Editing Road case

{{Short description|Shipping container built to protect sensitive equipment}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2018}}
[[File:Road cases 2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Road cases]]

A '''road case''', '''ATA case''' or '''flight case''' is a [[shipping container]] specifically built to protect [[musical instrument]]s, motion picture equipment, audio and lighting production equipment, [[theatrical property|props]], [[firearm]]s, or other sensitive equipment when it must be frequently moved between locations by [[Land transport|ground]] or [[Air cargo|air]]. Many varying-sized road cases can be built to outfit the needs of an entire [[concert tour]], or custom designed individually for a specific industry or product.

The term road case is mostly used in the [[United States]] and implies that the case is primarily for road-based travel, unlike a flight case. The term originates from its use for storing and shipping band equipment while the musicians were on the road.

== History ==
The history of flight case design is based on an airplane parts packaging specification. It was designed by airline packaging engineers. The specification is [[ATA 300]].{{efn|ATA is the A4A ([[Airlines for America]]) International, formerly the Air Transport Association of America located in Washington, D.C., and consists of members like Boeing, Airbus, FedEx, American, United, and JetBlue.}} Category I cases are designed to withstand a minimum of 100 round trips, Category II containers a minimum of 10 round trips, and Category III containers 1 round trip as defined to also include the return of a replacement part. Because of visibility requirements during nighttime airline operations, the recommended color of reusable cases is white, but the requirement is waived to permit a carrier's traditional or logo colors except for very dark colors. The first ATA 300 spec was published on August 1, 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlines.org/|title=Airlines For America |publisher=airlines.org}}</ref>

== Construction ==
[[File:Event-Mischpult mit Box für Multicore IMGP6377.jpg|thumb|A large road case used to transport an [[audio multicore cable]]]]
Most cases are fabricated from panels joined by metal or plastic extrusions, molded plastic, or metal. Fabricated cases are typically made from panels constructed of two layers. An outer layer of [[acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|ABS]] or [[fiberglass]] laminate is adhered to a middle layer of lightweight {{convert|3/16|to|1/2|in|adj=on}} [[cabinet (furniture)|cabinet]]-grade [[plywood]] such as [[birch]], [[Populus|poplar]], or [[maple]]. These two layers are known as [[laminate panel]], and high-grade cases are made from composite material. Inside the case, an internal shock-absorbing filler such as [[polyurethane]] or [[polyethylene]] foam has cavities that correspond to the shape of the components it is preserving. Alternate shock protection methods include mounting the case contents to racks or panels attached to the case walls with shock isolators. The corners of fabricated cases are commonly reinforced with stamped sheet steel case corners commonly finished in [[zinc]], [[nickel]], [[chrome plating|chrome]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosoundweb.com/getting-rock-to-roll-a-history-of-the-development-of-road-cases/|title=Getting Rock To Roll: A History Of The Development Of Road Cases - ProSoundWeb|last=Karch|first=Katie|date=2023-05-24|website=Pro Sound Web|language=en|access-date=2023-05-24}}</ref> 

The term ''ATA case'' is frequently used to describe cases that resemble those that comply with ATA Specification 300 category I or II, but have not been certified by the independent testing defined in ATA Specification 300. Category I and II cases are required to be tested both as a pre-production prototype and as a sample selected from the first production lot. Tests include stackability, drop or impact, water resistance, vibration (category I only), and penetration (category I only). Of these, the drop test, stackability, and vibration tests are probably the most severe. For cases under {{convert|50|lb}} gross (loaded) the drop test requires 160 face drops from {{convert|30|in}}, 80 edge drops from {{convert|36|in}}, and 40 corner drops from 36 inches. The face drop distance is reduced to {{convert|21|in}} up to {{convert|100|lb}}, {{convert|18|in}} {{convert|150|lb}}, {{convert|16|in}} {{convert|200|lb}} or more. Category II cases are dropped one-tenth as many times from {{convert|22|in}} and {{convert|27|in}} at 50 pounds, and proportionally for heavier cases. The stackability test requires every case face over {{convert|0.37|m2}} to support {{convert|135|kg}} centered on {{convert|0.09|m2}} of the face for 24 hours. The vibration test searches for the four strongest resonances between 5 and 50&nbsp;Hz, and then tests each at {{convert|0.5|g0}} for 2 hours on each principal axis. The penetration test is a 6-kilogram steel bar 3.2 centimeters in diameter with a hemispherical end dropped 0.5 meters on the weakest point. For all tests no degradation or functional damage is allowed.<ref>{{cite web|title=ATA 300 Specification for Packaging of Airline Supplies|url=http://www.anvilcase.com/pdfs/ATA300SPECRev2008.pdf|website=Internet Archive|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308045616/http://www.anvilcase.com/pdfs/ATA300SPECRev2008.pdf|archivedate=2014-03-08}}</ref>

[[Caster|Caster wheels]] are often built into or attached to the case for ease of transit, and may be removable to prevent damage to other containers or to the airframe.

Molded cases are typically made of [[polyethylene]] or [[polypropylene]] plastic by injection molding or rotational molding and may be gasketed for splash protection. They typically have similar interior and wheel options as fabricated panel cases. The ATA specified performance temperature range {{convert|−40|to|130|F}} tends to exclude thermoplastic cases large enough to be subject to the stackability test.

Cases may be further customized by adding a [[power adapter]] and a [[computer fan]]. Thus certain equipment may operate in transit or at destination without leaving the protection of the case.

== Uses ==
Typical uses for road cases on tour are wardrobe, hair and make-up, catering, rigging, [[Backline (stage)|backline]], [[Sound reinforcement system|sound reinforcement equipment]], [[stage lighting]], video, production and carpentry. Road cases got their name because they are usually used by touring entertainment companies that need to take their show out 'on the road'. Road cases configured with [[rackmount]]s are widely used on the road for pro audio, lighting, sound recording and video.  Other applications include motion picture production, military, sports, medical, rental and staging.

In January 2020, the former head of Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, [[Carlos Ghosn]] apparently escaped from Japan hidden in a road case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carlos-ghosn-sneaked-out-of-japan-in-box-used-for-audio-gear-11578077647|title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Carlos Ghosn Sneaked Out of Japan in Box Used for Audio Gear|last=Beirut|first=David Gauthier-Villars in Istanbul, Mark Maremont in Boston, Sean McLain in Tokyo and Nick Kostov in|website=WSJ|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/01/how-carlos-ghosn-reveals-the-limits-of-modern-global-corporate-culture|title=How Carlos Ghosn Reveals the Limits of Modern Global Corporate Culture|last=Kitman|first=Jamie|date=2020-01-10|website=Vanity Fair|language=en|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Transit case]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Commons category|Road cases}}
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Road case}}
[[Category:Sound technology]]
[[Category:Shipping containers]]