Quick answer
Spec private label ATA cases in seven days by locking four things fast: the gear and duty level (days 1 to 2), the foam interior and exterior dimensions (day 3), the branding method and artwork (days 4 to 5), and the quantity, price, and lead time (days 6 to 7). Send one clear spec sheet and the clock starts.
Putting your own brand on a road case is not complicated, but it falls apart when the spec is vague. A blurry photo, a missing interior dimension, or "make it look nice" instead of an artwork file turns a one-week job into a three-week back and forth. This guide gives you a day-by-day path to a clean, factory-ready spec for private label ATA cases, so the build starts on schedule and the first sample looks right.
In this guide
- What private label means for ATA cases
- The 7-day spec timeline at a glance
- Days 1 to 2: define the gear and duty level
- Day 3: nail the foam interior and fit
- Days 4 to 5: choose your branding method
- Days 6 to 7: quantity, pricing, and lead time
- The spec sheet: exactly what to send
- Mistakes that blow the timeline
- FAQ
New to private label?
If you are still figuring out what a branded case program actually involves, start with the overview of how the process works end to end before you write a single dimension down.
See how private label manufacturing works →What private label means for ATA cases
Private label ATA cases are road cases built to your spec and sold under your name, not the manufacturer's. The case is engineered the same way any touring case is: ATA-300 Category I construction, riveted plywood panels, recessed twist latches, ball corners, spring-loaded handles, and casters sized to the load. The difference is on the outside and in the paperwork. Your logo replaces ours, your brand goes on the lid, and in an OEM arrangement the case ships with no Gravix marks at all.
Resellers, AV houses, instrument brands, and equipment makers use this to bundle a case with their own product or to sell cases as a branded line. Because Gravix is a US manufacturer that builds to order, the same factory that makes a one-off custom case makes your fifty-unit branded run, which is why the spec matters more than the volume. Get the spec right and the rest is repeatable.
There is a related route worth knowing. If you want cases with zero manufacturer fingerprints, that is closer to OEM than private label, and the difference changes what goes on the spec sheet. The breakdown of how brands skip the factory step with OEM case manufacturing is worth a read if that is your model.
The 7-day spec timeline at a glance
Seven days is realistic when you treat each block as a decision that has to close before the next one opens. The build cannot start until all four are locked, so the order matters. Here is the path.
| Day | What you lock | What you need ready |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Gear and duty level | Gear make/model, weight, how it travels (truck, fly, rental) |
| 3 | Interior and dimensions | Exact gear dimensions, foam type, cable and accessory space |
| 4 to 5 | Branding | Vector logo file, placement, color, branding method |
| 6 to 7 | Quantity and terms | Unit count, target price, in-hand date, sample approval plan |
Days 1 to 2: define the gear and duty level
Everything downstream depends on knowing exactly what goes in the case and how hard its life will be. Start with the gear: make, model, and real shipping weight, not the spec-sheet weight that leaves out the rack ears or the road-worn dings. If the case holds rack equipment, count rack units and depth. If it holds a screen, you need the exact diagonal and the bezel-to-bezel width, because a 55-inch panel from one brand is not the same footprint as another.
Then set the duty level, which is just an honest answer to how the case travels. A case that lives in one venue and rolls across a flat floor does not need the same build as one that gets gang-loaded into a truck nightly or checked as flight baggage. Duty level drives plywood thickness, corner hardware, and caster choice, and it is the single biggest lever on both protection and cost.
| Duty level | Typical use | Build notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light | In-house, occasional moves | Thinner panel, basic latches, lighter weight |
| Touring | Nightly load-in, truck packs | Full ATA-300 build, ball corners, recessed latches |
| Fly / heavy | Air freight, rental fleets | Heavier plywood, reinforced corners, larger casters |
Day 3: nail the foam interior and fit
A case protects gear only if the gear sits snug. Day 3 is where you turn measurements into an interior. You have three common foam routes, and the right one depends on fit tolerance and how often the contents change.
Convoluted (egg-crate) foam in the lid plus flat layered foam in the base is the workhorse for general gear that does not need a tailored pocket. Layered pick-and-pluck lets your end user shape a cavity without tools, which is handy for branded kits that ship to many different setups. CNC-cut foam is the premium option: it cradles a specific piece exactly, kills movement, and looks the part when a buyer opens the lid. For a branded line, CNC foam is often worth it because the unboxing is part of the product.
Whichever you choose, give the interior dimensions you need, not the exterior of the case. State the gear footprint, add clearance for cables, power bricks, or a removable lid tray, and call out anything that must not touch foam, like a fan vent. Browsing the full range of specialty ATA case types is a fast way to anchor your interior against a build that already exists, then note the changes you want.
