Training Example: SKB Cases – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

[IMG: Three soldiers in camouflage uniforms carrying large black containers in a foggy urban setting.]

[H2]
Outlast.... Everything!
Military & Defense

[IMG: Person playing guitar on a dark stage with minimal lighting]

[H2]
The #1 Case For Musicians, 49 Years Running
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[H2]
Outlast....the baggage handlers
Shop Golf Cases

[H2]
Your Best Shot Is Right Here
Shop Sports Cases

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[H2]
AS9100D Certified
Learn More

Sports Cases

Music & Audio Cases

Photo & Video Cases

Military Cases

[H2]
our cases are
crafted with

[H2]
1200
tons of pressure.

[H2]
if something's
breaking today...

[H2]
it's
not gonna be your gear!

[H2] Rack mount cases

MIL-STD shock racks, Studio Flyers, Fly Racks, and Roto Racks deliver rugged, road-ready protection built to take the hits so your gear doesn’t have to.

shop cases

[H2] bow cases

Whether it’s range days or road trips, these bow cases keep up. Tough molded bodies, the best latches in the business, and padded interiors to protect your full setup.

shop cases

[H2] World-class protection, Made in the USA since 1977. Building our own cases from day one.

[IMG: World-class protection, Made in the USA since 1977. Building our own cases from day one.]

[IMG: World-class protection, Made in the USA since 1977. Building our own cases from day one.]

[IMG: World-class protection, Made in the USA since 1977. Building our own cases from day one.]

[H3] a legacy of perseverance.

[H2] SKB in 1977

View the garage

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[IMG: 1997]

[IMG: 2018]

[IMG: 2022]

[H3] 1977

[H2] which size do you need?

SKB Cases are made in many sizes for many industries.
View cases by Size

MIL-Spec, waterproof strength in a rugged resin shell

Shop iSeries

roto-molded impact armor built for extreme missions

Shop rSeries

vacuum-formed Polyethylene strength with wheels

Shop vSeries

rugged roto-molded top-loading cylindrical
cases

Shop TL Series

[IMG: Load video:]

[H2]
outlast everything
Outlast Everything...isn’t a slogan; it’s a standard. It’s the quiet confidence of soldiers who’ve lived the grind, hunters who know patience is a weapon, golfers battling the course and themselves, and musicians who pour their soul into every mile of the tour. It’s for audio techs who turn chaos into clarity and law enforcement professionals who stay sharp when the stakes climb. When the mission stretches long, the weather shifts, the crowd goes wild, or the course pushes back, SKB builds the gear that refuses to give out.Every case, latch, and hinge is engineered for the ones who keep going when others don’t. The ones who understand that durability isn’t optional; it’s survival. Whether you’re tracking game at dawn, hauling rig after rig across the country, locking in for another shift, or chasing that last putt in the rain, SKB is built to go the distance with you. Where others wear down, you Outlast Everything.
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[H2] Join Us! Instant street cred
We won't bombard you with the kind of painfully boring emails that other brands send. We send gear updates worth reading and some laughs that probably shouldn't have been approved.
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[H2]
proof we're not making this up
These folks have beaten the life out of their gear, but our cases survived and so did their willingness to leave a review.

"I knew I'd never have to worry about damaged gear again. Keeping my drum babies safe was what attracted me to SKB."
[H3] - Rashid Williams | touring Drummer

"These cases...have surpassed the anticipated needs and requirements originally identified for Marines in the field."
[H3] Craitor Inc. | Field-ready 3D Printers

“With the full weight of the rear axel on the bow cases we ripped the flat off, and dug a hole big enough to put the full tire on.”
[H3] John T. Lockwood | Cedar Falls, IA

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[H3] SINCE 1977

[H2] THE SPARK

IT WASN’T PERFECT AT THE BEGINNING.IT WAS HONEST. AND THAT’S WHERE PROGRESS STARTS.SKB Started in a garage as a launchpad. Two makers, one idea, and a belief that craft beats compromise. The start of something great “sparked” by a literal garage fire. That same “burning desire” to get out there and do things is embodied by every employee and customer and makes us who we are today. Explore the origin of our brand on the timeline below: where we come from, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. We’re just as stoked as you are to see what the future brings.

