Direct answer: Balford supplies custom deep drawn enclosures - seamless metal cans, housings and shells - for applications where a welded or fabricated box would add cost, leak paths or dimensional variation. A drawn enclosure is one piece of metal with no seam, which is usually the reason buyers switch to it.
Drawn enclosure vs fabricated enclosure
- No weld seam - a drawn enclosure is formed from a single blank, so there is nothing to seal, leak-test or dress
- Better concentricity - wall and bore are formed in one operation rather than assembled from panels
- Fewer parts - one drawn shell replaces a base, walls and a welded top
- Lower labour content - no welding, grinding or re-fixturing after forming
The deep drawing comparison against welded and progressive-die construction is covered in deep drawing vs progressive die stamping and in how deep drawing removes the weld seam in solenoid valve housings.
Enclosure types we produce
- Cylindrical and rectangular-drawn cans
- Sensor and electronics enclosures
- Motor housings and end caps
- Solenoid and valve enclosures
- Sleeves and shields for sensor assemblies
- Drawn covers with flanges, steps and beads
When a drawn enclosure is the wrong choice
Deep drawing suits axially symmetric or gently tapered enclosures. It is a poor fit for box shapes with sharp corners, tight internal features or low volumes, where sheet metal fabrication is cheaper. Balford publishes that boundary rather than quoting around it - see what Balford does not do in metal stamping.
Related pages
- Sheet metal enclosures for fabricated rather than drawn enclosures
- In-stock stainless steel deep drawn enclosures and cans where existing tooling can be reused
- Deep drawing: the complete technical guide
Quotation inputs
Drawing or 3D model, material, thickness, inside dimensions and tolerances, sealing requirement, annual volume, finish and documentation. See the RFQ checklist.