Most people who come to us ask for a flight case. Plenty of them don't need one.
Lite Guard is our plastic case: a 1.3mm HDPE shell, riveted and foam-lined, built around whatever goes inside it. It's around 60% lighter than a flight case. It goes out on jobs every week, and hardly anyone knows we make it.
We've been designing Lite Guard in Market Harborough since 1983. Here's what it is, how we build it, and where it fits (and where it doesn't).
Where it sits in the range
We make three kinds of protection, from heaviest to lightest. Lite Guard is the middle option.
| Option | Build | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Flight case | 9mm, 7mm or 4mm ply | Kit that goes on the road and gets thrown about |
| Lite Guard plastic case | 1.3mm HDPE, riveted, foam-lined | Kit that travels often and needs a fitted, lighter case |
| Padded bags and covers | Soft-sided, with CNC foam inserts where needed | Kit that just needs covering |
We make every option. Most customers only know about one.
How we build it
Each Lite Guard case starts as a single sheet of HDPE. We crease and fold it, so the corners are bends, not joins.
- Riveted by hand. The seams are riveted, with no glue.
- Reinforced where it counts. Metal corners and lockable clasps go on the parts that take the most wear.
- Fitted inside. The foam is CNC-cut to the kit, not to a standard size.
- Tough in the cold. HDPE stays flexible at low temperatures. Two of our cases from the 1980s turned up in a shed, still intact.
- Recyclable. HDPE can be recycled, and our offcuts go back into new sheet.
What we ask before we build one
Every Lite Guard case is built to order, so we start with questions, not a catalogue.
- What's going inside? The foam is cut around your kit.
- How heavy is it? Lighter loads sit on a hardboard base; heavier ones get 5.5mm ply.
- Will it be stacked? We can add a double seam, a timber end or an aluminium extrusion.
- Will it be handled roughly? Metal corners go on the high-impact edges.
- Who carries it, and how? Handles or a shoulder strap; a lift-off or hinged lid with lockable clasps.
- How many do you need? One case or a fleet, the build is the same.
That's how we've built cases for race helmets, display screens, small 3U racks and even mirror balls.
Where it doesn't fit
We'd rather tell you now than after you've ordered.
- It's showerproof, not waterproof. Lite Guard will handle rain on the way to the truck. It isn't submersible.