CaseLabs

CaseLabs was a manufacturer of computer cases based in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California.[1] The company was founded in 1971 as a manufacturer of computer cases for electronic, military, medical, and industrial applications, and started making cases for the consumer market in late 2010.[2]

A watercooled computer inside a CaseLabs SMA8 case.
CaseLabs
IndustryComputer hardware
Founded1971 (1971) in California, United States
DefunctAugust 2018 (2018-08)
FateBankruptcy
ProductsComputer cases
Websitewww.caselabs.net

CaseLabs allowed buyers to customize their purchases from their website by offering factory options.[3] The company's cases used aluminum construction and were noted for their ability to house multiple radiators for liquid cooling.[4][5]

CaseLabs announced that it was shutting down permanently in August 2018, citing Trump tariffs cutting into margins by "raising prices by almost 80%", and the "default of a large account". The company said it would not be able to fulfill all existing orders, but parts orders should ship to customers.[6][1][7]

New Ownership

On October 2, 2021, popular PC gaming news outlet GamersNexus reported the intellectual property of the bankrupt CaseLabs brand had been sold to a new owner:

We received an email in early September about the purchase of CaseLabs by a new owner, Emil Rytterstedt. The CaseLabs trademark, designs, website, social media accounts, and graphics were all purchased by a new owner, with whom GN spoke directly to discuss the acquisition.

[...]

GN has read court documents pertaining to the transaction and can confirm its legitimacy.

We spoke with the new owner about CaseLabs to ask about his plans. The owner told us:

“The immediate plan is to bring the original line-up back into production, which will not be an easy task. The parts will be in a flat, unfolded, state and there is no instructions for how to fold the parts so me and my manufacturers [...] will have to work out how to fold each individual part.”

This relates back to how cases are made, where specific machines are used in each step to cut, stamp, and/or fold steel and aluminum sheets to create the paneling. We have plenty of factory footage and tours showing how this is done.

The new owner told us the following: “The most important thing to me is that the spirit of CaseLabs is maintained no matter what new products I release. I want to keep the same level of quality and craftsmanship and, where it is possible, modularity as before  CaseLabs went bankrupt. I'm a firm believer in the right to repair and keeping it simple for the end user. Existing and future products from CaseLabs shall reflect that.”[8]

On November 1, 2021 the new owner posted an online survey to get a better insight into the brand's legacy and just how valuable it is was to consumers. Titled "Case Labs Survey 2021/2022", it contained 19 questions related to the CaseLabs products, their perceived strong and weak points, along with usage cases and other feedback.[9]

References
  1. "CaseLabs President: Tariffs Drove Us Out of Business". Tom's Hardware. August 13, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  2. "CaseLabs MAGNUM M8 Review". TechPowerUp. November 30, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  3. "CaseLabs Mercury S5 Case Review". HardwareCanucks. December 8, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  4. "CaseLabs Merlin SM8 Full-Tower Customizable Chassis Review". TweakTown. April 12, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  5. "Caselabs M8 Review". August 22, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  6. "Trump tariffs have forced us into bankruptcy and liquidation, says PC case maker CaseLabs". The Independent. August 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  7. "CaseLabs announces it has been 'forced into bankruptcy and liquidation'". PC Gamer. August 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  8. Burke, Eric Hamilton & Steve. "HW News - CaseLabs Resurrected, Linux Gaming Grows, Valve Steam Deck Updates". www.gamersnexus.net. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  9. AleksandarK Discuss. "CaseLabs Resurrects With a Survey for Existing and Upcoming Customers". TechPowerUp. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.