Electrical enclosures for
automation & instrumentation
PLCs, frequency inverters, I/O levels and measurement equipment share the enclosure — and rarely get along electromagnetically on their own. ZPAS builds the enclosures for clean automation: EMC-compliant versions, well-planned separation, cooling according to heat load — fully wired on request.
Request a quote Configure electrical enclosureControl engineering needs more than a sheet-metal box
Automation projects rarely fail because of the PLC — more often because of what happens around it: interference from the inverter next door, heat build-up above the power supply, a cable space that overflows at the second retrofit. ZPAS plans the enclosures from the inside out: SZE2/SZE3 with a suitable layout, an EMC version with conductive surfaces and separation of power and signal levels, cooling based on the actual power loss.
For operator stations, PSL control desks with HMI cut-outs complete the range; on request, ZPAS also supplies the wiring to the circuit diagram.
Typical applications
PLC & control cabinets
Layout by level: incoming supply, control, I/O, terminals — with reserve space for the next modification.
Drive & inverter cabinets
High power loss, high interference levels: cooling from the factory and EMC separation from the signal equipment.
Instrumentation & measurement
Custom designs for measurement, control and regulation equipment — up to a shielded version for the test bay.
HMI & operator stations
Control desks and desk/cabinet combinations with cut-outs for monitors, keyboards and push-buttons.
Line & cell controls
Bayable enclosure rows with common incoming supply and busbar — prepared for line extension.
Connected production
19″ levels for switches and edge IT in the field — including the transition to the world of network cabinets.
Requirements — clearly classified
EMC in practice, not in the brochure
Conductive, chromated surfaces, shield clamps and separate cable routes — the basics are in the EMC guide.
Heat load under control
Inverters generate heat: sizing to IEC 60890 with the calculator, units fitted at the factory.
IEC 61439 / 62208
Standard-compliant empty enclosures and verified assemblies — including documentation for your declaration of conformity.
Retrofit reserve
Special sizes and a well-planned interior layout create space for the second expansion stage — before it arrives.
Standards in automation
Electrical enclosures for control engineering are low-voltage switchgear assemblies: built to IEC 61439, based on empty enclosures to IEC 62208, UL-certified and CE-marked. Electromagnetic compatibility is governed by the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU — addressed in the design with chromated contact surfaces, EMC seals and clean equipotential bonding, as described in the EMC guide.
Thermal design follows IEC 60890: the power loss, enclosure surface area and permissible temperature rise determine whether a filter fan, heat exchanger or cooling unit is needed. The cooling capacity calculator works this out online — the result goes straight into the design at the factory.
Which enclosure for which task on the plant?
| Series | Degree of protection | Special feature | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| SZE2 | IP 54 | Baying enclosure, any special size | PLC, distribution, I&C |
| SZE3 | IP 55 | enhanced sealing | Inverters & harsh environments |
| SWN | IP 65 | Wall-mounted enclosure | decentralised controls on the line |
| SZE2 PC | IP 54 | 3 separately lockable compartments | PC workstation in production |
| PSL control desks | IP 54 | 4 types, 19 sizes, steel/stainless steel | Operator stations & control rooms |
Typical project: packaging line with inverter technology
Starting point: a plant manufacturer is equipping a packaging line — PLC, frequency inverters and servo controllers in one row of enclosures, plus an operator station with an industrial PC right at the line. The inverters produce considerable power loss, the frequency technology requires an EMC-compliant build, and the row has to fit into a given recess.
The solution: SZE3 baying enclosures in a special size, EMC version with chromated contact surfaces, a cooling unit sized to IEC 60890 using the calculator. The operator station comes as an SZE2 PC with separate compartments for monitor, keyboard and computer, the operator desk as a PSL in the corporate colour. On request, ZPAS supplies everything fitted and wired — with a test report for each enclosure.
Retrofit & I&C: when the new enclosure has to fit into the old plant
A large share of automation projects are not new builds but modernisations: an existing line gets new control and drive technology, but the space at the plant stays as it is. This is exactly where special sizes show their strength — the enclosure is drawn to fit the recess, wall panel or platform height instead of rebuilding the plant. For instrumentation and control decentrally on the line, SWN wall-mounted enclosures (IP 65) take on the role of small distribution boards, while the SZE baying row remains the central element.
When converting a plant in operation, preparation is what counts: drilling templates and drawings arrive before delivery, and on request the enclosure is fitted and wired — switching the plant over is reduced to disconnecting, replacing and reconnecting. The documentation for each enclosure records the status the maintenance engineer will need in five years' time. And if the line grows later, a repeat order delivers the next enclosure in approx. six weeks — to the same drawing, in the same colour.
Planning checklist: electrical enclosures for automation
These points should be clarified before ordering:
- Power loss: quantify the total per enclosure and check it with the cooling capacity calculator to IEC 60890.
- EMC: frequency inverters or sensitive measurement equipment? Then plan an EMC version with conductive contact surfaces.
- Degree of protection: assess dust and splashing water in the environment honestly — IP 54 as standard, IP 55/65 for harsh areas.
- Operating concept: desk, PC enclosure or panel in the field — define ergonomics and access protection early.
- Dimensions & colour: special size for the recess, corporate colour for the line — both direct from the factory.
- Depth of manufacture: empty enclosure, fitted or fully wired with test report — decide per project.
Why ZPAS
Because downtime costs more than any enclosure: EMC problems and heat build-up cost weeks of commissioning. ZPAS supplies the enclosures so that control and power sections are separated, cooled and documented from the start — as empty enclosures or fully wired.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes an EMC enclosure from the standard version?
Conductive (chromated) surfaces instead of paint at the contact points, shield clamps, sealed cable entries and separate routes for power and signal cables — available to order as an EMC version in the SZE range.
How is the inverter waste heat dissipated?
Graded by power loss: filter fan, heat exchanger or compressor cooling unit, sized to IEC 60890 with the free calculator — and fitted at the factory.
Does ZPAS also supply the enclosures fitted and wired?
Yes — mounting plate assembly, wiring to the circuit diagram, labelling and testing. The control system thus arrives at the plant ready for installation.
Are matching operator desks available?
Yes, the PSL control desks in 4 types and 19 sizes (IP 54, steel or stainless steel) — with cut-outs for HMI, keyboard and command devices, configurable in the control desk configurator.
To which standard is the cooling capacity sized?
To IEC 60890: the required cooling capacity follows from the power loss, the enclosure surface area and the permissible temperature rise. The online calculator does the calculation in two minutes.
Can the electrical enclosures be used to IEC 61439?
Yes — the enclosures are certified to IEC 61439/IEC 62208, UL-listed and CE-marked; the product-related certificates for the documentation of the switchgear assembly are supplied with each order.
Are there enclosures with a PC workstation for production?
Yes — the SZE2 PC (IP 54) separates monitor, keyboard and computer into three lockable compartments, is suitable for cooling units and carries up to 600 kg.
An automation project in mind?
A circuit diagram or equipment list is enough — quotation within 2 working days at most.