Read more about our story>

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[H3] SINCE 1977

[H2] THE SPARK

Founded in 1977 by Dave Sanderson and Steve Kottman, SKB evolved from a single hand-built guitar case in an Anaheim garage into a global manufacturer with three factories and worldwide distribution. Over the years, SKB has become an industry standard in molded polymer protection, pioneering vacuum-formed, rotational-molded, and injection-molded technologies that safeguard gear across a wide range of industries. From music and pro audio to outdoor adventure, overlanding, military, industrial, and medical applications, SKB cases are engineered to perform in the real world—where reliability isn’t optional. For more than four decades, our logo has stood for durability without compromise, and that commitment drives us forward today.

[H3] 1973

[H3] ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
Steve Kottman and Dave Sanderson meet while on the rowing team at CSULB. They begin building guitar cases for friends using homemade vacuum mold equipment.

[H3] 1976

[H3] SANDERSON, KOTTMAN
[H3] & BROWNE
Dave and Steve take their cases to Doug Browne, a music store owner who offers to invest in the business. They move their equipment into a windowless shed behind Browne's warehouse they call the "pig hole".

[H3] 1977

[H3] Up in Flames
"We were running a vacuum-former and thinking about something else, so we forgot and left. When we got back there was all this smoke—a total loss." While Browne opts to unload his share of the business after this incident, the duo doesn't quit and scrapes up enough money to open a small shop in Orange, California

[H3] 1979

[H3] Fender Bender
In 1979, they convince Fender that SKB can provide 2,500 cases for a special anniversary edition of the Stratocaster guitar, and business begins to take off.

[H3] 1983

[H3] 600 Cases per Week
SKB has 20 employees making 600 cases a week for Fender, with Kottman and Sanderson serving as delivery men. The cases are still being made on machinery built by Dave and Steve.

[H3] 1987

[H3] Military Contracts
Military contracts and cases for medical equipment, computers and lasers provide huge growth potential. SKB moves into a 40,000 square-foot facility in Orange, CA.

[H3] 1990

[H3] SPORTS DIVISION
SKB expands into the Sports arena, and by the end of 1990 SKB has 170 employees building more than a million dollars worth of cases a month—including over 8,000 golf club cases alone.

[H3] 1997

[H3] New Roto Molding Facility
500 employees strong, SKB opens a fourth facility. Housing three rotational molding ovens, this facility allows for the production of innovative new product concepts.

[H3] 1998

[H3] Entrepreneurs of the Year
Steve Kottman and Dave Sanderson are named Orange County Entrepreneurs of the Year in the manufacturing category.

[H3] 2002

[H3] Mil-Spec Product Lines
Key staff additions fortify the SKB Industrial Divisions. Mil-Spec product lines are developed in response to heightened travel and transport security issues.

[H3] 2004

[H3] New Injection Molder
New Injection molding equipment is installed in SKB’s main plant in Orange, significantly impacting product development for all three divisions: Industrial, Music, and Sports.

[H3] 2014

[H3] Another New Injection Molder
SKB invests in a new injection molding machine—one of the largest on the West coast. This machine greatly expands production capacity of the ever-growing iSeries line of cases, enabling the development of larger sizes.

[H3] 2017

[H3] Partnership with Think Tank Photo
SKB partners with Think Tank Photo—the premier photo/video bag and backpack company—to develop high-quality, fully-customizable padded divider interiors and lid organizers for iSeries cases. While originally created with photographers in mind, these divider interiors prove to be popular for a wide range of applications in other industries.

[H3] 2018

[H3] 50 Sizes and Counting...
SKB announces more than 50 standard iSeries case sizes, more than any other manufacturer in the industry. New sizes continue to be developed and added to the line every year.

[H3] 2020

[H3] SKB Continues Essential Operations as Part of CISA Critical Manufacturing Sector
While the global pandemic rages—and as the preferred manufacturer of cases for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), integral medical technology companies, and the National Guard—SKB adapts its standard operations to accommodate these mission-critical commitments. SKB cases are deployed around the country to house the safety and medical equipment utilized for test diagnostics and by first responders in emergency situations, as well as the light bars which are used in portable tent hospitals and shelters that provide doctors with the lights they need to perform critical care.

[H3] 2022

[H3] The Biggest Injection Molder West of the Mississippi
SKB adds yet another injection molding machine, the largest on the West Coast. This machine increases size capabilities and production capacity, helping SKB to remain the only single manufacturer to offer more than 65 injection molded case sizes.

[H3] 2025

[H3] AS9100D Certification
Achieved AS9100D certification, affirming SKB’s commitment to consistently delivering high-quality, regulation-compliant products for the aerospace and defense industries.

[H3] 2026

[H3] New Logo
Introduced a refreshed SKB logo that draws on the company’s legacy while modernizing and strengthening our iconic brand signature.

