Custom Sheet Metal Solutions for Pet Cabinets

Project Background

With the booming global pet economy, a renowned pet supplies brand launched a 2026 customization project for 1,600 sets of sheet metal pet cabinets, targeting household pet habitats, pet store display areas, and veterinary clinic isolation zones. The cabinets cover three sizes (small for cats/mini dogs, medium for small dogs, large for medium dogs) and require a balance of safety, durability, and pet-friendly design to adapt to daily pet activities and frequent cleaning.

Core requirements tailored to pet cabinet scenarios included:

Scratch & bite resistance: Surface can withstand pet claws and bites without peeling or deformation;
Ventilation & moisture-proof: Adequate air circulation to reduce odor, with moisture-proof performance to avoid mold from pet urine/spit;
Safety protection: Rounded corners (R≥3mm) and no sharp edges to prevent pet injury; anti-escape structure for door locks;
Eco-friendly & non-toxic: Surface coatings comply with EU REACH and US FDA standards, no harmful substances for pet contact;
Load-bearing & stability: Cabinet body and partitions support ≥30kg weight (for medium dogs) without sagging;
Easy cleaning: Smooth surface and detachable structure for quick wipe cleaning with pet-safe disinfectants;
Aesthetic versatility: Matte white/gray finish with color difference ΔE ≤1, matching home and commercial decor styles.

Sanjun Hardware was selected for its rich experience in custom sheet metal manufacturing, pet-friendly material and process optimization capabilities, and proven ability to balance functionality with safety—key advantages for pet cabinets that demand both durability and pet care.

Manufacturing Process of Core Pet Cabinet Sheet Metal Components

Sanjun integrated pet activity characteristics and usage scenarios into the entire production process, focusing on four core components: main cabinet body, ventilation panels, load-bearing partitions, and anti-escape door frames. The production strictly followed eco-friendly and safety standards to ensure pet health and product durability.

1. Material Selection & Pre-treatment

Main Cabinet Body: 1.2mm SPCC cold-rolled steel with high-hardness electrostatic powder coating—excellent structural stability, scratch resistance, and cost-effectiveness for pet cabinets;
Ventilation Panels: 0.8mm 304 stainless steel with precision hollow-out design—corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, and prevents pet claws from getting stuck;
Load-bearing Partitions: 1.0mm galvanized SPCC steel with reinforced ribs—enhanced load-bearing capacity, moisture-proof, and detachable for cleaning;
Anti-escape Door Frames: 1.0mm 304 stainless steel—rust-proof, bite-resistant, and compatible with anti-escape latches;
Pre-treatment: Automated degreasing + phosphating + passivation—removes surface impurities, improves coating adhesion, and enhances corrosion resistance against pet urine and disinfectants.

2. Core Manufacturing Craftsmanship

Precision Laser Cutting: 3000W fiber laser cutting machine (±0.1mm tolerance)—processes cabinet bodies, ventilation panels (hollow-out holes Φ8-10mm, evenly distributed), and partition slots. Dust collection equipment ensures surface cleanliness to avoid affecting coating quality;
CNC Bending & Forming: 6-axis CNC bending machine with custom jigs—forms cabinet contours and door frames. Springback is controlled within ≤0.15mm via parameter optimization, ensuring tight fit of detachable components. All corners are bent into rounded structures (R3.5mm) to eliminate sharp edges;
Spot Welding & Assembly: Automated spot welding machine (weld spot diameter 4mm)—reinforces cabinet joints and partition brackets without damaging the surface. Detachable buckle structures are installed for partitions, enabling easy disassembly and cleaning;
Ventilation Structure Optimization: Ventilation panels are installed on the front door (30% hollow-out rate) and side panels (20% hollow-out rate), forming cross-ventilation to improve air circulation by 30% while preventing pet escape;
Surface Treatment:
- Main Cabinet & Partitions: Electrostatic powder coating (65μm thickness)—adopts pet-safe eco-friendly powder (no heavy metals/VOCs), 9H hardness, scratch and bite resistant, and easy to wipe clean;
- Door Frames & Ventilation Panels: Brushed finish + anti-fingerprint coating—avoids pet paw print residue and enhances corrosion resistance;
- Post-treatment: Edge deburring and polishing—further smooths all contact surfaces, ensuring no pet scratches during use.

