Bud Industries Blog

The controls for machines and automation need somewhere to live. An electrical panel box is that home, the enclosure where the controls that run a line, a pump, or a process are laid out, wired, and protected. An electrical junction box plays a humbler role, serving as the intersection where wires meet. The two can look similar on a wall, but they do very different jobs. At Bud Industries, we help design engineers and panel builders match the right enclosure…

From NEMA ratings to outdoor installations, here is what the spec sheet won’t tell you  An electrical enclosure is the unsung hero of any system design, the bodyguard that nobody notices until it stops doing its job. Whether you’re housing a relay panel in a factory or junctions mounted to an outdoor pole, the enclosure you choose determines how long your equipment lasts, how safe your installation is, and whether you’ll be troubleshooting a failure at 2 a.m. or sleeping soundly.  Bud Industries has manufactured electrical enclosures for nearly a century. My blog post covers the fundamentals: what…

If you’ve ever been handed a drawing with “NEMA 13” written next to the enclosure callout, you’ve probably noticed something: NEMA 13 sounds like it should be a high-end rating. The number is bigger than NEMA 4. Bigger than NEMA 12. So, it must be more protective, right? Not exactly. NEMA ratings don’t work as a ladder where higher numbers mean more protection. NEMA 13 is a specialized indoor rating with one job, and understanding what that job is —…

How to know when basic indoor protection is the right call for your design Like a deadbolt on your front door, a NEMA 1 enclosure isn’t designed to stop every threat imaginable, but it’s the fundamental layer of security you’d never leave out. For engineers specifying indoor enclosures, NEMA 1 is the baseline rating that keeps people safe from live components and keeps falling debris away from sensitive electronics. Here’s what you need to know to specify it with confidence.…

Last week at ECIA’s Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) in Las Vegas, Bud Industries was proud to present DigiKey with our 2025 Modification Success Award, recognizing DigiKey’s outstanding growth and partnership in modified enclosure solutions. DigiKey earned the award by delivering exceptional performance in Bud’s modified parts business throughout the 2025 calendar year. With a strong focus on helping customers find custom and modified solutions, DigiKey grew its modified business with Bud by 52.9%. DigiKey also sold the highest number of…

When protecting outdoor electronics, your choice of enclosure is more than just a box, it’s a critical component of the system’s longevity. Outdoor environments are truly unforgiving including being around moisture, dust, and extreme temperature swings that can degrade sensitive components if the housing isn’t up to the task. (Frankly, this is where Bud Industries excels…) At its core, IP67 is a standard defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that classifies the degree of protection an enclosure provides against…

If you work in manufacturing, automation, or industrial controls, you’ve probably encountered the term NEMA 12 more than once. But what does it actually mean — and how do you know if a NEMA 12 enclosure is the right choice for your application? In this post, we break it all down so you can make a confident, informed decision. What Does NEMA 12 Mean? NEMA stands for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, which developed a standardized rating system to define…

If you work with electrical equipment outdoors, you’ve probably come across the term “NEMA 3” more than once. It’s one of the most popular enclosure ratings in the industry — but with subtypes like 3R, 3S, and 3X in the mix, it’s easy to feel lost. Here’s a straightforward guide to what NEMA 3 enclosures do, how they’re tested, and what sets each subtype apart. What Does NEMA 3 Mean? NEMA ratings are set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association…

When specifying electrical enclosures for wet or outdoor environments, understanding NEMA ratings ensures equipment protection and longevity. Two commonly specified ratings—NEMA 6 and NEMA 6P—offer robust water protection, but knowing the distinction can prevent costly equipment failures or over-specification. What does NEMA 6 Mean? NEMA 6 is a rating established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association indicating an enclosure’s ability to protect electrical equipment in wet locations. This rating confirms that an enclosure can withstand rain, washdowns, and temporary submersion…

NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X are two of the most commonly specified enclosure ratings, and on the surface, they look nearly identical. They share a lot of common ground, but there’s one critical distinction that can make or break a design in the wrong environment. Let’s break it down. What Does NEMA 4 Mean? NEMA 4 is a protection rating established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association that defines how well an enclosure guards its contents against specific environmental threats.…

Let’s say customers are complaining that your design is experiencing a high failure rate. One possible root cause could be an enclosure that is not providing sufficient protection for the internal electronic and electrical components. The engineers responsible for enclosure selection may not have been aware of or did not consider all the potential hazards where the equipment would reside. As a result, they did not specify an enclosure that shielded the electronics from all potential threats. Hazards impinging on…

When electronic equipment fails unexpectedly in industrial facilities, the culprit is often invisible: heat. The traditional rule of thumb states that for every 10 degrees Celsius increase in temperature, the life of electrical equipment is cut in half—a sobering reminder that enclosure thermal management directly relates to a company’s survival. This thermal reality hits hardest in manufacturing facilities, where hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-performance drives and electronics keep production running. Without proper thermal management plans, these critical assets…

When electrical enclosures fail due to corrosion, the consequences extend beyond equipment replacement—downtime, safety hazards, and compromised system integrity can multiply costs exponentially. For engineers specifying enclosures for outdoor, marine, or chemically aggressive environments, selecting corrosion-resistant solutions isn’t optional; it is essential. Bud Industries has built its reputation on delivering durable, corrosion-resistant enclosures that meet rigorous NEMA standards, helping engineers protect critical equipment while controlling the total cost of ownership. What Causes Corrosion Corrosion—the degradation of materials through reaction with…

Bud Industries is excited to announce that Innovate Sales, has joined the Bud Industries team as our new sales representative for Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Western Wisconsin (Zip Codes 54000-54099 and 54600-54899) starting November 1st, 2025. This partnership strengthens Bud’s presence in a region that’s poised for renewed growth across automation, industrial, and electronic markets. With a strong track record and deep customer relationships, the Innovate Sales team brings both the experience and energy needed to help drive…

NEMA-rated environmental control enclosures ensure electronic equipment survives harsh environmental conditions In today’s industrial landscape, electronic equipment faces an unforgiving array of environmental threats. From moisture and dust infiltration to temperature extremes and corrosive chemicals, these hazards can cause catastrophic failures, costly downtime and compromised safety. That’s where National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enclosures become your first line of defense, providing precisely engineered protection tailored to specific environmental challenges. Understanding how different NEMA enclosure ratings protect against various environmental hazards…

Protecting electronics from harsh environments with the right enclosure solution Sensitive electronic equipment is vulnerable to relentless attacks from the elements when deployed outdoors. Rain penetrates vulnerable circuits, dust clogs vents, UV radiation degrades plastic components, and temperature fluctuations stress delicate connections. Without adequate protection, expensive electronics that are designed to operate for years can fail within months, resulting in costly replacements, emergency repairs, and critical system downtime. The stakes are particularly high in industries where equipment failure means more…

How a properly selected enclosure for automation systems keeps facilities running reliably and safely As manufacturers compete by becoming lean, managers have pushed more industrial automation throughout their facilities. In the past, a worker might feel the heat of a pump with their hand. Today, that pump may have a temperature sensor feeding data into factory management software. Walk into almost any industrial setting, and you will see cabinets housing centralized automation equipment as well as smaller enclosures for devices…

In the rapidly evolving information technology market, customers for server racks have specific needs, and standard products will not necessarily satisfy all requirements. While standard server racks serve their purpose, they often leave companies compromising on functionality, aesthetics, or both. What if we told you that getting a custom server rack designed specifically for your needs does not have to mean months of waiting or settling for subpar modifications? At Bud Industries, custom is not a special service — it…

When it comes to protecting sensitive electronics in outdoor settings, the box is just as important as the technology it houses. Exposure to rain, snow, dust, temperature fluctuations, and other environmental challenges can quickly compromise poorly protected electrical and electronic systems. Waterproof NEMA enclosures are specifically designed to safeguard equipment in these harsh conditions, ensuring reliable performance and extending product life. Bud Industries offers a wide selection of enclosures meeting the protection ratings of the North American-based National Electrical Manufacturers…

Specifying a telecom enclosure shouldn’t slow you down. As an electrical engineer, your priorities are clear: keep your project on schedule, your equipment cool and secure, and your maintenance team happy with a layout that makes sense. That’s where the right telecommunications enclosure makes all the difference. This guide explains what to look for in a telecom enclosure—whether you’re designing a high-density distribution hub, a remote node, or an equipment room that needs to scale with future demand. What Is…

Bud Industries is proud to announce that Sager Electronics has been honored with our 2024 Modification Success Award, recognizing their exceptional achievements in growing our mutual modified enclosure business. This award celebrates Sager’s remarkable 42% year-over-year growth in modified part numbers and an astounding 78% growth in modification sales which is a true testament to their commitment to delivering tailored solutions for customers across industries and aligning what Bud does well with their Custom Solutions. What really stands out is…

We’re pleased to announce that Mouser Electronics has been recognized with the 2024 Distributor Sales Growth Award for 2024 from Bud Industries, Inc while at the Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) in Las Vegas last week.  Mouser’s sales success was driven by an extensive marketing plan to generate new customers, New Product addition, and some success quoting and booking modified business. Josiah Haas, Bud President stated, “Mouser experienced their 4th straight year of growth in 2024 with Bud so it is…

Bud Industries has recently expanded its line of electronic enclosures with the introduction of the PNB Series IP67 Plastic Boxes with Knockouts. These enclosures are designed to provide reliable protection for electronic components in various industrial environments, offering a blend of durability, affordability, and user-friendly features. Key Features of the PNB Series: IP67 Protection: The PNB series enclosures are rated IP67, ensuring complete protection against dust ingress and safeguarding against water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. This…

Bud Industries has a full offering of enclosures that meet UL certifications for NEMA 4x as well as NEMA 6 ratings.  It is VERY important for a customer to understand what these certifications actually mean and why it is valuable to have these protections in place.  Bud Industries takes safety very seriously and it is why we have many series of products that have UL certifications associated with them.  By starting with a UL certified box it will be much…

Prime Manufacturers Representative (PMR) has been added to the Bud Industries Sales Rep Network as our sales rep firm in the NY/NJ region starting December 1st, 2024.  Their territory includes Northern New Jersey (ZIP Codes: 7000-7999 and 8800-8999) as well as the Metro New York (9000-11999) market.  Bud Industries now has a full complement of 18 different Sales Rep Firms covering North America in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Lynn Viers, Bud Industries’ Regional Manager, stated, “We are excited…

Bud Industries is excited to announce the addition of Jacobsen Associates as our sales rep firm in the Mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake regions.  Their territory includes Eastern Pennsylvania (ZIP Codes: 16600-19699), Southern New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. The Jacobsen team led by Michael Jacobsen fills Bud’s sales territory that was previously open is headquartered in Horsham, PA.  Michael leads an experienced group including John Jacobsen, Steven Andrews, Diane Jacobsen, Lisa Wullert, and Jim Starkey. Lynn Viers, Bud Industries’…

Longevity of our employees is something that we at Bud Industries truly pride ourselves on.  In our near 96-year history, Bud has had 110 employees who have accomplished at least twenty-five (25) years of service and have been honored by being added to our Quarter Century Club Plaque that is located on the walls of our Corporate Headquarters’ front lobby in Willoughby, OH.  As we have mentioned in a prior blog, last year we created our Half-Century Club to honor…