Skip Timeline

[H3] 1973

[H3] 1976

[H3] 1977

[H3] 1979

[H3] 1983

[H3] 1987

[H3] 1990

[H3] 1997

[H3] 1998

[H3] 2002

[H3] 2004

[H3] 2014

[H3] 2017

[H3] 2018

[H3] 2020

[H3] 2022

[H3] 2025

[H3] 2026

[H3] PEOPLE & PASSION FIRST

[H2]
THE MINDSET

[H3] THE GARAGE ISN’T A PLACE.
IT’S A MINDSET.

Stay scrappy. Stay curious. Keep making. The tools change. The spirit does not. Curiosity keeps us pushing forward, innovating and crafting for the makers and doers who use our cases—because their drive to advance mirrors our own. But don’t take it from us. Listen to our friends out in the field getting after it. Click on a story below to learn about our most inspired ambassadors.

[ 01 ]

[ 02 ]

[ 04 ]

[ 05 ]

[H3] [ Today ]

[H2]
THE EVOLUTION

[H3] FROM GARAGE GRIT TO
WORLD-CLASS MANUFACTURING

Today, that same spirit fuels our precision engineering, advanced tooling, at a scale built for creators, professionals, and innovators around the world.

[ 01 ]

[ 02 ]

[H3] Our Ambassadors

[IMG: Queen Cora]

[H4] Queen Cora

[H3] Music

View Story

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[H4] Nathan East

[H3] Music

View Story

[IMG: Curt Bisquera]

[H4] Curt Bisquera

[H3] Music

View Story

[IMG: Nick Perri]

[H4] Nick Perri

[H3] Music

View Story

[IMG: Ben Kweller]

[H4] Ben Kweller

[H3] Music

View Story

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[H4] The Accidentals

[H3] Music

View Story

[IMG: Jared Lintner]

[H4] Jared Lintner

[H3] Sports

View Story

[IMG: Freddy Harteis]

[H4] Freddy Harteis

[H3] Sports

View Story

[IMG: Larysa Switlyk]

[H4] Larysa Switlyk

[H3] Sports

View Story

[IMG: Major League Bowhunter]

[H4] Major League Bowhunter

[H3] Sports

View Story

[IMG: Kip Campbell]

[H4] Kip Campbell

[H3] Sports

View Story

[IMG: Jay P. Morgan]

[H4] Jay P. Morgan

[H3] Photo

View Story

[IMG: Clint Easley]

[H4] Clint Easley

[H3] Photo

View Story

[IMG: Land, Ltd.]

[H4] Land, Ltd.

[H3] Photo

View Story

[IMG: Riker Chance]

[H4] Riker Chance

[H3] Photo

View Story

[IMG: Nadus Films]

[H4] Nadus Films

[H3] Photo

View Story

[IMG: Clay Cook]

[H4] Clay Cook

[H3] Photo

View Story

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[IMG: Queen Cora]

[H3] Queen Cora

Queen Cora Coleman began drumming in 1996. She holds many titles as “the first” or “the only,” including being the first female section leader of Howard University’s Thunder Machine marching drum section, the winner of Guitar Center’s 2002 Drum-Off (against 5,000 competitors), and the only musician to play in two of the top 10 Best Super Bowl Half-Time Shows—Prince in 2007 and Beyoncé in 2013. Queen Cora played with Prince for five years and Beyoncé for three years. She has also played with a range of artists like P!nk, Andrea Bocelli, Erykah Badu, Tomoyasu Hotei, and more. Queen is the resident drummer for BET’s Black Girls Rock Awards, in addition to being an author and entrepreneur.

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[IMG: Nathan East]

[H3] Nathan East

If you’ve listened to any music from the last four decades, odds are you’ve heard Nathan East’s bass lines. With 40 years of experience, Nathan has played with Eric Clapton since the 80s, toured with Phil Collins in the 90s, laid it down for Daft Punk’s 2013 hit “Get Lucky,” and most recently took the lead on a solo album, Reverence, which features many of his favorite fellow musician friends. His recording credits encompass a wide variety of genres and over 2,000 albums. SKB came to know Nathan through his longstanding relationship with Yamaha and we are so glad to have him on our team! Fun fact: Nathan always takes a bike with him on tour so he can stay active. He keeps his collapsible two-wheeler in one of our cases!