3. Quality Control & Testing

Dimensional & Fit Testing: Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and digital calipers—100% inspection of cabinet dimensions and partition fitting accuracy, ensuring detachable components are easy to assemble/disassemble;
Safety & Durability Testing: Scratch test (simulating pet claws scratching 1000 times, no coating peeling); bite resistance test (using simulated pet bite force, no structural deformation); load-bearing test (partitions loaded with 35kg for 24 hours, no sagging);
Eco-friendly & Hygiene Testing: Third-party testing for heavy metals, VOCs, and harmful substances—complying with EU REACH and US FDA standards; surface stain resistance test (wipe with pet disinfectant, no discoloration);
Aesthetic & Consistency Inspection: Color difference detection (ΔE ≤1); visual inspection of rounded corners and surface finish, ensuring no defects.

Project Challenges & Sanjun’s Solutions

1. Challenge: Balancing Scratch/Bite Resistance with Pet Safety

Ordinary sheet metal coatings were prone to peeling when scratched or bitten by pets, and hard surface materials might cause pet injury. Meanwhile, pet-safe coatings often lacked durability.

Solution: Selected pet-specific eco-friendly powder coating with 9H hardness, combined with 304 stainless steel for high-contact parts (door frames, ventilation panels). Conducted simulated pet scratch/bite tests during R&D to optimize coating thickness and material combination. The final product withstood 1500 times of simulated claw scratching without peeling, and rounded edges ensured no pet injury.

2. Challenge: Ventilation Efficiency vs. Anti-escape Design

Large hollow-out holes improved ventilation but increased the risk of pet escape or claw sticking, while small holes failed to meet odor reduction needs.

Solution: Optimized hollow-out hole size (Φ8-10mm) and distribution—small enough to prevent pet claws from extending or escaping, and evenly distributed to form cross-ventilation. Installed detachable dust screens behind ventilation panels to avoid dust accumulation and facilitate cleaning. The final design achieved both efficient ventilation and reliable anti-escape performance.

3. Challenge: Moisture Resistance & Easy Cleaning

Pet urine, spit, and frequent disinfection easily caused sheet metal corrosion and odor accumulation, and non-detachable structures made cleaning difficult.

Solution: Adopted galvanized steel for partitions and added moisture-proof coating on the cabinet inner wall to resist corrosion from pet urine. Designed detachable partitions and bottom trays (with drainage holes) for quick cleaning and disinfection. Conducted 72-hour moisture resistance tests (simulating humid environments) to verify no corrosion or mold growth, ensuring long-term hygiene.

4. Challenge: Multi-size Adaptation & Structural Stability

Three cabinet sizes (small/medium/large) required consistent structural stability, but different dimensions led to uneven stress distribution, especially for large cabinets prone to sagging.

Solution: Optimized structural design with reinforced ribs on large cabinet partitions and bottom frames. Used finite element analysis (FEA) to adjust the position of welding points and brackets for each size, ensuring uniform stress distribution. The final large cabinets achieved the same load-bearing capacity (≥35kg) as medium/small ones, with no sagging or deformation during use.

Project Outcomes

Delivery Performance: 1,600 sets of sheet metal pet cabinets (three sizes) were delivered 2 days ahead of the 30-day deadline, with a 100% pass rate in pre-delivery inspection;
Market Feedback: After 8 months of application in 300+ households, 50+ pet stores, and 20+ veterinary clinics, the cabinets showed 0 cases of coating peeling, corrosion, or pet injury. The client reported high satisfaction with durability, easy cleaning, and pet-friendly design, with a 20% increase in product sales;
Long-Term Cooperation: The pet supplies brand signed a 2-year strategic cooperation agreement with Sanjun Hardware, entrusting it with sheet metal customization for 4 new series of pet products (pet cages, feeding stations). The client recognized Sanjun’s “in-depth insight into pet product needs and reliable quality control” as the core cooperation driver.

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