Vacuum & Cryogenic Cases: ISO 21360 & UHV

An Edwards nXDS10iC dry scroll vacuum pump ($5,000-$10,000) shipped from a vacuum equipment OEM facility to a university research laboratory arrived with a damaged ConFlat flange seal. The cause? A standard wooden crate with 25mm of loose-fill polystyrene that shifted during air freight transport over 8,000km of international shipping, allowing the 12kg vacuum pump to move 15mm inside the crate and impact the crate wall during a 12g handling drop at the university loading dock. The repair required a replacement ConFlat flange seal ($800), a full re-testing of the vacuum pump system ($2,000 in engineering time), and a 2-day delay in the laboratory’s equipment installation schedule. The laboratory’s delay cost was $3,000 per day (a typical university research laboratory has $2,000-$8,000 per day in delay costs for equipment installation downtime, including labor, equipment rental, and research project delays)—so the total cost of that damaged ConFlat flange seal was $7,800.

Vacuum and cryogenic equipment spans the entire production system: from vacuum pumps (dry scroll pumps, turbomolecular pumps, vacuum pump controllers, vacuum pump sensors) that provide vacuum pump capabilities, to cryostats (liquid helium cryostats, liquid nitrogen cryostats, cryostat controllers, cryostat sensors) that provide cryostat capabilities, to magnets (superconducting magnets, electromagnets, magnet controllers, magnet sensors) that provide magnet capabilities, to vacuum chambers (stainless steel vacuum chambers, aluminum vacuum chambers, vacuum chamber controllers, vacuum chamber sensors) that provide vacuum chamber capabilities, to cryogenic equipment (cryocoolers, cryogenic valves, cryogenic equipment controllers, cryogenic equipment sensors) that provide cryogenic equipment capabilities. What unites them is that every piece of equipment is part of a system where a single failure can cause a vacuum and cryogenic equipment installation outage (which can cost $2,000-$8,000 per day for research and industrial operations), a safety issue (from equipment malfunction, which can cause vacuum and cryogenic accidents or worker injury), or in extreme cases, a vacuum and cryogenic equipment recall (which can cost $1,000,000-$100,000,000 for vacuum and cryogenic equipment companies). The transit case isn’t packaging—it’s the first line of defense against equipment damage during transport, and it must be specified to the same engineering rigor as the equipment it protects.

Regulatory Framework: ISO 21360, UHV, and Vacuum/Cryogenic Standards

Vacuum and cryogenic equipment transport cases must support compliance with a complex web of standards. For vacuum technology, ISO 21360 (Vacuum technology—Standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance) specifies standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance, and the transit case must protect vacuum and cryogenic equipment without compromising its ISO 21360 features (including ISO 21360 interlocks, ISO 21360 labels, and ISO 21360 documentation). For ultra-high vacuum, UHV (Ultra-High Vacuum) specifies ultra-high vacuum requirements for vacuum equipment, and the transit case must protect vacuum and cryogenic equipment without compromising its UHV features (including UHV interlocks, UHV labels, and UHV documentation). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility), IEC 61000 (Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)) specifies electromagnetic compatibility requirements for electronic equipment, and the transit case must protect EMC-sensitive vacuum and cryogenic equipment without compromising its EMC features (including electromagnetic shielding, electromagnetic filtering, and electromagnetic grounding).

For vacuum and cryogenic equipment ESD (Electrostatic Discharge), IEC 61000-4-2 (Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)—Part 4-2: Testing and measurement techniques—Electrostatic discharge immunity test) specifies electrostatic discharge immunity test for electronic equipment, and the transit case must protect ESD-sensitive vacuum and cryogenic equipment without compromising its ESD features (including ESD-safe materials, ESD-safe packaging, and ESD-safe handling). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment vibration, ISO 21360 (Vacuum technology—Standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance) specifies vibration requirements for vacuum and cryogenic equipment, and the transit case must protect vacuum and cryogenic equipment from vibration during transport (including vibration isolation, vibration damping, and vibration monitoring). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment shock, ISO 21360 (Vacuum technology—Standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance) specifies shock requirements for vacuum and cryogenic equipment, and the transit case must protect vacuum and cryogenic equipment from shock during transport (including shock isolation, shock damping, and shock monitoring). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment testing, ISO 21360 (Vacuum technology—Standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance) specifies testing requirements for vacuum and cryogenic equipment, and the transit case must support the testing requirements of vacuum and cryogenic equipment (including test records, test documentation, and test traceability). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment logistics, ISO 21360 (Vacuum technology—Standard methods for measuring vacuum pump performance) specifies logistics requirements for vacuum and cryogenic equipment, and the transit case must support the logistics requirements of vacuum and cryogenic equipment (including equipment tracking, equipment documentation, and equipment handling).