As I think back on 2023, one of the real highlights was honoring Jim Brown, a welder in our factory, as we held a joint celebration of his 50th anniversary with the company and his retirement.  It got me to thinking about the incredible number of people who have devoted so much of their adult life to our company and how we recognize that loyalty. A number of years ago, we created a plaque which hangs with pride in the…

Bud Industries is excited to announce the addition of Synergistic Component Sales as our rep in the New England area.  Their territory includes Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut.  Synergistic Component Sales fills Bud’s open sales territory that was previously covered by Logan Sales for over 30 years. Led by Jerry Cray and Doug Lewis, the firm has assembled a group of knowledgeable sales people including Bill Hiller and Dan Smith.  Headquartered in Nashua, NH, Synergistic Component…

According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, the median amount of time that an employee works for one company is roughly 5 years.  Surprisingly, it has stayed fairly steady for the last 40 years.  Therefore, when an employee reaches 50 years with the same business, it is truly remarkable.  When that employee has worked in a factory environment as a welder, you know that something extraordinary has occurred.  Bud Industries is incredibly proud to recognize that Jim Brown, who…

Like many others we were playing around with ChatGPT and thought how fun it would be if we could have musical legend, Bruce Springsteen write a song about Bud Industries.  In doing some initial research the Boss is not taking requests for topics and understandably the enclosure market may not be his first choice for a song on his next album.  Cue ChatGPT to help us out.  Here is ChatGPT’s version of a Bruce Springsteen style song about Bud Industries.…

Bud Industries, Inc. is excited to announce Temco Northwest as our Sales Representatives in the Pacific Northwest. Per contract starting on April 1st, they will act as our driving force for sales growth in Oregon, Washington, Western Montana, and Northern Idaho. Their synergistic line card and experienced team will allow us to expand our coverage while providing more resources for our customers in the US’ northwestern states. Lynn Viers, Regional Manager of Bud Industries, stated, “We are excited to have…

Bud Industries, Inc. is excited to announce the expansion of territory for Crowley Associates along the East Coast.  Crowley Associates has recently purchased All-Tech Marketing allowing Bud to expand our sales coverage with additional people to support our customer base.  Crowley Associates, who previously represented only Bud Industries in Upstate New York, will now have sales coverage in New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and the rest of the state of New York. Their synergistic line…

Blair Haas, Bud Industries CEO, talks to Jackie Mattox of Women In Electronics about his views on the Electronic Enclosure business, Leadership, Mentorship, and the Industrial Electronics History   https://www.budind.com/wp-content/uploads/blair-haas-leader-in-highlight-series-part-2.mp3

Blair Haas, Bud Industries CEO, talks to Jackie Mattox of Women In Electronics about his views on the Electronic Enclosure business, Leadership, Mentorship, and the Industrial Electronics History.  This is Part 1   https://www.budind.com/wp-content/uploads/blair-haas-leader-in-highlight-series-part-1.mp3

Bud Industries, Inc. is excited to announce the appointment of English Damco to represent our entire enclosure and accessory line in the Mountain States Region.  English Damco brings over 17 years of history providing top rated customer service to the territory.  Their synergistic line card and experienced team will allow us to expand our footprint in the Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Western Nebraska, and Southern Idaho markets. Lynn Viers, Bud Industries Regional Manager for the territory, stated, “We are excited about…

It seems today that people do not stay at companies as long as employees use to.  Per the 2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the median number of years that full time workers had been with their current employer was  only 4.1 years.  When coworkers hit 30 years with one company it is something to truly treasure as their tribal knowledge and experience can be difficult to replicate.  Bud Industries is lucky enough to have 7 individuals who are…

It is a stunning moment as I prepare to celebrate my 50th year with Bud Industries later this month.  (Full disclosure, the clock on this milestone started when I began to work at Bud during summers and vacations while I went to college and then got my MBA.)  From my first job supporting our director of engineering as he designed new electronic enclosures to today in my role of CEO, it has been an amazing journey so far and I…

The Electronic Distribution Show was held “live” last week for the first time since 2019.  The show was started in the late 1930’s in Chicago and has evolved through the years from a typical trade show to a conference where manufacturers, distributors and sales reps can meet to review their business strategies, create alignment, and develop plans to further their growth together.  It is a great venue for these activities and has been very helpful to us through the years…

Bud’s AN-A series is the perfect combination of durability and protection at a value price Not so long ago, if an engineer needed a NEMA rated enclosure here in the US, their first choice was a sheet metal box.  Long the US standard, they were valued for their ability to be readily modified, ease of manufacture in many of the steel manufacturing facilities here in the US, and general versatility.  The problem is that they are both expensive and heavy. …

While all of us at Bud are proud to focus on providing the best electronic enclosures for the industrial electronics industry, it is still wonderful to be recognized by others for our efforts.  Recently, Carton-Bates, one of Bud’s long time distributors, rewarded us with their bronze “Supplier Excellence Award” for our work with their team in 2020.  It was presented to us for our efforts to coordinate with their sales, product management and logistics teams in providing product that was…

In my last blog, I gave the first five tips on how to best choose an electronic enclosure for a hazardous environment.  As a quick recap, these were How harsh is harsh meaning be sure to select a protection level that meets the requirements of your installation and do not over or under protect Does the entire project need to be protected or only certain areas or components? Does the box need outdoor or UV protection so the proper material…

Choosing an electronic enclosure is typically considered to be an easy task.  Review the sizes of the components that are to be enclosed, find an enclosure that will fit them all, check on the aesthetics you would like for your finished product, and that will lead you to the right box.  In the old days, when all electronics were stored in a safe and secure location such as an electrical closet, that might have given you the perfect choice. Today,…

We are often asked for assistance to help select a 19” Network Cabinet Rack.  Before we get to the tips, let’s just define what a 19” Network Cabinet Rack is.  Typically, these racks are used for mounting 19” equipment such as hubs, switches, routers, bridges, gateways, multiplexers, transceivers, firewalls and servers.  The components will either have mounting ears to directly mount within the cabinet (see more below) or will be placed on shelves within the rack.  The purpose of these…

As 2021 winds to a close, it has been an incredible and challenging year for us as an electronic enclosure manufacturer.  Thinking back to the end of 2020, with vaccines just starting to be administered, we thought that the pandemic and its impact would soon be behind us.  We were dealing with slight slowing of business as many of our customers were working to regain their footing after the closures and disruptions of the pandemic.  Our thoughts were focused on…

Nothing gets us more excited at Bud than new products, especially when they are NEMA/IP rated plastic enclosures.  We are introducing two different series, the DPS and DPH, which are basically the same product with either a screw-to-close or hinged/latch cover respectively.  Both are made of heavy duty impact resistant polycarbonate and each come with a choice of clear or opaque lids.  We offer 9 sizes in each series ranging from 7.04 x 5.04 x 4.83 inches to 13.24 x…

One of the fun things I do is that I often check our customer reviews on various sites and I am usually very pleased with what I see.  I am especially fascinated by the diversity of applications that I find, especially on our IP rated plastic enclosure series, the NBF.  The NBF offers great options including versions that are targeted for indoor use, outdoor use and with an opaque or clear lid with all being rated at IP66 which is…

We are often asked how to choose the best electronic enclosure for an application given that there are so many options.  This is especially true given that many engineers have not spent much time on the intricacies of electronic enclosures with most of their focus on technology of the internal components to complete their project.  While it may seem simple just to pick out a box, the many options can create anxiety for even the most experienced specifier.   FIRST…

One of the most frequent questions we are asked is to clarify the NEMA rating system for enclosures.  There are many misconceptions about the ratings including that a higher number rating means a greater  level of protection or that all ratings suggest that the products are waterproof or dustproof.  For today’s blog, I am going to focus on two of the outdoor ratings and describe what they mean, how they are tested and what the difference are.  These are the…

As a 93 year old company, we, at Bud Industries,  are still excited to encourage young engineers especially when it comes to the value of using Bud Plastic NEMA enclosures.  We were recently contacted by the Space Raiders of Milwaukee School of Engineering for support with the donation of one of our NBE enclosures to assist them in NASA’s Robotic Mining Competition, Lunabotics 2021.  Their task was to design, build, and operate a lunar excavator prototype.  The entire goal of…

Selecting the proper plastic electronic enclosure is often much more than just finding a standard box that meets your dimensional requirements.  This is especially true when searching for a box that can withstand the elements whether inside a factory or outdoors.  At the same time, you want to make sure that you are not wasting money with extra features or tighter ratings that are really not needed.  It is a balancing act between finding a unit that meets your price…

Bud has many successes in creating custom enclosures One of the questions we are asked quite often is what is the difference between a modified enclosure and a custom enclosure and does Bud do both?  While Bud does do both, there can be significant difference in cost and lead time between them  First, a modified enclosure typically means that the product is a standard enclosure to which specific operations have been performed such as adding holes, slots, or cutouts to…

The Bud Minibox is a small aluminum box with a simple design For many people, especially those engineers who are older than the Millennials, the name Bud Industries is synonymous with a small aluminum box that snaps together that we call a mini-box, but they know as a Budbox.   Before the raspberry pi era, budding (no pun intended) engineers and hobbyists were delighted to get their hands on a “budbox” to enclose their latest project.  This product was originally created…

I was going to start this blog with the concept that this is a challenging and interesting time to be an electronic enclosure manufacturer, but I am struggling to think back to a time when it has not so been. In my nearly 50 year career with the company, we have dealt with skyrocketing inflation, price controls, the evolution of technology, distributor consolidations and disruptions, the dot-com bust, employee shortages, the great recession, tariffs and, of course, the pandemic.  Many…

Among Bud’s broad offerings  in the area of NEMA 4x plastic enclosure, the NBF series is one of our most popular and it’s easy to see why.  With its all plastic construction (including hinges and latches) and with three material options it provides great flexibility for any application.  The materials are ABS plastic – perfect for applications that don’t require full certification but still need protection ABS/Polycarbonate blend – for those indoor installations in a more hazardous environment such as a factory…

Bud’s PTQ series is one of our fastest growing, providing a great price on a NEMA rated IP67 fiberglass box.  We often take a look at product families to see if we can develop ways to improve them but we were stumped on this series since it is such a great product.  We realized the only way to make it better is to offer more sizes so we have now added 15 new sizes to increase our offering to 30. …

Bud’s New AIO series is an IP66 enclosure with an easy to use snap closure clear door The new Bud AIO series is an exciting IP66 enclosure that answers many concerns that our customers have expressed to us in recent years.  One of the challenges of a highly rated IP enclosure is that to use it, since you must find ways to add in holes or slots for input or output or holes for mounting internal components, all of this…

The only product that could be better than Bud’s PN series NEMA4 /IP65 plastic boxes is our new PN-A series which is rated NEMA 6P and is are IP68 plastic boxes.  While the original series is able to withstand a strong water spray, the new series has been tested to withstand being submerged under more than a meter of water and for more than 30 minutes.  It also can withstand a strong water spray.  We are keeping the original series…