Ordering more than a few
Branded runs almost always mean volume, and volume changes the math on price per unit. If you are speccing ten, fifty, or a few hundred cases, get the bracket pricing in front of you before you finalize the count.
See bulk pricing tiersDays 4 to 5: choose your branding method
This is the part that makes it private label, and it is where most timelines slip, because brands send a logo from a website instead of artwork the factory can use. Lock two things: the method and the file. Send a vector logo (AI, EPS, or PDF), state the placement (lid, end panel, or both), and give the color as a Pantone or exact hex, not "our blue."
The method affects cost, durability, and how it reads at ten feet. Screen printing is clean and economical at volume. Laminated panels wrap the case face in a printed surface and suit full-color or photographic branding. Engraved or embossed plates give a premium, hardware-store-tough mark that survives the road. Each has a different setup step, so deciding early keeps day 6 free for pricing. The full comparison of logo printing versus engraving versus laminate on branded ATA cases walks through the tradeoffs in detail.
Days 6 to 7: quantity, pricing, and lead time
With the build and branding locked, the last block is commercial. Set the unit count, your target price per case, and a real in-hand date. Volume lowers per-unit cost because tooling, foam cutting, and print setup amortize across the run, so a fifty-unit order rarely costs fifty times a single. State whether you want a sample approved before the full run; for a first branded order, one approved sample is cheap insurance against repeating a mistake fifty times.
Be specific about timing. "Soon" is not a date. Give the day you need cases in hand and let the manufacturer work backward to a production start. ATA cases are built, not pulled off a shelf, so the honest lead time depends on quantity, foam complexity, and branding method. Pinning the date on day 6 means day 7 is a confirmation, not a negotiation.
The spec sheet: exactly what to send
One document, sent once, with everything below. This is the difference between a quote that comes back accurate and one that comes back with five clarifying questions.
| Spec line | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contents | Gear make, model, weight, and quantity per case |
| Interior dimensions | L x W x H of the gear, plus clearance for cables and trays |
| Duty level | In-house, touring, or fly/heavy |
| Foam | Convoluted, layered pick-and-pluck, or CNC-cut |
| Hardware | Latch type, caster size, handle and corner preferences |
| Branding | Method, placement, vector file, Pantone or hex color |
| Quantity and date | Unit count, target price, in-hand date, sample yes/no |
If you want the build to match a recognized standard for protection and warranty terms, ask for ATA-300 construction explicitly and confirm the coverage in the Gravix warranty policy so your branded cases carry the same backing a stock case would.
Mistakes that blow the timeline
Most seven-day specs that turn into three weeks share the same handful of slips. Send a low-resolution logo and branding stalls until a vector arrives. Give exterior case dimensions instead of the gear footprint and the foam pocket comes out wrong. Skip the duty level and the quote assumes a build heavier or lighter than you need. Leave out the in-hand date and production has nothing to plan against.
The fix for all of them is the same: decide before you ask. A spec with one clear answer per line gets a fast, accurate quote. A spec full of "we'll figure that out later" gets a slow one. Treat the spec sheet as the deliverable for the week and the build takes care of itself.
Got your spec? Start the 7-day clock.
Gravix builds private label ATA cases to your exact spec in our US facility. Send the details and get an accurate quote and lead time back.
Request a custom quote →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order for private label ATA cases?
There is no fixed industry minimum, and it depends on the branding method and build. Screen printing and laminate setups amortize best across a run, so branded orders usually start in the low tens of units rather than as one-offs. The most accurate answer comes from sending your spec and quantity for a quote, since price per case drops as the count climbs.
Can I really spec a private label case order in 7 days?
Yes, the speccing phase fits in a week when you treat each block as a decision that has to close. Days 1 to 2 lock the gear and duty level, day 3 locks the interior, days 4 to 5 lock branding, and days 6 to 7 lock quantity and terms. The seven days cover spec approval, not the full build, which depends on volume and branding.
What is the difference between private label and OEM cases?
Private label cases are built to your spec and sold under your brand, often still recognizable as a standard case design with your logo. OEM goes further: the case ships with no manufacturer marks at all and is treated as your product end to end. The spec sheet is similar, but OEM usually means tighter control over packaging and any visible branding.
What file do I need for branding?
Send a vector logo file (AI, EPS, or PDF), not a screenshot or a small PNG from a website. Include the placement (lid, end panel, or both) and the exact color as a Pantone or hex value. A clean vector file is the single fastest way to keep the branding step from stalling, since the factory can scale and reproduce it without guesswork.
Do private label cases use the same ATA-300 build as stock cases?
They can, and you should ask for it explicitly. The same factory that builds custom and stock cases builds branded runs, so ATA-300 Category I construction, recessed latches, ball corners, and proper casters are all available. State the duty level you need on the spec sheet and confirm the warranty terms so your branded cases carry the same protection a non-branded case would.