Vacuum Pumps, Cryostats, and Magnets: Core Equipment Transport

Vacuum pumps (dry scroll pumps, turbomolecular pumps, vacuum pump controllers, vacuum pump sensors) are typically shipped as complete units with precision components, electronics, connectors, and documentation. The most critical areas are: component protection (vacuum pump components such as dry scroll pumps, turbomolecular pumps, and vacuum pump controllers can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing component failure or vacuum pump equipment malfunction), connector protection (vacuum pump connectors such as power connectors, data connectors, and signal connectors can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing connection problems or equipment failure), and ESD-sensitive components (which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge as low as 50V). Our vacuum pump cases use: component protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on components, and custom component protectors to prevent damage), connector protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on connectors, and custom connector protectors to prevent damage), ESD-safe foam (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq) for all electronic components, vibration isolation (custom foam with vibration isolation properties, and custom vibration isolators to prevent component damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities).

Cryostats (liquid helium cryostats, liquid nitrogen cryostats, cryostat controllers, cryostat sensors) are typically shipped as complete units with precision components, electronics, connectors, and documentation. The most critical areas are: precision components (which can have tolerances of ±0.001mm, and must not be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing cryostat errors or measurement errors), ESD-sensitive components (which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge as low as 50V), and calibration (cryostats require precise calibration of cryogenic parameters, which can be affected by vibration during transport). Our cryostat cases use: precision component protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on precision components, and custom component protectors to prevent damage), ESD-safe foam (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq) for all electronic components, calibration protection (custom foam that holds each component in its calibrated position, with zero-contact foam on all precision adjustment mechanisms), vibration isolation (custom foam with vibration isolation properties, and custom vibration isolators to prevent component damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities). Magnets (superconducting magnets, electromagnets, magnet controllers, magnet sensors) are typically shipped as complete units with precision components, electronics, connectors, and documentation. The most critical areas are: component protection (magnet components such as superconducting magnets, electromagnets, and magnet controllers can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing component failure or magnet equipment malfunction), connector protection (magnet connectors such as power connectors, data connectors, and signal connectors can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing connection problems or equipment failure), and ESD-sensitive components (which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge as low as 50V). Our magnet cases use: component protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on components, and custom component protectors to prevent damage), connector protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on connectors, and custom connector protectors to prevent damage), ESD-safe foam (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq) for all electronic components, vibration isolation (custom foam with vibration isolation properties, and custom vibration isolators to prevent component damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities).

Vacuum Chambers, Cryogenic Equipment, and Vacuum/Cryogenic Transport Environment: Specialized Transport Requirements

Vacuum chambers (stainless steel vacuum chambers, aluminum vacuum chambers, vacuum chamber controllers, vacuum chamber sensors) are typically shipped as complete units with precision components, electronics, connectors, and documentation. The most critical areas are: component protection (vacuum chamber components such as stainless steel vacuum chambers, aluminum vacuum chambers, and vacuum chamber controllers can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing component failure or vacuum chamber equipment malfunction), connector protection (vacuum chamber connectors such as power connectors, data connectors, and signal connectors can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing connection problems or equipment failure), and ESD-sensitive components (which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge as low as 50V). Our vacuum chamber cases use: component protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on components, and custom component protectors to prevent damage), connector protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on connectors, and custom connector protectors to prevent damage), ESD-safe foam (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq) for all electronic components, vibration isolation (custom foam with vibration isolation properties, and custom vibration isolators to prevent component damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities).