Among the most frequently asked questions we receive relate to IP ratings, especially IP65.  In the US, it used to be that people focused on NEMA ratings and IP were only used in foreign sales.  Today, this is no longer the case and we find increasing interest in the IP structure as the method of certification.  In this blog, I will address a few of the questions that we seem to hear most often. The PN series provides excellent IP65…

Bud Industries proudly supports the Women In Electronics Annual Conference As I have noted elsewhere, Bud Industries, the best known manufacturer of electronic enclosures, is a sponsor of the Women in Electronics Annual Leadership Conference.  Bud has strongly supported many organizations within our industry from EIA (the Electronic Industry Association) to its successor trade group, the ECIA.  I was fortunate to serve on the board of the former for many years and to help found the latter about a decade…

Those who do not use electronic enclosures must wonder how we can keep adding new products as we just did with the PU Series of IP68 NEMA 6P plastic enclosures.  The uninitiated must figure there are a lot of boxes covering similar sizes, so why add more?  This product provides the perfect explanation of why.  With a plethora of features and a mix of sizes the PU series meets the needs of designers of products with applications in diverse markets…

Every so often, I break up my product driven blog to share some of my thoughts on topics in the world outside of the electronic enclosure.  In the year 2020, we have been buffeted by a presidential impeachment, a world-wide pandemic, economic collapse, protests, and record wild fires and so much more.  Just when you think there cannot be another historic event, another pops up to shock and stun us.  And a big one is just around the corner.  As…

Bud’s Din Rail Multi-Board enclosures allows up to 3 boards and makes your connections quick and easy Bud Industries has a unique solution to mounting your PC boards on a din rail box.  Our new Din Rail Multi-Board Box is created for rapid assembly and multiple uses, creating the perfect flexible enclosure for an endless number of applications. Helping to ease your assembly process, the unit requires no fasteners, with all components snapping together.  It accepts up to 3 PCB’s,…

Bud Industries is pleased to introduce a totally new website for our broad offering of electronic enclosures and related accessories.  While often a new website is just a cosmetic update, we have remade our site completely to improve on our already impressive quick search, select by size, and encyclopedic technical resources.  Here are a few of the many changes: A typical page on Bud’s new Electronic Enclosures website Each product has its own page complete with an individual photo of…

  Asher Haas successfully completed Digi-Key’s Breadboard Family Camp Bud Industries is well recognized as a premier electronic enclosure manufacturer but our breadboards are among our fastest growing products.  I discussed this in last week’s blog about our selection as a part of the Digi-Key Family maker camp with their topic of “Learn to Breadboard” which featured not only our breadboards but also our jumper cables.  I am pleased to report that the camp was  a huge success as demonstrated…

Bud is proud that our breadboard, part BB-32621, and our jumper cables were chosen to be featured in their “Learn to Breadboard with Digi-Key” Family maker camp scheduled for August 11 from 10-11 AM PDT.  It is the perfect way to spend time with your kids and enjoy “camp” together during this challenging time.  It is a fun project and they get a cool buzzer out of it when they are done.  If the time does not work you can…

Nothing gets an enclosure manufacturer more excited than developing a new product like the PW series of ABS boxes.  Bud has just introduced these multi-purpose enclosures that are relatively small but pack a huge punch in the options they offer and their flexibility to meet a variety of applications.  From wi-fi to data management to simple projects, this is the box that engineers have been waiting for.  While often the user has to settle for a traditional squared off box,…

Infographics were the hot communications approach a few years back but for some issues, such as describing what the NEMA 4x rating is all about, it is still the perfect vehicle for a quick reminder of what it means and how it is tested.  I recently was faced with this challenge when I was providing information for a distributor website and they were looking for additional content.  It hit me that an infographic would be the simile way to describe…

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a Bud product video is like a complete book.  To help our customers make the best product selections, Bud has developed nearly 50 videos that show many of the features of our best selling products as well as extra services that we perform to make the product immediately usable.  Some are much more traditional demonstrating the products and noting key features that customers may need to complete their product. …

During this crazy business era, one product area that has thrived has been our Server Rack Series, the SRP.  In this time of endless binge watching, video game marathons, and even remote learning for students (my 9 year old grandson is taking a class on video animation this week), the demand for hyper fast internet is skyrocketing.  Bud’s SRP Server Rack Professional Series is helping fill that storage need with a full featured product at an amazing price. Available in…

The purpose of this blog is to inform people about our electronic enclosures and to give guidance on issues that they may encounter in their search for the right product.  My goal is to write a blog at least every two weeks and today I am due to write a new update.  However, it is hard to focus on the best features of these great products at this time in our country’s history.  I lived through the 60’s as a…

Even while we are continuing to work as an essential business producing electronic enclosures, especially NEMA rated enclosures, it is hard to focus on anything other than the Covid-19 crisis.  We are based in Ohio and no matter your politics, our governor has been in the forefront of the effort nationally to develop safe procedures and processes. While we are incredibly grateful that none of our employees have yet to test positive for the virus and no relatives of any…

One of the few positives to come out of the Corona Virus shutdown from a business perspective is to remind us that our electronic enclosures, especially NEMA rated enclosures, are an essential part of the economy.  As you may know, we sell extensively through distribution.  We fortunately receive data from our distributors that provides information about the thousands of customers who buy and use Bud enclosures each month and we recently have focused on the NEMA rated enclosures because their…

As I have mentioned in my prior blog, as an electronic enclosure company servicing many infrastructure and related industries, we are an essential company during this Corona Virus era.  Given that we manufacture and sell only the box into which these essential products are installed, we often don’t know all of the details about the variety of uses of our products.  Through our distribution network, we service tens of thousands of different customers each year with our broad electronic enclosure…

When I think of the word discovery, the name that jumps into my mind is NASA. While today they are thought of for the research done on Saturn’s rings, or the proposed manned trips to Mars, for some of us, NASA will always be tied to the lunar missions of the 60’s, leading up to the first lunar landing in 1969. We, at Bud, were proud to have been a part of the NASA family, supplying products that ranged from…

Although it seems like a basic idea, we realize that we do not have a Frequently Asked Questions page dealing with our electronic enclosures on our website.  The interesting part has been collecting the questions from our sales team who, of course, are on the front line.  I think the biggest challenge for our team is recognizing that what seems basic for us is not part of most customers’ day-to-day exposure or knowledge.  On the flip side, as we develop…

Josiah Haas, our President, has developed a quick video to share our story of the adjustments we have made to protect our employees yet still keep our essential electronic enclosure business going. https://www.youtube.com/embed/-X8F6VU-zwk

As a newly defined elderly person (like most people, I have assumed it is much older than I am), I am adjusting to a different life as CEO of Bud Industries, an Electronic Enclosure company who is working from home.  This is especially challenging as my management style is heavily based on “walking around” to touch base with my team and help facilitate their activities and interaction.  I have to learn new techniques and adjust as much as possible. Fortunately,…

Often an engineer has to choose between strong protection and strong visuals when selecting IP66 electronic enclosures.  The nature of the protection and required gasketing often restrict the style of the box, impacting the marketability of the end product.  That industrial look that typifies both NEMA and IP rated enclosures can be a challenge for the marketing of any product.  Bud’s EXN series is the perfect combination of protection and great looks as well as ease of pcb assembly. A…

Bud Industries has been producing die cast aluminum electronic enclosures for nearly 50 of it 91 years and its applications have multiplied over that time.  Originally, die cast boxes were used only for hobbyists or very simple testing applications.  As the demand for electronic enclosures in more hazardous environments has increased, it is now typical to see die cast enclosures in virtually any industry.  One of most successful die cast enclosure markets is transportation.  People often think of transportation as…

As the year winds down and we look back on 2019, we have so much to be grateful for and to look forward to in our company and in the electronic enclosure world.  We also are proud of our ability to confront challenges and thrive as a leader in our industry and 2019 unfortunately gave us a few of those as well.  Here are a few of the highlights: At Bud, our employees are crucial to our success.  We value…

We have often been asked to provide extra large plastic NEMA/IP rated enclosures and so we are delighted to introduce the NBG series.  While much is made of the ongoing reduction in component sizes, one concept that is overlooked is that now products that used to require a many bay cabinet can now be housed in a single large unit.  Moreover, when large enclosures are required, designers often think that metal is their only option.  Large plastic boxes require a…

We are often asked about our flammability ratings and what they mean.  Quite simply, they allow the designer to understand how the plastic material will act when exposed to fire and how it impacts that fire.  A key point is that the testing is done on a sample of the material, not on the final enclosure.  Further, it does not deal with how the box will protect the components but more how the material will react when exposed to a…

Bud’s new IPV Series vents are rated IP67   One of the most significant problems in protecting electronic or electrical components with a NEMA/IP rated enclosure is ventilation.  By the nature of the enclosure being sealed, air flow or cooling is a challenge.  Further, as the components typically produce heat, there can be a heat buildup within the box creating not only high internal temperatures but also condensation as the internal and external temperatures vary, which defeats one of the…

While I often use my blog to discuss important issues in enclosures or the electronics industry, it is sometimes nice to hear a different voice in the process.  Josiah Haas, our president, was recently interviewed for Automation World by David Greenfield on the differences between a certified and non-certified enclosure and when to use what type of certification. He clarifies how the use of the appropriately rated products can improve both uptime and component safety.  As companies move their products…

As regular readers of our blog may remember, Bud Industries celebrated its 90th anniversary last year.  We think it is a truly amazing milestone for a company that is in the tech industry and prides itself on products that serves such cutting edge markets as lighting, IoT, telecommunications, and especially industrial automation.  We are still owned by the founder’s family and have enjoyed four generations of the family participating in the business.  In the day-to-day business, we sometimes take a…

19” Cabinet racks have been in use for almost 100 years since ATT first decided to set the standard for mounting of the termination and repeater equipment for toll cables in the early days of the telephone.  A few years later, the hole locations and distances between holes on the mounting rails of 1.75” was established and Bud Industries created its first “relay racks” shortly thereafter as we serviced the rapidly growing radio market.  Flash forward, and as is the…

In the electronic enclosure world, we often say that our job is to make your projects look good.  We enclose all of your components, protect them from damage, and provide the shell that allows many products to be marketable.  We offer a variety of high style enclosures and boxes from small hand held clear usb drive enclosures to sleek server racks.  Alas, beauty is not the case with our traditional aluminum die cast enclosures (our CU die cast series) but…

Bud’s SNB NEMA 4x IP65 steel enclosures One of the questions we get asked most often is how do NEMA and IP ratings compare.  That is, can one find an enclosure with a NEMA rating and use it to fit a required IP rating?  The quick answer is no as there are different types of tests and even different testing bodies who set these ratings.  However, if your purpose is to just determine which NEMA is closest to a specific…

For those of us in the Electronic Enclosure Industry, there is nothing more beautiful than a well-executed modified enclosure.  In fact, the holy grail of enclosures is how to provide the modifications as fast as an off-the-shelf standard product.  We are not there yet, but we are definitely making progress.  Today, at Bud Industries, we can do major modifications to our standard products in only 5-6 days including holes, slots, and cut outs – even if they are on multiple…

