Plastic Tool Cases

A tool case is judged by two things: whether the set stays in place when the lid closes, and whether it survives being thrown into a van. We mould ours in PP or ABS with a hinged lid and latches, and we build the tray or foam layout around the set you actually sell.

Find a case for my tool set → Read the selection logic

01 / What this category covers

Definition, scope and limits

Tool cases are hard-shell plastic boxes with a hinged lid, one or two latches and a carrying handle, used to hold a defined set of hand tools, service instruments or assembly fixtures. They are bought by tool brands as part of a product, and by distributors and service companies as a container for kits they assemble themselves.

This page covers cases moulded in PP or ABS with an injection-moulded body. If the box has to hold a measuring device rather than tools, see instrument cases; if it must be wheeled, see wheeled cases.

Tray layout is the part that decides whether a tool case works. A tray that lets a screwdriver shift 15 mm will score the shaft against the lid rib, and the complaint arrives three months later from the end user, not from your purchasing team.

What we do not claim No drop height, impact class, load rating or ingress protection is stated for this category. Those require a test report for the exact model and lid configuration. Where a body has a gasket groove we describe the groove, not a result.

02 / Photographs

What this category looks like

Closed plastic tool case with red handle and two latches, studio photograph — Closed · handle and latches

Open plastic tool case, lid raised, empty moulded cavity — Open · empty cavity before inserts

Worker fitting a custom EVA insert into a red and black case — Insert being fitted to a tool set

All photographs are taken in our own facility or studio on the actual moulded parts. No stock image, no render, no borrowed model.

03 / Selection logic

Fixed tray, foam or moulded insert — which one

Layout	How it is made	Choose when	Trade-off
Moulded tray	Part of the case tool	Set never changes; high volume	Tool change if the set changes
Flat-cut foam	Knife-cut outline per set	Set is stable but small volume	Cutting file per variant
Pick-and-pluck	Pre-cut grid, cells removed by hand	Distributor assembles kits locally	Loose fit for small parts
Divider tray	Injected dividers inside cavity	Bulk storage, mixed small parts	Less protection per item

We do not publish tray drawings before the set is defined: the layout is derived from your tool list, and a generic drawing would be wrong for every customer.

04 / Who buys this

Who this category is built for

Tool brands · case supplied as part of a branded tool set, with logo and colour
Distributors · mixed containers of kits, own labels, repeat orders
Service companies · field kits for engineers, with a defined tool list
Assembly plants · fixture and gauge boxes kept at the line

05 / What can vary

Options and their conditions

Option	Condition
Body colour	Stock colours immediately; custom colour usually carries its own MOQ
Tray	Moulded tray needs a tool change; foam and EVA do not
Logo	Pad print or label plate without tool change; moulded-in logo needs one
Latches	Count and type depend on the mould
Handle	Fixed or folding, per model
Shoulder strap	Anchor points must exist on the mould

06 / How an order runs

From enquiry to despatch

01 · You send application, required internal dimensions, quantity and any drawing or photo.
02 · We shortlist existing models and return measured dimensions, photographs and the applicable MOQ.
03 · If nothing fits, engineering reviews a custom route and states tooling cost and lead time separately.
04 · Sample stage: colour, interior and fit approved on a physical sample before the order.
05 · 30% deposit → production → inspection → balance → EXW or FOB despatch.

Request a quote for this category →

07 / FAQ

Can you build the tray around our exact tool set?

Yes. Send the tool list with lengths and diameters, or a photograph of the set laid out. We propose a layout, you approve a drawing, then we cut or tool it.

Can we supply the case empty and insert locally?

Yes. Many distributors take empty cases and add their own insert in-country; that also reduces freight volume. Tell us at quotation stage so the lid clearance is checked for your insert thickness.

Will the case match our brand colour?

Stock colours are immediate. A specific brand colour is produced on request and normally carries its own minimum quantity because of material changeover.

Can we see a sample of the tray before ordering?

Yes. For an existing mould we can supply a case with a first-cut tray or foam so the fit is checked on the real tools.