Cryogenic equipment (cryocoolers, cryogenic valves, cryogenic equipment controllers, cryogenic equipment sensors) are typically shipped as complete units with precision components, electronics, connectors, and documentation. The most critical areas are: component protection (cryogenic equipment components such as cryocoolers, cryogenic valves, and cryogenic equipment controllers can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing component failure or cryogenic equipment malfunction), connector protection (cryogenic equipment connectors such as power connectors, data connectors, and signal connectors can be damaged by impact or by vibration, causing connection problems or equipment failure), and ESD-sensitive components (which can be damaged by electrostatic discharge as low as 50V). Our cryogenic equipment cases use: component protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on components, and custom component protectors to prevent damage), connector protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on connectors, and custom connector protectors to prevent damage), ESD-safe foam (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq) for all electronic components, vibration isolation (custom foam with vibration isolation properties, and custom vibration isolators to prevent component damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities). For vacuum and cryogenic transport environment, our cases use: vacuum and cryogenic-compatible materials (vacuum and cryogenic-grade foam and vacuum and cryogenic-grade coatings, for protection against vacuum and cryogenic environments), vacuum and cryogenic-compatible protection (custom foam with zero-contact foam on all components, and custom protectors to prevent vacuum and cryogenic environment damage), and IP65 sealing (continuous silicone gaskets, for protection against dust and moisture during transport and storage at research laboratories and industrial facilities). For vacuum and cryogenic equipment maintenance, our cases use: maintenance-friendly design (quick-release latches, removable foam inserts, for easy equipment access during maintenance), maintenance documentation (waterproof document holders, A4 size, inside lid, for maintenance manuals and maintenance documentation), and maintenance traceability (serial number labels, lot number labels, and date codes, for maintenance traceability).

Case Design Specifications and OEM/ODM Capabilities

Our standard vacuum and cryogenic equipment case specification includes: 2mm thick 5052-H32 aluminum panels (or 3mm for heavy-duty applications over 50kg payload, or 4mm for cryostat modules that must meet structural requirements), Type II anodized (15-25μm) plus polyester TGIC powder coating (60-80μm) in matte black, gray, or custom color; continuous silicone gaskets (Shore A 50-60) providing IP65 sealing (IP67 available as option, for outdoor research laboratory applications); 304 or 316 stainless steel hardware (latches, hinges, handles, rivets)—316 stainless steel is preferred for vacuum and cryogenic applications, as it is more corrosion-resistant; CNC-cut closed-cell XLPE foam (40-80 kg/m³, customer-specified density based on payload weight and fragility) with ESD-safe option (surface resistance 10^6-10^9 Ω/sq); heavy-duty draw latches (Southco or equivalent) with rubber bumpers; folding side handles (for cases over 15kg) or top handle (for cases under 15kg); stacking corners (recessed, for secure stacking); and a waterproof document holder (A4 size, inside lid).

Every vacuum and cryogenic equipment case we build is custom-sized to your equipment’s exact dimensions, with CNC-cut foam cavities that hold each component in its operational orientation. We don’t sell stock cases for vacuum and cryogenic equipment—because a 5mm gap means 5mm of potential movement during transport, and that’s where connector damage, ESD damage, and component damage start. Typical lead time is 15-25 working days for first article (including design, prototyping, and customer approval), then 20-30 working days for production batches of 10-100 units. MOQ is 5 units per design. Pricing depends on size, complexity, and certification requirements. A typical cryogenic equipment case (300×200×150mm, 3kg payload, component protection, connector protection, ESD-safe foam, IP65) ranges from $100-$180 FOB Changzhou. A typical cryostat case (400×300×200mm, 10kg payload, precision component protection, calibration protection, ESD-safe foam, vibration isolation, IP65) ranges from $180-$300 FOB. A typical vacuum pump case (600×400×300mm, 25kg payload, component protection, connector protection, ESD-safe foam, vibration isolation, IP65) ranges from $300-$500 FOB. A typical magnet module case (800×600×400mm, 50kg payload, component protection, connector protection, ESD-safe foam, vibration isolation, IP65) ranges from $500-$750 FOB. Volume discounts of 15-25% apply for orders over 50 units.