As I write this and we prepare for the 4th of July holiday, I am once again struck by the American Dream and how our Electronic Enclosure Company’s story could have only happened in the United States.  As I have mentioned before, Bud Industries was founded as Bud Radio by my grandfather, Max Haas, in 1928.  An immigrant from what is now the Czech Republic around 1900, he had a self-taught engineering and marketing mind and was fascinated by what…

One of the most consistent questions that Bud Industries receives deals with the best materials for a NEMA- or IP-rated enclosure.  Bud provides NEMA- and IP-rated boxes in almost every material including steel, stainless steel, ABS plastic, polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass and die cast aluminum.  In the last few years, we have added an interesting combination of polycarbonate and fiberglass (10%) that is becoming increasingly popular for many good reasons.  This combination offers many advantages over both polycarbonate and traditional fiberglass…

Bud is very excited to be the Supplier of the Month at the Newark Sales Center in nearby Richfield Ohio.  This means that we are able to set up a display near the entrance to the facility where all who enter see our products and learn our key value proposition of the fastest and most cost effective provider of modified electronic enclosures.  We also have access to their team to work with them on opportunities and assist in closing the…

Bud has participated in the Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) since its founding in the 1930’s as the May Parts Show in Chicago, sharing information about our latest enclosures even then.  Today, the show has evolved into the electronic components annual conference that brings together all of the major Distributors, Manufacturers and Sales Representatives in Las Vegas for a both individual and group events and meetings. NEMA/IP rated modified electronic enclosures are standard at Bud This is my 42nd consecutive year…

Continuing our review of our best-selling plastic enclosures, the Plastic Rack Mount Chassis is a definite winner.  Customers have been mounting equipment into 19” panel width cabinets and racks for nearly 100 years.  Often, rather than mounting equipment itself into the rack, such as power supplies, they are looking for an enclosure to mount their boards and other components in so that they can be easily used in the racks, such as server racks.  Most of these rack mount chassis…

Bud Industries electronic enclosures have many applications, but one of which we are quite proud is our association with  Calsol, the UC Berkley solar vehicle team. Calsol is made up of students from a variety of disciplines who develop Formula Solar Vehicles for racing. This is an ongoing program which is currently working on their 9th generation vehicle.  The students do more than engineer the cars, but also are involved with business planning, marketing, and project management. The 8th  generation car,…

In my last blog, I noted how many plastic enclosures we have in our line. Many people think of us only as steel or aluminum electronic enclosure suppliers, but we are much more than that. In this blog, I will continue to focus on plastic enclosures for general use. That is, these enclosures are not rated and so are not expressly for hazardous or wet environments. Today, the plastic enclosure of choice is our hand held series, the HP. These…

Bud Industries was founded with a focus on metal enclosures and rack, so people often forget that we have a broad line of plastic enclosures today as well. To do so is to risk overlooking one of the broadest lines of plastic enclosures in the industry. The focus of this and upcoming blogs will be on the non-hazardous environment products, just the traditional products that are typical of many of today’s indoor applications. It would probably surprise most readers to…

Let’s Chat. As we prepare to launch our new Bud Industries Electronic Enclosure Website later this spring, we have begun to turn on a few new features. The most exciting is a chat feature. Long used on retail and consumer sites, it has made its way into the b2b world. We have been pleasantly surprised at how popular and helpful this feature has become. First, we had to overcome our own biases. We thought people would rather email if they…

A value priced extruded aluminum enclosure with great looks as well One of our fastest selling electronic enclosure products is our recently introduced EXN extruded aluminum NEMA boxes.  Aluminum extrusion is one of the strongest materials from which to make an electronic enclosure and often can appear as a very basic box.  Our EXN series is highly styled yet is truly value priced especially for a NEMA/IP rated box. The options are almost limitless as it comes in 5 colors…

Bud’s Aluminum Relay rack combines light weight with strength It is hard to find a product that is more functional than an Aluminum Relay Rack. With its simple two rails structure, it allows easy mounting of components with complete air circulation providing the ultimate in cooling. Long considered only valuable in the telecommunications industry, it seems to be developing a following in other fields including server farms and testing. The biggest advantage is weight given that aluminum is much lighter…

Max Haas founded Bud Industries in 1928 and created an industry legend Tomorrow is an important date in the history of Electronic Enclosures.  On November 30, 1928,  Bud Radio, the predecessor of Bud Industries, was incorporated by my Grandfather, Max Haas.  While I have written about our company’s history on many occasions, I want to honor my grandfather one more time by retelling his story as I think it is very meaningful today.  His life is a true testament to…

Last week’s ECIA Executive Conference was a fascinating blend of strong speakers, special commemorative moments and great networking.  Bud Industries has been a member of the Electronics Industry trade associations for generations, first in electrical components for radios and then with electronic enclosures.  It has been a long, circuitous journey to the ECIA and our membership reflects the changes that our industry has gone through for over 80 years.  Originally we were members of EP&EM, Electronic Products and Equipment Manufacturers. …

Finding a Bud Industries electronic enclosure is a quick and easy process that can be done 24/7.  Just check out all of the great features on Bud’s website.  Let’s say you are looking for a stainless steel NEMA box that is roughly 16” x 14” x 8”.  Just go to Bud’s website at www.budind.com and in the right hand upper part of the page, note the search by size feature.  Click on that and it is easy to load a…

Bud’s Emperor Series wall mount cabinet is a great solution for 19” rack mount equipment when floor space is at a premium.  It is also a perfect answer to ergonomic issues where a smaller server is needed but can now be used at eye level for simple monitoring or adjustment.  The Emperor series is made of 20 ga. Steel except for its two pairs of adjustable mounting rails which are 18 ga.  It also has fixed mounting rails in the back section…

Bud’s Emperor Series wall mount cabinet is a great solution for 19″ rack mount equipment when floor space is at a premium. It is also a perfect answer to ergonomic issues where a smaller server is needed but can now be used at eye level for simple monitoring or adjustment. The Emperor series is made of 20 ga. Steel except for its two pairs of adjustable mounting rails which are 18 ga. It also has fixed mounting rails in the…

Bud Industries is proud to introduce our state of the art digital printing capabilities as a part of our rapidly growing modified enclosure product offerings.  Digital printing is quickly replacing silk screening or other methods of adding lettering or logos to the product given its speed of production, improved quality and durability.  Among the many amazing features of our digital printing are the following:   Bud Industries Digital Printing Capabilities are state of the art providing amazing clear results. 1.      …

A question that we get all the time is what is the difference between a NEMA rated enclosure and an IP rated enclosure. First, a quick explanation of the two systems. NEMA, developed by the National Electrical Manufacturing Association, is used mostly in the US and sets forth an approach that rates the enclosure by its ability to protect the internal components from flying particles and also various types of liquids, both indoor and outdoor. IP, created by the International…

Two years ago, Bud introduced its Atex rated boxes made of die cast aluminum. Now, we are pleased to announce that we have the capabilities to modify the products while still retaining their ratings. First, let’s chat about the enclosure itself With increasing frequency in electronics, there are situations where the user needs to protect the environment from the dangers that emanate from the electronics, typically, some sort of sparking or flashing of the electrical charge. This becomes a significant issue as…

Customers often come to Bud for a specific design need such as a small factory automation enclosure but don’t realize the breadth of our offering for their next projects, such as a Server Rack.  In this and future blogs, we will focus on some of the more popular yet diverse products that Bud provides to the industry as a part of our 90th anniversary celebration.  We have been offering welded 19” cabinet racks for about 60 years and continue to provide the most innovative…

Customers often come to Bud for a specific design need such as a small factory automation enclosure but don’t realize the breadth of our offering for their next projects, such as a Server Rack. In this and future blogs, we will focus on some of the more popular yet diverse products that Bud provides to the industry as a part of our 90th anniversary celebration. We have been offering welded 19″ cabinet racks for about 60 years and continue to…

Much has changed in the electronic enclosure industry since Bud Industries was founded 90 years ago in 1928. At that time, in fact, we did not even manufacture enclosures, but our first product related to radio antennae. As our company has evolved, there is one thing that has never changed which is how Bud values the relationships that we develop with our various business partners. This was demonstrated recently at the Electronic Distribution Show in Las Vegas when two of…

Bud Industries has been a part of the Electronic Distribution Show and its predecessors since its inception in the late 1930’s as we promote our electronic enclosures to our distribution partners.  This year marked the 41st consecutive EDS that I have attended.  When I first went, in 1978, it was called the NEWCOMM show, an acronym that I candidly don’t remember what it stood for.  In my early days, the major focus of the show was to introduce new products…

Bud’s Fiber Optics boxes are ideal for connecting the fiber for the last mile Bud is excited about our new FBR-Series Fiber Optic Distribution Boxes.  They are molded from a high quality light weight polycarbonate ABS blended material that is a completely enclosed structure.  All 8-sizes have the ability to manage fiber lines, which are a thin piece of flexible glass, that cannot bend.  They are used as a termination point for the feeder cable to connect with drop cable…

Bud’s Fiber Optics boxes are ideal for connecting the fiber for the last mile Bud is excited about our new FBR-Series Fiber Optic Distribution Boxes. They are molded from a high quality light weight polycarbonate ABS blended material that is a completely enclosed structure. All 8-sizes have the ability to manage fiber lines, which are a thin piece of flexible glass, that cannot bend. They are used as a termination point for the feeder cable to connect with drop cable…

Bud is all about making the customer’s life easy and our  new PTK Molded knockout box  is the perfect example.  These NEMA/IP rated enclosures come with pre-molded knockouts to make field installation of equipment or modifications quickly and cost effectively.   Knockouts are useful in junction boxes and other electrical applications, although the PTK enclosure is also ideal for housing printed circuit boards.  While Bud is always happy to install holes or slots in our standard enclosures, in an industry leading…

A few years back, we were at the Newark Electronics Call Center on the day the Raspberry Pi Development board was introduced and we as surprised as everyone else at the startling success of that launch…with product selling out in an hour and briefly crashing their website.  We decided to develop an enclosure for the Pi and created our hugely popular boxes.  For a year, they were our top selling product in volume.  Then the market became saturated with boxes…

A few years back, we were at the Newark Electronics Call Center on the day the Raspberry Pi Development board was introduced and we as surprised as everyone else at the startling success of that launch with product selling out in an hour and briefly crashing their website. We decided to develop an enclosure for the Pi and created our hugely popular boxes. For a year, they were our top selling product in volume. Then the market became saturated with…

New products are always the life blood of a company’s sales efforts. Sometimes they involve extensions of already successful products and sometimes they are totally new. Bud is very excited to delve into a new area in the electronic enclosures market place – the PTT terminal boxes. Actually, this product area represents the marriage of a very successful product, the IP rated plastic box and terminal blocks (a newer area for us). Made from UL94HB ABS plastic, these boxes are…

As I noted in an earlier blog, 2018 marks Bud Industries 90th year as a manufacturer of electronic enclosures. As we have evolved through the years, we have been blessed to build on our business relationships and turn them into personal friendships as well. During a recent visit to Little Rock, Josiah Haas, our president, mentioned the anniversary and also our long standing relationship with the Carlton-Bates company. Bud was probably one of Carlton-Bates earliest suppliers as Bud Haas, son…

