On a factory floor, variable-frequency drives, switch-mode power supplies and motor cables sit a few centimetres from PLCs, sensors and network links. The first group produces electrical noise, the second has to work in spite of it. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in industry is mostly the art of keeping the two apart, and the steel cabinet is the first tool for it.
A cabinet only shields as well as its joints: a door, a removable panel or a display cut-out each leaves a slot unless something conductive bridges it. ElectroDome supplies the EMI gaskets that close those slots and the thermal pads that move heat out of the power electronics inside. Below, the cabinet is taken one location at a time.
🏭 Industrial equipment and its weak points
- Control cabinets and motor control centres: doors, side panels, gland plates.
- Drive and inverter enclosures: strong noise sources that also run hot.
- 19-inch racks and subracks: front panels, plug-in units, drawers.
- Operator panels and HMI housings: a display window and a thin bezel to close.
- Measurement and test equipment: small signals to protect from the machines nearby.
- Outdoor and field enclosures: shielding and weather sealing on the same flange.
🔧 Around the cabinet, joint by joint
The door that opens every shift
A maintenance door or a rack drawer is opened again and again, and has to make contact along its full length each time it shuts. Beryllium copper contact fingers are made for that: a strip of springs, clipped or bonded to the frame, that closes with little force and reaches up to 100 dB at 25 % compression. They do not seal, so they belong indoors or behind a separate weather seal.
Panels bolted once, frames that are not flat
Side panels, roofs and gland plates are fixed with screws and rarely removed, on welded frames that are never perfectly flat. Knitted mesh gaskets follow those irregularities and give over 100 dB depending on the alloy and the frequency. The wire is chosen to match the metal of the cabinet (Monel for general use, tin-plated copper-clad steel, others on request), and a version bonded to a sponge seal adds environmental sealing up to IP65.
Enclosures that live outdoors or in the wet
A field enclosure has to stop water and dust as well as interference. An electrically conductive silicone gasket does both with one part: 40 to 110 dB depending on the filler, service from −55 °C up to +125 °C or +200 °C, and, with the right groove and compression, sealing to IP65, IP66 or IP67. It comes as extruded profile, O-ring or flat gasket cut to your flange.
Displays, keypads and thin covers
An operator panel has a plastic or thin sheet bezel that would bow under a firm gasket. FOF gasket strips, a soft foam core wrapped in conductive fabric, compress with very little force and are fitted with their adhesive backing. They are rated UL94-V0 and can be cut to connector shapes (I/O, D-SUB). Indoor use only.
Drives and power supplies that run hot
A sealed cabinet keeps dust out and heat in. Between a power module and its heat sink, or between a board and the cabinet wall, thermal gap pads in silicone replace the air gap with a path at 3 or 5 W/m·K. They are electrically insulating, rated UL 94 V-0, work from −40 °C to +220 °C and exist from 0.3 mm thick.
📐 The EMC Directive and IEC 61000-6-2 / 6-4
In the European Union, the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU asks two things of electrical equipment: that it does not disturb radio, telecommunications or other equipment, and that it is not disturbed itself when used as intended. It covers single apparatus and fixed installations alike. For industrial sites, two generic standards are the usual yardstick: IEC 61000-6-2 for immunity, which applies where no dedicated product standard exists, and IEC 61000-6-4 for emissions.
All three are met by the machine or cabinet as built, with its cabling, its filters and its earthing. Shielding the enclosure is one of the measures available to the designer, and a gasket matched to the joint contributes to the compliance of the equipment. With each quote you receive the material data (shielding effectiveness, temperature range, alloy or filler) to make that choice and confirm it in your own tests.
🛠️ Your cabinet, your drawing
No two panel builders use the same door profile. Send us the section of the joint, the metal and its finish (zinc-plated, stainless, painted with masked contact areas), the gap to fill, whether the door is opened daily or yearly, and the IP rating you are aiming for. We come back with the reference that fits, cut to length or to shape, and its datasheet. Small series for one-off machines and retrofits are part of our usual work.
🤝 Why buy from ElectroDome
- Gaskets and thermal pads on one quote, from a supplier based in Paris who answers in English or French.
- A sample of 3 pieces to try on the real door before you order.
- Batch traceability and a check of every delivery before it ships.
- Figures given for what they are: indicative values, confirmed on the quote for the reference proposed.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Which EMI gasket for a control cabinet door?
For a door opened often, beryllium copper contact fingers. For a door that must also be dust-tight or watertight, a conductive silicone profile, or knitted mesh bonded to a sponge seal.
Does an EMI gasket work on a painted surface?
No. The gasket needs metal-to-metal contact on both sides, so paint or powder coating is masked where it sits.
What is IEC 61000-6-2?
The generic EMC immunity standard for equipment used in industrial environments. Its counterpart for emissions is IEC 61000-6-4.
Can your gaskets be used in equipment assessed under the EMC Directive?
Yes: they can contribute to its compliance. The directive and its standards apply to the finished equipment, so the result is confirmed by your own tests, with the material data we provide.
Can I order a sample or a small quantity?
Yes: a sample of 3 pieces, then prototypes or series. Availability and lead time depend on the reference and are confirmed on the quote.
Characteristics and values are given for guidance only. See our terms of sale for details. For any critical application, please contact us.