Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get an estimate?
How long does it take to build an order?
What if I need a case really fast?
What forms of payment do you accept?
When do I have to pay for my order?
Do you sell to the general public?
How do I find an authorized reseller of your products?
If I decide to buy your case through a dealer, must I have them help me with design work and case options?
Are your cases available in different colors?
Do some colors cost more than others?
Do your cases come with wheels?
Do you offer a case with telescoping handle and wheels?
Can you make your cases in any shape other than rectangular?
What does A.T.A. stand for?
What is the A.T.A.'s Specification 300 all about?
What restrictions do airlines place on checked baggage?
What does E.I.A. stand for?
What does the E.I.A. have to do with shipping cases?
What is a rack "space"?
What is rackable depth?
Are your cases lockable?
What should I do if I've lost my key?
Do your cases come with a warranty?
Can you build me another case exactly like the last one I bought?
My case was damaged during shipment. Can it be repaired?
What if my case doesn't have a 'B/C' number or a Flight Form nametag?
Do you have cases in stock?

Q: How much does it cost to get an estimate?
A: We do not charge for price estimates. Much of our 'standard' product line comes from customer requests for cases. When we are asked to design a custom case, we keep the design in our database of products so that we may offer it to other customers. If you require a case for a particular piece of equipment, please let us know since we may already have a design for it on file. If you would like to submit a request for quotation, please use our RFQ Form or, if you prefer, you can contact us to discuss case options.

Q: How long does it take to build an order?
A: It really depends on the quantity of cases ordered. For single case orders, our lead-time is generally two weeks or less from date of order until date of shipment. For large quantity orders, we can work with you to create a delivery schedule.

Q: What if I need a case really fast?
A: In most instances we will try to accommodate you without an extra charge. However, our ability to respond will be affected by how busy we are at the time of your request. In the event that rushing your order will require us to work overtime, a 15% expediting fee will be applied to the price of the case to help offset the additional production costs.

Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We accept the following:

• Cash On Delivery
• Company check
• Personal check (allow 2-4 weeks for out of state checks to clear before product is shipped)
• Money Order
• Credit Card (Visa and Mastercard only)
• Net terms may be available for established customers or on approval of credit (OAC).

Q: When do I have to pay for my order?
A: Invoicing occurs when the order is shipped. For multi-shipment orders, you will be invoiced only for the portion of the order that is being shipped. The balance of cases will be back-ordered and invoiced when actually shipped.

Q: Do you sell to the general public?
A: Yes but we urge you to purchase your case through our dealer network since they are able to offer our products at a discount from our manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).

Q: If I decide to buy your case through a dealer, do I have to have them help me with design work and case options?
A: No. Buying through a dealer only means that they handle the billing. We are more than happy to work with you directly in crafting the case to your particular needs. As a matter of fact, we strongly recommend this approach. Also, when completed, the case may be able to ship directly to you from our manufacturing facility.

Q: Are your cases available in different colors?
A: Yes and no. The real answer is that our Light Flight and Light Duty case lines are only available in black. Our A.T.A. line of cases are available in a rainbow of colors. ABS colors that we keep in stock are:

• Black
• Navy Blue (Dark)
• Medium Blue (Cyan)
• Slate Blue (Light)
• White
• Dark Grey (Charcoal)
• Light Grey (Silver)
• Red
• Green
• Yellow
• Orange

Incidentally, we can also laminate the case panels with ozite carpeting. While this does reduce impact resistance of the panels, we are still able to incorporate our proprietary anodized aluminum extrusions for structural strength.

Q: Do some colors cost more than others?
A: All of our standard, in-stock colors are available at the same price. For custom ordered colors, there may be an upcharge depending on the quantity ordered and price in effect from our suppliers at that time.

Q: Do your cases come with wheels?
A: Casters are available as an add-on option. We have the following standard caster sets in stock:

• Three-Inch Soft Rubber (Black)
• Four-Inch Polyethylene (Blue)
• Five-Inch Polyethylene (Blue)
• Four-Inch 'Total-Lock' Casters (Blue)
• Three-Inch Corner Casters (Tilt-n-Go)
• Three-Inch Recessed Edge Casters (Tilt-n-Go)

Q: Do you offer a case with telescoping handle and wheels?
A: Yes, we can easily add these options to a case design. However, in some instances it may not be appropriate to install one or the other of these items. For instance, if the case is already 36 inches or more in length, you probably won't need to pay extra for an extension handle. In this circumstance, our standard handle installed on the end opposite from the wheels should suffice.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the extension handle requires an additional 2.25 inches of height be added to the case to make room for the telescoping mechanism.