Many customers would be surprised to know that Bud’s Steel NEMA Boxes are among its best sellers.  When customers think of Bud’s NEMA/IP rated offerings, they typically think of either polycarbonate or fiberglass boxes, the original protected products that Bud introduced over 30 years ago.  Despite the fact that Bud has had these steel products in its line for only a decade, the SNB series now has become a huge part of the industry’s market.  With diverse applications that range…

Bud Industries ran a fun contest last year to promote our 5 day delivery on a wide array of modified Electronic enclosures.  The quiz asked a few challenging engineering questions all of which dealt with speed.  We had a huge response, perhaps due to the great prize – a home automation package.  This included an Amazon Echo, Nest Thermostat, Samsung SmartThings Hub, a ring door bell, smart light bul and dimmer and a smart outlet.  Frankly, I am not an…

2018 represents a major milestone in the history of electronic enclosures, the 90th Anniversary of Bud Industries.  I have often written about our history in this blog so I won’t repeat it, but I do think there are several key points worth highlighting.  First, Bud’s current president, Josiah Haas, is the 4th generation of Haas’s to lead the company.  I recently read a study that showed that only 3% of companies survive to be led by the fourth generation, making…

Nowhere is a picture better at telling a story than in describing Bud’s IP and NEMA plastic Boxes.  Even better is a video and we have just updated our videos on the popular NBF and PN series boxes.  While in the prior version, we just described the product features, in this version, we show each box being hit with a powerful water spray.  While this is not an official UL test, it replicates a bit of the process that UL…

“A habit is something that you do without thinking, which is why most of us have so many of them.”  Frank Clark is attributed with this quote and although we can all apply it readily to our personal lives, it also fits many peoples’ professional lives as well.  When it comes to buying and specifying electronic enclosures, most designers revert to their past practices which are often inefficient, expensive and untimely.  Quite often, they work for a company that has…

How can the best Electronic Enclosure Website be made even better?  Simply by making it even easier to use and more user friendly.  One of the best features of the Bud Industries website is the “search by size” widget that quickly and easily allows the specifier to find the perfect electronic enclosure from our offering of thousands of standard products.  It has just been upgraded to eliminate the sometimes balky “choose by size” sliders and replace them with open slots…

Many consider the safest way to protect electronic components in a hazardous environment is to use a completely plastic NEMA enclosure.  This eliminates the possibility for rust even in such often overlooked area as the latches and hinges.  An entirely plastic enclosure provides the ultimate in low weight for the toughest durability.  Bud’s very popular NBF series is the ultimate combination of great protection (NEMA/IP) and a value price.   Bud’s NBF Series is the perfect combination of total protection and…

When it comes to 19” Equipment Racks, it is amazing how simple features can make such a difference.  This is the case with Bud Industries Aluminum Relay Racks.  19” racking was developed by the telephone industry in the 1920’s to provide standardization for equipment mounting and also to save space.  As rapidly as the electronics industry evolves, this standard has stood the test of time for nearly 100 years.  A relay rack is the common name for a 2 post rack…

Purchasing a harsh environment enclosure can be a tricky business. The components need to be protected but it is also important not to overkill the protection and waste costs. All too often, the enclosure is not considered until the last minute in any design, the focus going on the active components. This can lead to a quick decision that often negates many cost savings in other areas. Therefore, we have developed five ways to save money on your harsh environment…

Here is a new infographic from Bud Industries on the five easy steps to select a factory automation enclosure Bud has a very broad range of products that meet NEMA and IP standards in all materials ranging from steel to plastic to aluminum to fiberglass. Contact your local Bud distributor for more details as well as price and delivery.

While it may be a stretch to say that thinking about July 4th and our freedom reminds me of modified electronic enclosures, there can be a correlation.   While not diminishing the great benefits that we, as Americans, enjoy, nor the sacrifices that brought us those freedoms, it is also freeing for a buyer or engineer to be a part of Bud’s incredible program. While not saving lives, we do help save both time and efforts in speeding your product…

The PTQ series of plastic IP and NEMA rated electronic enclosure is one of Bud’s newest and most durable product lines.  In fact, if you check out the video, you can even see how it holds up when a car drives over it.  While that is not something that we recommend in daily use, the thinking is that if it can withstand that external pressure and weight, then it should provide superior protection for any electronic components.  The secret to its strength is a…

Bud has a new Infographic that proves how easy it is to have Bud provide you with a modified electronic enclosure.  Don’t risk improper modifications by a local source or your “back room” when it is so easy and so fast (5 days!) to get it from Bud.  Call us or your local distributor for details.

While tens of thousands of customers enjoy our electronic enclosures each year, it is likely that they never think about the people who create those products that they use  This week, and for that matter, this year, is an exciting one here at Bud for our team.  One of the ways we honor their legacy is with a plaque in our lobby that recognizes employees that have worked with us for 25 years.  This week, we add three names to…

An extruded electronic enclosure is often a very simple low cost approach to housing components, sometimes even within a larger piece of equipment.  Quite often they are very basic looking with limited physical appeal as they tend to be more utilitarian in application.  Therefore, when one finds a product like the Bud EXN series, it can be cause for a celebration.  These are not utilitarian boxes but rather are a high style approach that makes for an attractive finished product,…

For those of us in the Electronic Enclosure Industry, there is nothing more beautiful than a well-executed modified electronic enclosure.  In fact, the holy grail of enclosures is how to provide the modifications as fast as an off-the-shelf standard product.  We are not there yet, but we are definitely making progress.  Today, at Bud Industries, we can do major modifications to our standard products in only 5-6 days including holes, slots, and cut outs – even if they are on…

In this blog, I often try to relate the idea of learning more about Bud Industries and electronic enclosures to key events in my life.  Alas, my mother passed away about 10 days ago after a long illness and it raised a lot of thoughts about the generations, especially as it relates to a family business.  She was the last of her generation in our family so her passing really reflects the end of an era…that of the second generation…

March Madness is the most exciting time of the year, even for an Electronic Enclosure Manufacturer like Bud Industries.  While it is estimated that the economy will lose up to $4 billion in productivity due to this amazing basketball spectacle, Bud Industries can help you make up for some of the lost time with its simple electronic enclosure product selection tool.  This tool, on the Bud website (www.budind.com) is the fastest way in the industry to take the guess work…

Sometimes, here at Bud Industries, we take a look at some of our long term products such as our plastic rack mount chassis and are pleased to see that they are still as relevant today as they were when they were introduced more than a decade ago. Bud’s Plastic Rack Mount Chassis is a great value with strong features A bonus in the use of enclosures is that while the applications and, of course,  the components will evolve over time,…

While most immediately think of Bud Industries when they have an enclosure need, people often don’t think of Bud for the final touches such as NEMA Glands.  So what is a NEMA cable gland?  Put simply, when a hole is drilled in a box for cable access, the assembler needs a way to protect the interior and integrity of the box while still installing the cabling.  The cable gland is that device Cable Glands come in all sizes to meet…

As the New Year begins, many are asking us what the latest trends in electronic enclosures are.  While one of the great advantages of these products is that they are so flexible that they can be adapted to almost any internal components, like any other manufacturer, we look to always improve how we are meeting the customers’ needs.  Many of the trends we are seeing this year are logical extension of prior products but with newer features.  Here is a…

The year 2016 marked my 44th year at Bud Industries and what is most interesting is how we have continued to reinvent ourselves, most recently with our focus on modified enclosures.  When I joined the company, large cabinet racks were the driver of our business.  We had no plastic products, did not participate in the NEMA market, and we did not really modify products, only building custom products in very large quantities to order.  If I look back through the…

Buying a modified electronic enclosure can be an intimidating task for any engineer.  Yet for virtually every application, at least with a smaller enclosure, some modification will be required.  It can be as simple as needing a hole for a connector or cable access to a totally unique design dictated by the application components and even the location.  Fortunately, the need for a complete special has been reduced over time by the broad array of standard products that we, at…

Bud Industries Server Rack Engineers who spend their days designing the best in electronics are often panicked when they are asked to specify a Server Rack.   It is really quite a different skill, moving away from their expertise and into a more physical and mechanical world.  To make their job easier, we have compiled five simple questions to ask to insure that they are as successful in this selection as they are in their typical day-to-day work. 1. What is…

Bud has a complete line of NEMA IP electronic enclosures Once again, I attended the Electronica Show in Munich, checking out what is new in Electronic Enclosures.  My company, Bud Industries, is in the early stages of its international expansion, and Electronica presents a unique opportunity to learn about the differences in the EMEA market versus the North American.  While one would think that an enclosure is an enclosure and providing the best protection of electronic equipment would be consistent,…

While all of us in Cleveland are caught up in Indians Fever, it is exciting for us to realize that one of our NEMA 4 enclosures makes the live experience at many stadiums so much better.  It was not too long ago that if you attended a large sporting event, you could forget using your cell phone as the nearby tower would be jammed and reception would be non-existent.  For all of us who go through withdrawal at the slightest…

With customers always pushing for cost reductions, saving money has become an overriding concern in all product specification.  In the selection of an IP rated enclosure to use on the factory floor, there are five issues to consider insuring that you choose the most effective, but economical solution for your application.    1. Do you need your enclosure to be IP rated at all?  With factory floors increasingly clean, the need to protect sensitive equipment from dirt, dust, and liquids is…

For many customers, if they are thinking that they need a NEMA Box, or ip rated enclosure, the vendor choice can vary based on the materials.  Some vendors specialize in polycarbonate NEMA, some in steel, others in fiberglass.  This makes researching the best option for an application even more difficult as the engineer goes from site to site, orders sample after sample, and struggles through the hype to reach an answer.  At Bud, we make it easy for you.  As…

Everyone knows that Bud is the industry’s favored supplier of electronic enclosures, but did you know that Bud is now a top supplier of  Breadboards as well? Bud first approached this market with several enclosures for the raspberry pi development board a few years back. Recognizing the breadth of customer base following their exponential sales growth, we decided to pursue this market with accessories to the board, heavily utilizing our plastic manufacturing capabilities. Bud now offers two breadboards that have…

Bud’s NF Series Value Priced Fiberglass Enclosure I am often asked questions about Bud’s Fiberglass enclosure line, the NF and NFL series as engineers try to understand the differences between various types of plastic enclosures as well as why one uses plastic instead of stainless or galvanized steel.  Choosing the best material for an application can be a challenging process, but selecting a fiberglass enclosure has many advantages. 1. They are lightweight which, compared to steel, makes installation much simpler.…

As we celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday week, I am brought back to what this holiday means for Bud Industries.  As a country of immigrants that promises opportunity for all, I think of my Grandfather’s story which reflects the true spirit of America.  Born in Hungary in 1896, his family was fortunate to be allowed to come to the United States when he was about 8 years old.  Raised in Cleveland, he was bright and ambitious.  He had various…

My marketing team tells me that all of my blogs should be about Electronic Enclosures but it is impossible to be sitting in suburban Cleveland Ohio and not write about the Cavs winning the NBA championship.  For those who have been living in a cave, this is the first professional sports championship for Cleveland in 52 years.  We have been close many times, but no one is talking about horseshoes.  The tough part about this is that the losses became…

