution. Mainly because a customer will pay for a case completely full of die-cut foam but will end up removing up to 90% of the foam interior. Adding to this problem the remaining foam interior has a bunch of tiny holes or slices left in it. Eventually, with use, it starts coming apart. From customer experience you’ll soon be replacing the case foam interior, if not the entire case itself. There is almost always a better solution than a diced foam interior for your packaging requirements. Bel-Air Cases works with our customers to find the best case interior solutions.
Last, but not least, the other main reason that we recommend against Pick-n-pluck foam is that as custom case manufacturers we associate this method as an easy and lazy foam case solution. Be cautious of any company that advises you to purchase a diced foam case, as manufacturing cases with diced foam requires very little effort, and that shows that they have very little concern for what you’re storing or transporting in your case. Besides that it’s just a bad and lazy design habit.
Custom Medical Device Cases
Throughout the medical and pharmaceutical industries special medical devices are used constantly, and the need to transport these expensive devices is critical. At Bel-Air Cases we are consistently tasked with manufacturing specific made-to-order cases so that those in the medical profession can ship and transport devices without worry of breaking or damage. In pharmaceutical cases we are often required to build cases that can withstand temperature changes, so that sensitive material can be shipped without fear of damage. These cases need to be visually appealing while being fully functional at the same time. We build shipping and transportation cases for all situations. Including expensive medical devices for sales representatives, implants, and emergency medical services (EMS) case solutions. At Bel-Air we follow best practices in the engineering of custom transportation cases and we are equipped to engineer and build literally for any situation.
At Bel-Air we pride ourselves on designing, building and delivering the best custom medical cases. We’ve been satisfying the needs of medical and pharmaceutical professionals for over 50 years. All of our medical shipping cases are manufactured using high density polyethylene plastic which provides strength and impact resistance. We build in molded bumpers for unsurpassed medical devices protection. We mold-in ribs and channels for stacking stability when multiple cases need to be stored or shipped. Our cases can withstand temperatures from -80 degrees F to +180 degrees and we have nearly limitless custom options available to satisfy the unique needs of our clients. At Bel-Air Cases we’ve worked with the top brands in the medical community and we’d love to help you with your custom case needs.
Understanding Polyethylene Plastic
Polyethylene, the largest volume thermoplastic polymer used in the market today, is considered the work horse of thermoplastics. Some polyethylenes are flexible, others are rigid; some have poor impact strength, others are virtually unbreakable. At Bel-Air-Cases we manufacture our made-to-order cases using high-density polyethylene also referred to as HDPE.
The benefits of using HDPE plastic for our cases is vast. It has several properties that make it ideal as a packaging and manufacturing product. It’s stronger than standard polyethylene, acts as an effective barrier against moisture and remains solid at room temperature. It resists insects, rot and other chemicals. HDPE also creates no harmful emissions during its production or during its use by the customer. Also, HDPE leaks no toxic chemicals into the soil or water.
HPDE is also extremely lightweight, due to the density of the material. This not only makes the manufactuing of our cases faster and easier, but it also makes transporting lighter. The low weight combined with the many options that high density polythene is available in, make it an ideal choice for creating custom cases for our customers.
Key Benefits of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Abrasion resistant
- Stress crack resistance
- Specially designed machined shapes and profiles
- High tensile strength
- Excellent energy absorption
What Is Thermoforming?
Bel-Air-Cases uses a process called thermoforming to produce high-end custom cases. Our expert staff will assist you with designing, customizing, and selecting options to build a truly custom “made-to-order” case.
We use vacuum forming and thermoforming which is the ideal solution for producing heavy duty carrying cases.
During the vacuum forming process, plastic sheets become heated until they are malleable enough to form around a mold. It is a simple process that produces resilient, lightweight, and seamless case shells quickly and efficiently.
Our vacuum formed case shells are produced individually components that leave the process as the intended product, or occasionally as a substantial part of the intended product; these parts are good substitutes for sheet metal or fiberglass materials due to enhanced durability and higher strength-to-weight ratios.
