Selecting the right enclosure is often a balancing act between available space, installation requirements, and future flexibility. In applications where height is limited, engineers and panel builders have traditionally faced a compromise: use multiple smaller enclosures and bay them together or commission a custom solution.

To address this challenge, Rittal has expanded its AX compact enclosure range with five new special-dimension sizes, providing greater flexibility for machine builders, conveyor system manufacturers, and industrial automation applications.

Designed for Space-Constrained Applications

The new AX compact enclosure dimensions have been developed for applications where minimising enclosure height is essential. Conveyor systems, logistics equipment, and OEM machinery often require enclosures to be mounted beneath machines or integrated into restricted installation spaces, making conventional enclosure dimensions impractical.

The expanded range includes wider enclosures with heights of 400 mm and 600 mm and widths of up to 1200 mm, providing a practical alternative to bayed enclosure suites. By replacing multiple enclosures with a single enclosure solution, users can avoid losing valuable internal space to baying connections while simplifying installation and maintenance.

Proven AX Design Principles

While the dimensions may be new, the enclosures are built on the same proven AX platform that has become a benchmark for compact enclosure design.

The wide-format AX compact enclosures feature:

• Large seamless mounting plates
• Double doors for improved accessibility
• Eyelets in the rear wall for wall mounting
• Safe and simple earthing concepts
• Extensive cable entry options
• No-drill interior installation capabilities

Like the broader AX range, the new enclosure sizes utilise Rittal's system of integral enclosure bosses and interior installation rails, allowing flexible interior fit-out on a 25 mm pitch pattern. This enables engineers to configure enclosure layouts quickly and efficiently without the need for extensive machining or modification.

Reducing Complexity

One of the key benefits of the new dimensions is the ability to simplify projects.

Standard enclosure sizes offer faster availability than custom-built alternatives, helping reduce lead times and project complexity. At the same time, the larger widths can eliminate the need to bay multiple smaller enclosures together, resulting in fewer components, reduced assembly effort, and a cleaner overall installation.

For OEMs and machine builders, this translates into reduced engineering time, streamlined installation processes, and improved utilisation of available space.

Built for Logistics, Automation, and Machine Building

The expanded AX range is particularly well suited to:

• Conveyor systems
• Logistics and warehousing infrastructure
• OEM machinery
• Packaging equipment
• Manufacturing automation systems
• Space-constrained industrial installations

These environments often demand enclosure solutions that maximise functionality while fitting into increasingly compact footprints. The new AX dimensions provide a practical solution without compromising on accessibility, flexibility, or performance.

Greater Flexibility for Your Next Project

As industrial systems become more compact and integrated, enclosure flexibility becomes increasingly important. The addition of five new AX compact enclosure sizes gives engineers and panel builders more options when designing efficient, space-saving solutions.

Whether you're looking to simplify a conveyor installation, optimise machine design, or eliminate the need for bayed enclosures, the expanded AX range delivers the flexibility to meet your requirements while retaining all the benefits of the proven AX platform.

Learn more about the expanded AX compact enclosure range and discover how greater dimensional flexibility can support your next project.

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