Bud’s versatile BRP 19″ Cabinet Rack It is often said that buying an electronic enclosure is technologically simple.  Just know your required dimensions and materials and your selection becomes only a matter of style.  However, for many, navigating the terms and abbreviations can make this a much more challenging process, so here is a guide to some of the more commonly used terms and a brief definition to help make you an electronic enclosure expert. A Large Electronic Enclosure is…

There is often confusion about the various rating systems for the protection of equipment within an enclosure.  We are often asked which system is best and how are they different?  If the customer is in the US, are they better off buying NEMA boxes or one with an IP rating, or does it even matter?  While there are no hard and fast answers to the question of which is best, we thought it might be helpful to provide a few…

Today’s engineers are often very well trained in everything that is needed for tech from the latest embedded systems to the internet of things. However, it can be the simpler things that trip them up, such as dealing with an electronic enclosure for their projects. We have found that, although the enclosure is quite low tech, it can intimidate engineers who do not want to risk their projects on making the wrong protection choice. To assist, Bud has created a…

One of the most common phone calls that we receive here at Bud Industries is requesting help in selecting the best 19” cabinet rack for the intended solution. As Bud offers many families of enclosure ranging from the Economizer Series to the stylish BRP series to the full featured SRP Server Rack Series, some customers find the selection process to be daunting. We help them unravel the task and have decided to share the relatively simple approach in five steps. Bud’s versatile BRP 19″…

Bud Industries focus over the last few years has moved aggressively to providing modified and custom enclosures.  As I have written, Bud now provides and industry leading 5-6 day turnaround on most simple modifications to many of our standard products including the cutting and piercing of holes, slots and other types of openings.  We also perform many more operations including providing custom design services, special sizes, gaskets, colors, and packaging.  We are unique in that we work with our distribution partners,…

Bud’s ATX series of ATEX Rated Enclosures Why would Bud introduce an ATEX rated Enclosure? Enclosures are designed for two purposes, protection and beauty. Often, when we think of protection, the focus is on external issues, causing testing to levels such as NEMA 4x or IP65. These NEMA or IP Enclosure ratings deal with keeping the environment out of the enclosure, whether that is rain, dust, or water. Recently, we realized that there are situations where we need to protect…

This is the time of year when people look back with embarrassment at their New Year’s Resolutions and realize that with the best of intentions, they are already falling short of their goals. Those who are still working out at the gym notice that it is becoming much less crowded there. For those of us who run in the mornings, there are a lot fewer people out on the streets doing their early morning dash. And somehow, those extra five…

Today, new products drive our industry. With enclosures, while the technology is often unchanged, the visuals demand updating on a regular basis. For customers, as they introduce new designs, they look for more than functionality in an enclosure, but also a sense of style that will distinguish their product. In response to these trends, Bud has introduced a new extruded box line, the EXN, that has it all, great price, a variety of styles and colors, light weight, and a…

Bud Industries ran an incredibly successful contest in 2015. With interest at an industry high rate, we asked people to take a pop quiz to demonstrate how quickly Bud can modify our standard product line. With a 5-6 day leadtime, we can provide a custom box almost quicker than many others provide a simple standard enclosure. We are excited to announce that Paul Chevalier was our winner. Check out the video of our President, Josiah Haas, drawing his name. Congratulations, Paul. Keep following our…

As 2015 wraps to a close, it has to go into the record books as one of the most unusual. From politics (remember that Scott Walker was the favorite for the Republican nod early in the year) to the weather (remember the Polar Vortex as now the East Coast is basking in record heat?), nothing seemed to go as projected. Therefore, it is with pride that we note that Bud continues to be as consistent as ever. As we celebrated…

One of the challenges of being a broad line manufacturer of enclosures is that customers often think of us only for the products that they have used in the past. For example, if the engineer had a small board that he needed to enclose, he might have bought one of our small plastic enclosures such as the PN series, which would give him not only the ability to mount the board, but also environmental protection as well. However, when that…

One of the challenges of being a broad line manufacturer of enclosures is that customers often think of us only for the products that they have used in the past. For example, if the engineer had a small board that he needed to enclose, he might have bought one of our small plastic enclosures such as the PN series, which would give him not only the ability to mount the board, but also environmental protection as well. However, when that…

New products are always exciting for us here at Bud. In the coming weeks, this blog will be highlighting some of the significant new product areas and sharing with you the key features and benefits of the diverse group of products that we are introducing this fall. The first is the PTS series of 10% fiberglass plastic enclosures. These join the very successful PIP series and the PTQ series that just came out last spring. As you may remember, the…

It is a well-worn bit of advice to never “mess with a good thing.” For many, when you’ve got a long term great selling product, making adjustments can be a risk, potentially alienating your core customer base. However, we recently saw an opportunity to improve on one of our best selling products and we jumped at the chance. Our AN series of NEMA 4 and 4x die cast boxes has been  a great selling line for us for over 15 years.…

We are always delighted when a customer sends us a photo of one of our enclosures in use.   It fascinates us to see the diversity in applications where electronics needs to be enclosed in industries of which we had no idea needed them.. From farming where enclosures are used in chicken coops to track the productivity and safety of the chickens to health care where motorized wheelchairs have their motor enclosed, the usage is impressive. But every so often, an…

Between the new discoveries of water movement on Mars, and the Matt Damon movie, the Maritan, space and space travel is in the news. It is probably little known that Bud Industries played a small but important role in early space flight. For those old enough to remember, the astronauts carried with them a large metal box, its use was classified and we never learned exactly what it did. We thought it might have to do with generating oxygen or…

Between the new discoveries of water movement on Mars, and the Matt Damon movie, the Martian, space and space travel is in the news. It is probably little known that Bud Industries played a small but important role in early space flight. For those old enough to remember, the astronauts carried with them a large metal box, its use was classified and we never learned exactly what it did. We thought it might have to do with generating oxygen or…

Today is the day that the Iphone 6s is being released and to no one’s surprise, there are huge lines outside the stores waiting to be the first to get the new device. What I find interesting is how the distribution model on the phones has change and how this is impacting customers and their buying patterns. As we all know, in the past you bought a phone, it was heavily subsidized by the carrier, but then you had to…

We attended our youngest grandson’s second birthday party over the weekend and it was a lot of fun to watch. Held at a local ice cream parlor, with about 15 kids and their parents, it was a simple affair…pizza for lunch, some crayons and paper for an activity, and ice cream for dessert. No glitz, no glamour, just an effort to provide a fun time for a bunch of little kids on a warm summer day. There were two things…

Many of you know that Bud Industries is based in the metropolitan Cleveland, Ohio area.  We have been here for all 87 year’s of our history and are proud to be a part of the growth in this region over the last few years.  Our President, Josiah Haas, was recently interviewed by the local Growth Association (Cleveland +) and published in their newsletter that is distributed internationally.  We are proud of his recognition and decided to share this with you Northeast…

As many of you may know, I joined this industry with a background in marketing rather than engineering. While I grew up enmeshed in the enclosure field (my Father and Grandfather were industry veterans), my initial tech knowledge was somewhat limited. I have learned a lot, perhaps through osmosis, with great exposure to many of the leading innovators through the years. Therefore, when we were first approached with the idea of adding breadboards to our line, I knew enough to be aware that gluten…

It is often the case in technology that innovations are often adapted for different applications than was originally anticipated. For example, when the first cell phones were invented, no one could foresee that smart phones would follow and when smart phones were first developed, no one anticipated results that varied from Uber to messaging. When twitter was developed, no one anticipated how it would be so crucial in world developments, often being the sole means of providing communications from war…

I recently returned from a trip to China to visit out factories there. One of the highlights was to see the improved production techniques at our cabinet rack facility near Shanghai. While in the US we often hear of poor working conditions at Chinese factories, I was impressed with what I saw. Lighting had been improved, ventilation was plentiful even on a hot, muggy day, and their work hours were now broken up during the day with a 1.5 hour lunch that…

I recently returned from a trip to China to visit out factories there. One of the highlights was to see the improved production techniques at our cabinet rack facility near Shanghai. While in the US we often hear of poor working conditions at Chinese factories, I was impressed with what I saw. Lighting had been improved, ventilation was plentiful even on a hot, muggy day, and their work hours were now broken up during the day with a 1.5 hour lunch that…

As your design work on your great new project is wrapping up, you realize that you need an enclosure. In the past, because time was tight, you would buy someone’s standard box and then send it out to either your local job shop or the shop in the back of your facility to have the required holes and slots put in for such things as connectors, power, readouts, or whatever is needed. You did this because getting a custom product…

For those of us who live in Cleveland, we have been living through many very late nights as the Cavs battle the Warriors for the NBA title. With the games starting shortly after 9 and often going into overtime, it has not been atypical for the game to end close to midnight. Whether it’s been a good game or a disappointing one, the adrenaline does not slow down until even later and we are all struggling to get moving in…

It is all about easy. Staples, the office supply store, has staked their brand on the concept of making life “easy” for their customers, creating their ubiquitous ads that feature an easy button. For anyone who is interested in their user’s well-being, developing solutions that make the acquisition process quicker and simpler is inevitably going to lead to greater customer satisfaction. At Bud, there are several steps that we have taken recently to let any customer push that “easy” button.…

One of the great discoveries for mounting equipment, particularly in factory automation, is the din rail. This simple structure (see photo) allows for the power supplies, mini enclosures, terminal blocks, or their components to simply be snapped into place with no other tools required. This makes installation quick and easy, allowing for rapid adjustments as well. This has caused an entire new segment of the components industry and product offerings to arise which are those with the din rail clips…

One of the great discoveries for mounting equipment, particularly in factory automation, is the din rail. This simple structure allows for the power supplies, mini enclosures, terminal blocks, or their components to simply be snapped into place with no other tools required. This makes installation quick and easy, allowing for rapid adjustments as well. This has caused an entire new segment of the components industry and product offerings to arise which are those with the din rail clips either molded…

When the calendar turns to May, all eyes at Bud turn to the Electronic Distribution Show and conference in Las Vegas. We have participated in this show and its predecessors almost since its inception as the May Parts Show in Chicago. It has gone from a show where manufacturers of electronic components meet with their distributors to discuss inventory and work to build orders (after negotiated discounts) to one where mutual marketing and end customers are the focus as a…

I am finishing a trip to Chicago that has consisted of traveling with our company’s new president, a salesperson from our local rep firm and a distributor salesperson from Allied Electronics and then attending a sales show run by Carlton Bates. I often dread making calls with sales people wondering if they are prepared, if there really is a reason for our call or are they only calling in a favor to keep me occupied. Yesterday, I saw some of…

Regardless of your politics, Cleveland, the home of Bud Industries, was proud to host the first Republican debate last week. It was a great chance for the city to show off its resurgence, impress the attendees with our outstanding restaurant and arts scene, and display the natural beauty of the city and its extensive lakefront. It was an exciting tryout for next summer when we host the Republican Convention. For many, it was their first exposure to this area and…