The vacuum forming process is one-sided; meaning the finished part’s shape and detail are both on one side. Advantages of vacuum forming include less expensive tooling, fast turnaround and easier maintenance and modification as compared to an injection molding process.
We use thermoforming to form thermoplastic sheets into three-dimensional case shells. Thermoforming requires a relatively low level of forming pressure, so tooling can be constructed rapidly and less expensively compared to other molding processes. Fast cycle times, combined with automated sheet-feeding equipment, allows Bel-Air-Cases to provide rapid turnaround of our cases.
We utilize a combination of automated, manual, and digitally controlled equipment to fabricate parts composed of polyethylene, polycarbonate, high-impact styrene, and several other materials.
We focus on product quality and durability. Tight control of the materials and processes we use allow us to build the highest quality cases for your unique needs.
To learn more about our processes please give us a call at (866) 235-2472 or send an email to info@bel-air-cases.com.
What is Vacuum Forming?
Bel-Air-Cases specializes in using vacuum forming to create high-quality cases. In this process, cut sheets of plastic are heated in ovens which use ceramic or gas heaters with zone controls to maintain an accurate measurement and control the sheet temperature.
The sheet is then placed over a mold and a vacuum is applied, pulling the sheet into the shape of the mold, creating vacuum formed molds. This process is popular for large parts such as the truck bedliner seen in this picture. Vacuum forming usually offers the lowest tooling costs and quickest delivery of tooling, compared with traditional processes.
Vacuum Forming Allows Bel-Air-Cases A Range of Possibilities
Our specialty in the vacuum forming and thermoforming process allows us to specialize in customization the customization of thermoplastic cases for a variety of industries. Our expert staff of engineers who can help with the design process, complete customization, and selection of options to best match your needs.
What sets our process apart is the ability to manufacture complex patterns and shapes, uniqie to your specific needs. With rapid turnaround time on vacuum formed cases, a range of size options, and a commitment to product quality, we strive for optimal performance in our services. Quality is a top priority for Bel-Air-Plastic cases and it shows in every step of our process, from careful control of the raw materials we use to process parameters that allow us to match individual needs for each of our customers.
Connect with Bel-Air-Cases to learn more about how we can help you with your project.
If you are interested in learning more about our “made-to-order” cases, simply give us a call at (866) 235-2472 or send an email to info@bel-air-cases.com. We look forward to speaking with you!
Benefits of Equipment Cases with Custom Foam Interiors
Why choose a Bel-Air equipment case with a custom foam interior?
When you’re transporting expensive equipment, such as cameras and computers, you need the proper cushioning to protect their value and your investment. Because of this Bel-Air-Cases offers the option to construct custom foam sets for around the same price you’d expect to pay for cases filled with foam slabs or diced foam. We offer a variety of custom foam interior cases to choose from. We’ll even work with you to create a custom equipment case with foam that fits your specific needs. Our expert staff that will take the time necessary to understand specific requirements and design a custom foam interior unique to your needs.
We use foam-cutting machines to handle complex cushioning requirements. We can design and manufacture the interior of the case using a CAD layout, or if our customers already have a specific layout we can adhere to those guidelines. Our in-house tools and equipment make it extremely easy to turn a basic cushioned case into custom designed carrying or shipping case capable of protecting your valuable equipment.
Since Bel-Air-Cases manufacturers made-to-order cases for nearly every industry, we’re equipped with the latest technology to perform quality control and assurance, such as drop testing, to protect your valuables from unforeseen mishandlings and events. Our experts build and test a wide variety set-ups. You can be assured that our made-to-order equipment cases with foam interiors will provide the utmost in protection and durability for your equipment and valuables.
Looking for more information on our custom equipment cases with foam, or curious about our pricing? Feel free to give us a call at (866) 235-2472 for a personalized quote. You can also request a quote online: just fill out our Request a Quote form and one of our friendly customer service specialists will be in touch with you shortly.