Q: Can you make your cases in any shape other than rectangular?
A: Unfortunately, our patented double interlocking edge-angle extrusion prevents us from making angles other than 90 degrees.

Q: What does A.T.A. stand for?
A: Airlaine Transport Association. Please visit the A.T.A. web-site for detailed information and to learn how to obtain their publications.

Q: What is the A.T.A.'s Specification 300 all about?
A: The A.T.A. publishes an extensive collection of standards and technical publications for the airline industry. Specification 300 is a publication outlining the A.T.A.'s recommendations for parameters that a container must meet in order to be considered an acceptable transit container when shipping items via airliner. Our Flight Form A.T.A. Shipping Cases are designed to meet the rigorous requirements for Specification 300 Category II containers, while our Light Flight cases meet the requirements for Specification 300 Category I containers.

Q: What restrictions do airlines place on checked baggage?
A: In general there are size and weight restrictions imposed on free baggage and carry-on luggage. Exceed the limits and you'll pay extra charges up to the maximum sizes and weights allowed. Each airline seems to have their own set of rules so we recommend checking with your carrier of choice before you fly. With that in mind, here are the restrictions as reported on the United Airlines web-site. Most other airlines appear to follow similar guidelines.

The linear (width+depth+height) size restriction for free baggage is 62 inches (157cm). Packages between 62 and 115 inches are considered 'oversize' and will incur a surcharge. Packages over 115 inches will not be accepted as check-in luggage. Similarly, the weight restriction is 70lbs. (31.8kg). Surcharges will be applied to packages between 70 and 100 lbs. Packages over 100 lbs. will not be accepted as check-in luggage.

Q: What does E.I.A. stand for?
A: Electronic Industries Alliance. Similar to what the A.T.A. does for the airline industry, the E.I.A. publishes an extensive collection of standards and technical publications for the electronics industry.

Q: What does the E.I.A. have to do with shipping cases?
A: Publication EIA-310 outlines the parameters for racks, panels and associated equipment - including casing requirements. Please visit the E.I.A. web-site for more information and to learn how to obtain their publications.

Q: What is a rack "space"?
A: According to E.I.A. publication EIA-310, rackmount equipment height is divided into spaces with each space equaling 1.75 inches. So, a single space unit will be 1.75 inches tall, a two space unit will be 3.5 inches tall, a three space unit will be 5.25 inches tall, etc...

Rack spaces are also commonly referred to as "Rack Units" or "RU's".

Q: What is rackable depth?
A: The rackable depth of a rackmount case is the distance from the front lip of the case to the rear lip of the case with both front and rear covers removed.

Q: Are your cases lockable?
A: Yes, we have a variety of lock options available. Keyed locks are standard on hinged lid cases. However, since the tumbler lock mechanism intrudes into the case interior, we recommend that it only be installed if the case is lined with at least one inch of foam. For cases that have less lining or has removable lids or covers, (amp racks, for instance), we can install pad-lockable or key-locking twist latches for an additional charge.

Q: What should I do if I've lost my key?
A: We track individual key/case combinations in our database. Contact us for a replacement. Even if you are in a hurry, there is a good chance that we can have the new key in your hands via overnight delivery.

Q: Do your cases come with a warranty?
A: Yes! Our limited lifetime warranty is explained here.

Q: Can you build me another case exactly like the last one I bought?
A: Yes! We store all design and cut-sheet information for every order that we process. To help us locate your case design, we will need at least one of the following pieces of information:

• The B/C number engraved on the Flight Form nametag
• The part number of the case (can be found on original Flight Form invoice)
• A detailed description of the case (including color)
• Key number of the lock (if applicable)
• The original quote number (if applicable)

Q: My case was damaged during shipment. Can it be repaired?
A: Yes - almost any kind of damage can be repaired for considerably less than the cost of a new case. Even punctured panels are easily replaced due to our proprietary rivetless aluminum extrusion. For a repair estimate please provide the 'B/C' number from our nametag.

Q: What if my case doesn't have a 'B/C' number or a Flight Form nametag?
A: If you are certain that you have one of our cases, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in figuring out which case you have.

Q: Do you have cases in stock?
A: Most of our cases are built to order. While we realize this may be inconvenient for those who have an immediate need for a case, it helps us to control costs since we aren't forced to anticipate the market. While we don't stock cases, we do make every effort to keep our lead time as short as possible.