While the sports world is abuzz over whether Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, or a mysterious stranger ordered the Patriot’s footballs to be somewhat deflated, deflation, or shrinkage, is also an issue with plastic enclosures. Polycarbonate, while very durable and damage resistant, has a tendency to shrink slightly as it cools, as do most plastics. However, there can be inconsistencies in the shrinkage process meaning that both draft angles of the sides and actual box dimensions can vary slightly from box…

In today’s fast paced world, the selection and acquisition of components can be a real time drag as the component options increase and the internet is overloaded with alternatives. In the search for enclosures, Bud Industries has eased the process, making it as simple as a few clicks. Bud has done this through two additions to their website in the last few months, an industry leading search by size tool and the addition of a new stock checking widget. A…

As we have mentioned in this blog before, Bud Industries recently celebrated its 85th anniversary. There is something a bit disingenuous about a company that is so involved with the high-tech industry having survived and thrived as long as we have. Often we have heard the story of a technology employee being considered old and near the end of their “desirable” employment by the time they are 30. One can rapidly list the companies who missed the next step in…

  Bud Industries Server Rack I recently returned from my annual quick trip through Northeastern Asia.  It is hard to assimilate all of the variety of issues, both political and economic, that we saw.  One trend that we heard repeatedly is the shift in direction of the Chinese government towards military buildup and away from manufacturing.  We heard of increased taxes, reduced sales, and an overall sense of concern.  The Chinese manufacturers are not receiving some of the incentives as…

Bud Industries Server Rack I recently returned from my annual quick trip through Northeastern Asia. It is hard to assimilate all of the variety of issues, both political and economic, that we saw. One trend that we heard repeatedly is the shift in direction of the Chinese government towards military buildup and away from manufacturing. We heard of increased taxes, reduced sales, and an overall sense of concern. The Chinese manufacturers are not receiving some of the incentives as they…

There have been ongoing debates for years about the advantages of polycarbonate over fiberglass as a material for enclosures. Both are great for NEMA/IP boxes, often being able to reach IP67 or IP68 ratings. Here are a few advantages of each: Polycarbonate is: More impact resistant Provides greater UV protection Easier to modify. With Fiberglass enclosures, there is a fine dust that can be irritating to the skin or when inhaled. Fiberglass also can splinter, ruining the box, if it…

As electronic components have migrated into the area of industrial controls, demand for integration with existing equipment has increased. Often it is required to seal or segment specific components or to develop techniques to mount those components in a way that will not hamper the integrity of the unit and its ability to be used in hazardous or dirty environments. One of the most popular techniques is using a DIN rail and DIN rail clip that provides great flexibility in…

It is often confusing for an engineer to know what type of IP Rating they need to look for when they desire to have a “waterproof” enclosure.  Much like with watches or other sensitive information, there is a big difference between waterproof, water-resistant, and other descriptive but not specific labels.  To help out, there are several rating systems that have been developed and several testing agencies that verify the results. Among these, the two best known are NEMA and IP.…

Here at Bud Industries, we are learning a lot about resilience.  On November 8, our Ohio factory was hit by a freak storm/wind gust that not only took off portions of the office room, but also blew out windows, our front door, and our receiving dock door.  Roof leaks were everywhere, carpeting was ruined, and even some walls were soaked.  Fortunately, the factory was relatively unscathed.  While emergency repairs were done, we have learned that you need 6-8 days of…

Years ago, futurists and experts determined that electronic cabinet racks would gradually cease to exist as the push towards miniaturization continued its relentless pace forward.  Like so many expert opinions, this one has proven to be totally false.  While more and more capacity will fit on a chip, and the population of a board has continued to expand, they overlooked the demand for greater capabilities and speed.  Today, the demand for 19” cabinet racks continues to grow as server farms…

As the year draws to a close, I cannot help but think back on what an eventful year we have had at Bud Industries.  From innovative new products to corporate milestones, 2013 has been a very good year for all of us at Bud.  Perhaps the highlight of 2013 was the introduction of the Board-ganizer.  This creative product solves several issues for the development board user:  It helps organize the workspace of the designer who is using several development boards…

Specifying enclosures is technically very easy compare to the engineering skills required for many of the components that inhabit the box. In most cases, all that is required is to determine the necessary internal or external dimensions, pick a material, and you are ready to protect your equipment. While the technology is easy, the actual selection process can proved daunting. Typical enclosure manufacturers have thousands of standard products available in a variety of shapes and materials and wading through many…

Thanksgiving is often a time of reflection.  For us at Bud Industries, Thanksgiving week marks a special time in our corporate life as Bud Industries marks our 85th Anniversary.  Founded in 1928, the company is still privately held and is in the 3rd and 4th generation family management.  Our company’s first product was a radio antenna eliminator.  This product was literally what it said, a unit that you could attach to the back of your radio to avoid having to…

The Bud Board-ganizer was introduced this year as a totally unique solution to a frequent engineering/developer problem. When working with multiple development boards, the logistics of organizing the workspace and gaining capabilities to move the product without damage are daunting. The Board-ganizer is a simple and elegant solution to this challenge by using double stick pads to attach the boards and breadboards, and then marrying them together in a foldable enclosure. There are videos that show this process well. This…

I recently had the opportunity to go to one of our major distributors, Digi-Key, to train their technical sales team.  It was a fairly intense time with six 30 minute sessions focusing on our products with a special emphasis on our NEMA enclosures and our Five Day Modification Program.   What impressed me was the caliber of the people.  People often joke about Digi-Key’s location in upstate Minnesota where in January you can go for long periods of time with the…

We thought that we had heard of all of the potential unique applications for Bud enclosures.  With the advent of our NEMA enclosures that are sealed to keep out water and other environmental conditions, we were inundated with unique product in use stories.  Many of these were farming related such as one that tracks the fertility and production of chickens, improving egg output and advising farmers when a chicken is not meeting expectations.  Several were related to pest spraying such…

I recently returned from Asia on a trip to see our factories there.  I continue to be amazed at the rapid development of the infrastructure in these countries.  There are many new roads, buildings, and transportation hubs being developed.  The factories have new issues to deal with, labor shortages, rising prices, inconsistent government policies on growth, all of which create an unstable business climate.  Yet I continue to be impressed with the strong desire of the companies that seek to…

As development boards such as the raspberry pi and freedom platforms have swept the industry, we at Bud Industries have created enclosures to house the boards and their peripherals.  As we chatted with engineers and other users, we heard about several problems.  First, they were often not using one board, but several.  Second, as they used these boards, they found themselves with a jumble of boards, cables and components scattered across their workstation.  Finally, when they had to move the…

What distinguishes a simple metal or plastic box from a functional electronic enclosure? Most often, it’s the modifications necessary to allow access to the interior, stabilize and protect its contents, and present the appropriate appearance. Enclosures typically need a minimum of one cutout for a power cable and often many other modifications, which can include holes, cutouts, tappings, gaskets, pre-assembly, and finishing. For many design engineers, specifying enclosure modifications is the final step in the design cycle, with time-to-market pressure…

Education is one of those areas that is on everyone’s “to do” list.  We all know we need to keep up in today’s fast moving marketplace yet finding the time to attend classes, even virtually, is a huge challenge.  Even more difficult is finding options that are quick, meaningful, and easy to attend.  Newark Element 14 is hosting a series of Webinar 101 sessions that are run by their top vendors and are meet those needs and if the timing…

The Freescale™ Freedom Development Platform Model FRDM-KL25Z is a development platform designed to work with other minicomputers such as the raspberry PI and other development boards such as the Arduino Uno. Bud’s new FBB-3665 enclosure has been manufactured to fit the Freedom Platform and is made of four separate parts (top, bottom, front, and rear panels.)  We have created accessibility in the front panel to allow connection to KL25Z USB, Open SDA USB and the reset button. The side slot is designed…

It is often difficult for a company to shift course, especially when it is an 85 year old business.  However, here at Bud, a recurrent theme has been the need for speed.  Customers need enclosures fast and not just standard enclosures, but modified electronic enclosures as well.  To meet this demand, we have created a 5 day delivery program on modified enclosures.  To do this, we changed two things.  First, and foremost, we have streamlined our order processing, implementing a…

I have just returned from Electronica in Munich and was amazed by its size and scope.  There is nothing like it in the US, both for the breadth of products that are represented as well as for the numbers of companies who go to extremes to make an impact at the show.  From people demonstrating chips by dancing “Gangham” Style to race cars to Marilyn Monroe look alikes, this show has it all.  But what delights me is the impact…

In these challenging economic times, saving money has become an overriding concern in all product specification. In the selection of enclosures to use on the factory floor, there are five issues to consider insuring that you choose the most effective, but economical solution for your application. 1. Do you need NEMA protection at all? With factory floors increasingly clean, the need to protect sensitive equipment from dirt, dust, and liquids is significantly reduced. By specifying a traditional enclosure instead of…

Perhaps we are counter-intuitive, but we, at Bud, feel this is a great time to invest in our business.  With our greatest focus on North America, we feel now is the time to upgrade our equipment, take advantage of the tax policies, and continue to improve our offering.  With that in mind, in the last 3 months, we have acquired a new panel bender and brake, investing over $1 million.   These pieces of equipment offer a number of advantages: Reduces…

It is always a “truism” of safety that the best way to be safe is to prevent problems.  This can range from testing your tire pressure regularly to making sure your home smoke detector has updated batteries.  In an industrial setting, this is even more important because the safety of those who work or live nearby can be impacted by poor preparations.  With electronic and electrical enclosures, it is important to make the right choices both for equipment that is…

As governments encourage companies to get ‘greener’, more company product teams are designing electronics for use in photovoltaic solar power systems, wind turbines and other equipment used in alternative energy. Even traditional energy systems, which use electronics to control, monitor and consolidate the flow of electricity, are in demand as the global industrial expansion continues. With the emergence of the smart grid, the need for electronics will only accelerate. Purchasing agents, therefore, should understand the special needs of selecting enclosures…

All too often, under the guise of providing choice, many enclosure vendors try to lure you in with cheap prices and no features.  For example, several vendors of cabinet racks will provide the rack, but you have to read the fine print to realize that it includes nothing but the frame, not even any panel mounting rails.  When you add in such basics as the rails, the rear door, a top or sides, suddenly you have a double problem: 1)…

In this economy, no one can afford downtime.  With customers ordering products with short time horizons, any delay risks losing that customer as they go to a competitor to meet their needs.  At the same time, we are all being pressured by cost restraints and the requirement of saving every penny we can to remain not only competitive, but in reality, in business. All too often, the enclosure is not considered until the last minute in any repair, the focus…

As electronic and power components are designed into denser, smaller packages, it becomes increasingly important to consider how well how well the equipment dissipates heat. Such equipment has specific operating temperature ranges and when put inside of cabinets and enclosures, temperature can become a big issue. Excessive waste heat generated by equipment within a cabinet is the single most important factor effecting equipment performance, reliability and failure. Cooling should be considered early in the design process. Having an effective cooling…

This week, we had a milestone in Bud Industries history.  Ravi Jain, our Director of Engineering, retired after 41 years with our company.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about Ravi’s contributions to our company and also about the other implications of this moment.  Ravi was the person who moved us into NEMA enclosures with his work with both Asian and domestic vendors.  He developed products made from die cast aluminum, abs plastic, polycarbonate, steel, and fiberglass.  Due…

As we go through one of the hottest and driest summers in Cleveland history and throughout the country, we all are looking for ways to be protected from the sun, heat, and those rare thunderstorms.  Whether it be to crank up the air conditioning, hit the beach, or find a few appropriate refreshments, we seek a level of comfort and health safety. It reminds me of the value of our NEMA enclosures. I am often fascinated with the diversity of…

I have just returned from a rapid trip through Asia.  We started in Taiwan, rolled through various Chinese cities, and wrapped up in South Korea, visiting 7 factories in 6 cities in 5 days.  What impressed me, as we reviewed the enclosures made at factories in these countries, was how rapidly these countries have grown and continue to pace their economy.  As the US, and especially Europe, struggle for any sign of recovery, while we hear of slowing in Asia,…

Choosing an enclosure is typically considered to be an easy task.  Review the sizes of the components that are to be enclosed, determine the basic dimensions required, check on the aesthetics, and select the right box.  When evaluating the enclosure needs in a harsh environment, the decision becomes more complex and meaningful as the wrong choice can be fatal to the end product. Below is a quick review of 10 issues to consider when selecting an enclosure for use in…

Have you ever driven down the road and noticed the boxes at an intersection that have the little “roof” on them?  They typically house some sort of traffic or light control and you now see them everywhere.  These are NEMA 3R enclosures and are designed to be used outside and to repel rain, sleet and ice (thus the overhang).  Bud is proud to introduce a new line of these enclosures, our N3R series.  This line of NEMA boxes should be…

“Pi Sandwich” Raspberry Pi case has wide cutouts to accommodate potential changes in component location and additional ports Bud Industries, a leading manufacturer of plastic enclosures for electronics, announced an affordable case for the Raspberry Pi, a credit-card size microcomputer created to help kids learn programming. Made of two identical halves that fit together, the Bud “Pi Sandwich” case has windows on four sides, allowing easy access to ports for keyboard, TV/video, audio, USB, and LAN connections that need to…

Bud is in the process of redefining its family of 19” cabinet racks.  We brought out our first welded rack in 1959 and have been at the forefront of both design and function ever since.  While it is true that these enclosures have evolved in style and features, the basic function has not changed; the need to take 19” equipment, the norm in the industry, and to provide security and style to the product. Our review process for the cabinet…

We recently attended the Electronic Distribution Show in Las Vegas in its new location at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.  As a new “hot spot” in Vegas, it drew a huge crowd to the show and to our meetings.  The highlight of our presentations there was Bud’s new push towards solution selling, the concept that we are acquiring equipment and programs that will allow us to create a complete solution for our customer’s enclosure requirements. We also introduced our unique solutions to…

By now, most of you have heard of the Raspberry Pi, a small micro-computer that is the size of a credit card.  Developed by the Raspberry Pi foundation with the mission of teaching students more about electronics, it has become a worldwide sensation.  Priced at only $35, it sold out its first 10,000 piece run in less than 30 minutes, impacting its distributors’ web sites!  However, the board was “naked” with no suggested method for enclosing it. Bud stepped in…

It is often a challenge to choose the right material for an enclosure.  There are many considerations including location of the enclosure, desired visuals, protection levels, durability and, of course, price.  In the upcoming series of blogs, we will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of different materials to help in the selection process.  We will start with Stainless steel enclosures which are a great approach to outdoor or hazardous applications.  Typically made out of 304 stainless, it is impervious…

Of all the components that are involved with the building of electronic components, the enclosure is probably the most unusual.  First, the technology of an enclosure is fairly simple and quite different from the technology of the other components.  Second,  in most cases, there are significantly more manufacturers of enclosure available as the barriers to building an enclosure typically are much lower than for the rest of the BOM.  Finally, the supply chain is much broader for enclosure than it…

Although Bud has over 2500 standard products, one of our best customer support functions is designing electronic enclosures that meet the specific needs of the engineer.  This work can range from modifying a standard enclosure to creating a unique housing to meet very exacting requirements.  For a quick view of what Bud can do to standard products, check out our video on customizing enclosures or see some samples on the customs page of our website.   I was recently involved…

It has been an exciting week here at Bud.  We are installing a new Customer Relations Manager system (CRM), we have just installed a new second generation VOIP phone system, and have begun to enjoy the fruits of our new automated warehouse system.  Change is all around us as we all seek advantages in this tight market to insure that we are able to be competitive, build the best products, and most of all, bring them to the market rapidly…

This week, we were doing training sessions at one of our top distributor’s call center.  We got to sit with different members of their outbound team, coaching them on finding Bud opportunities and assisting them in closing the business.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about the customers, more about how the distributor goes to market, and to marvel at how much sales talent there is in our distribution network.   One of the biggest hits of our…

19-inch rack features open construction and removable door for convenient hardware upgrades and maintenance Bud Industries, a leading manufacturer of electronic enclosures, announced the release of its Swing Frame 19-Inch Rack. This new product offers all the conveniences of a wall-mounted rack with the added advantage of a swing-out frame for easy access to the rear of the equipment. “Designed for areas with limited floor space, our Swing Frame Rack provides compact storage for smaller networking equipment, patch panels, servers,…

Yesterday, I did one of those one day multi-stop trips that started at 6 am and ended at midnight.  A long day, but often frustrating due to the lack of customer support.  On my first flight, I was delighted that we landed a few minutes early, making it relatively easy to catch my tight connection.  That delight turned to annoyance as another pilot had pulled his plane into our gate by mistake, and there was no other gate available for…

This week Bud returned to the BICSI show for the first time in a decade.  This show, an important vehicle for meeting with the data and data installer market,  marked Bud’s strong re-entry into the Server and Data Markets with our broad line of products that target this industry.  We were impressed with the caliber of attendees and how vibrant this market continues to be.   A big hit at the show was our SRP line of Server Racks.  One…

Although I have been involved with the electronic enclosure industry for nearly 40 years, I continue to be amazed at the variety of applications which require these enclosures.  The application space has expanded significantly since we introduced NEMA 4x Fiberglass Enclosures a few years ago.  These durable boxes are priced well below market, but provide industry leading protection.    They are more durable than polycarbonate boxes with less vulnerability to cracking when struck.   Some of the applications that we have seen…

While a picture is said to be worth a thousand words, we have all learned that in today’s world, video is even more “valuable.”  From celebrity reputations that are made or damaged to either positive or negative police actions, the prevalence of video in our culture has changed the way we view and react to events.  In a business environment, video has become a simple but effective way to evaluate products or to learn about their benefits and features.  Bud…

When selecting an enclosure, often an engineer is focused on the aesthetics of the box, looking to the “shell” to help create an attractive device to promote in the market.  This is especially true in a consumer type product where marketing is as important as design features.  But there are many instances where all that is required is a strong enclosure to provide protection for the sensitive equipment inside.  For a smaller box, one of the most cost effective yet…

Placed end to end, Bud enclosures in inventory would span 535 football fields Bud Industries, a leading manufacturer of NEMA 4 enclosures, 19 inch racks and aluminum enclosures, has calculated that, if the Bud enclosures currently in inventory were placed end to end, they would span the length of 535 football fields. Bud has more products in inventory and available for immediate delivery than any other enclosure manufacturer. Thousands of Bud enclosures are in inventory at Bud’s factory warehouse and…

Perhaps one of the most confusing standards for an engineer to follow is NEMA ratings as it relates to enclosures.  It would be natural to consider that the higher the NEMA rating, the greater the protection.  This is definitely not the case.  It is also typical that one might assume that having a NEMA rating of any sort implies a high level of protection.  This is also not the case.  NEMA ratings are set up in a way to address…

This week, the famous Consumer Electronics Show is being held in Las Vegas.  It is a media savvy vehicle for bringing new products and technology to market.  As the various vendors and industry pundits’ work to impress us with what is new, I find myself thinking about some of the basics.  Over time, some of the most exciting advances have to do with packaging and how the product appears to the increasingly sophisticated consumer.  Take a look at ipods or…

As the year winds down, I often review what I have done this year and ramp up my plans for next year.  If you do that, high on your list has to be ways to streamline the supply chain, or at least speed it up.   To assist you in the process, at least as it comes to enclosures, we have 3 tips on how to make your job easier. First, take a few minutes while things are slower here at…

This is the first real posting on the new Bud Industries Blog.  Why have I decided to start a blog?  Does the world really need one more?  I think it does and there are several good reasons why.  First, any good engineer focuses their energy on designing the components that go into the box, and frankly have limited time to learn the choices in enclosures.  I will chat about the best ways to select the perfect enclosure for any application. …

In today’s competitive economy, every bit of time savings makes a difference. Our high-performance NEMA box, the PN-Series, has built-in mounting brackets on the back, so the user does not have to worry about specifying the correct mounting brackets accessories, which saves time by streamlining the ordering process. It also saves time by simplifying and speeding installation. One of Bud’s top selling product lines, this NEMA box has the features and quality that design engineers are looking for. The UL Listed…

In today’s competitive economy, every bit of time savings makes a difference. Our high-performance NEMA box, the PN-Series, has built-in mounting brackets on the back, so the user does not have to worry about specifying the correct mounting brackets accessories, which saves time by streamlining the ordering process. It also saves time by simplifying and speeding installation. One of Bud’s top selling product lines, this NEMA box has the features and quality that design engineers are looking for. The UL…

NEMA 1 junction box is priced 15 to 20 percent less and is fully compliant with NEMA 1 and UL50 Type 1 Ratings Bud Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of electronics enclosures, introduces the JB Series junction box to its existing line of NEMA box enclosures for the industrial market. It costs 15 to 20 percent less than junction boxes from other major enclosure suppliers, and it is fully-compliant with NEMA 1 and UL-50 Type 1 ratings. The new NEMA…

Electronics enclosures manufacturer taps internal talent Bud Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of electronics enclosures, announces the appointment of Josiah A. Haas to the position of Director of Sales. Previously the company’s National Sales Manager, Haas will have oversight of Bud’s internal and external sales organizations, as well as a major role in the company’s strategic planning process. Bud offers a complete offering of electronics enclosures including plastic boxes, cabinet racks including server racks, several NEMA box lines, and accessories.…

A practical guide to racks, cabinets, and telecom equipment rooms Telecom Racks Introduction Selecting the right telecom rack can make or break your network infrastructure project. With countless variables to consider—from environmental conditions to security requirements — engineers and IT professionals often find themselves overwhelmed by the options. The wrong choice can lead to equipment failures, security breaches, costly downtime and budget overruns. Whether you’re designing a distribution hub, outfitting a telecom closet, planning an equipment room or deploying gear…

Specifying a NEMA 2 enclosure is a bit like wearing a cap for a stroll through a greenhouse: you are not bracing for a thunderstorm, but you do expect the occasional drip from above. NEMA 2 is the indoor rating that sits one rung up from NEMA 1, adding protection against falling water to a basic level of protection. What does NEMA 2 mean? NEMA 2 is a protection rating defined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association for indoor electrical…