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[IMG: Curt Bisquera]

[H3] Curt Bisquera

Curt “Kirkee B” Bisquera is a 30+ year veteran drummer with touring and recording credits to boot! Curt has played with the likes of Sir Elton John, Mick Jagger, Bonnie Raitt, Celine Dion, Chris Isaak, Tina Turner, Josh Groban, and many more. Curt has been a friend of SKB’s for over 20 years, and a portrait of him and his drum case collection adorns the Sales & Marketing office’s breakroom wall—a daily reminder that the SKB family spans far beyond HQ walls. Kirkee B might be known as a first-call studio drummer, but he's an accomplished bass player as well! Ask him about it at the next NAMM Show.

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[IMG: Nick Perri]

[H3] Nick Perri

Drawing inspiration from Rock legends of the 60s and 70s, and very possibly a reincarnate himself, Nick Perri embodies the authentic passion and style of analog musicians. Beginning his career in 2001, Perri co-founded the blues-rock group, Silvertide, and opened for Van Halen, Velvet Revolver and Motley Crue. Fast forward to 2018 after many career milestones, and Perri is fronting a new group – The Underground Thieves – and finds himself as the fill-in guitarist for the band Dorothy. This is when Perri and SKB crossed paths! Since then, Perri has gone on to make great strides with Nick Perri & The Underground Thieves, releasing their debut album, Sun Via, and performing all over the East Coast.

×

[IMG: Ben Kweller]

[H3] Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller got his start in music very early on at the ripe age of 12. Ben’s high school band, Radish, was signed to Mercury Records in ‘97 to release their first and only album, Restraining Bolt. After a whirlwind introduction to the music industry and touring as a teenager, the group disbanded, and Ben set his sights on a solo career. That decision allowed for artistic freedom and may have thankfully bridged the gap from child star to lifelong musician – a transition that not everyone successfully accomplishes. Several collaborations, an acting stint in the film Rudderless, and six albums later, Ben is still gracing us with his creative genius and musicality three decades later.

[H1]
Our Locations

SKB may have manufacturing facilities and distribution all over the world, but its roots are firmly planted where it all began: Southern California. SKB Headquarters is located in the city of Orange, right in the heart of Orange County, California. The O.C. is also home to many of the top action sports companies and several of the best automotive industrial design centers. Innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit is grown and nurtured in these parts—and SKB is right at home.

[H3] SKB USA | CORPORATE HQ

434 W. Levers PlaceOrange, CA 92867

ph: (714) 637-1252

[H3] SKB EUROPE

Hamelendijk 25541 RA ReuselNetherlands

ph: +31 (0) 497 339 836www.skb-europe.com

[H3] SKB MIDDLE EAST-AFRICA

Plot no. 597-604Dubai Investment park 2Dubai, UAE

sales@skbcases-mea.comwww.skbcases-mea.com

[H3] MARKETING & MEDIA INQUIRIES

marketing@skbcases.com

[H2]
Reach Our Team in Customer Support
contact us

[H1]
OEM Manufacturing and Customization Solutions

Whether it's a simple logo molded into the lid or an intricate custom interior with color options, we have a wide variety of customization capabilities to help make your special OEM project come to life. In addition to comprehensive plastics manufacturing for cases and components, SKB offers many in-house services to supplement, customize, or outfit virtually any kind of special project, with personal design consultation assistance and prototyping for any program need.

[H2]
Here are just some of the things we offer:

[IMG: Orange SKB case with logo on a white background]

[H3] OEM Private Labeling and Logo Hot Stamping

[IMG: Portable testing device with buttons and gauges in a beige case on a white background]

[H3] Optional Panel Frame Kits

[IMG: Gray gun case with]

[H3] Case Shell Customization

[IMG: Black drum case with Zildjian logo on a white background]

[H3] Molded-in Graphics

[IMG: Black reusable container with text indicating weight capacity on a white background]

[H3] Stenciling

[IMG: Black leather wallet on a white background]

[H3] Cut-And-Weld

[IMG: Metal blade with a serial number on a white background]

[H3] Laser Engraving

[IMG: Cylindrical metal component with a beige exterior and silver interior on a white background]

[H3] Document / Viewing / Desiccant Ports

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[H3] Custom Foam Integration

[IMG: Black plastic storage case on a white background]

[H3] Reverse Applications

[H2]
OEM Collaborations
Here are some highlights of custom projects we have developed over the past decade. If you're interested in collaborating with us on your own project, feel free to request a quote below.
Request a quote

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[H2]
Expeditionary 3D Printing Systems
Company: Craitor, Inc.Industry: Industrial/MilitaryWhen Craitor was tasked with developing the first truly expeditionary 3D printing systems to meet the specialized demands of Marines in the field, they decided to partner with SKB. Not only does SKB manufacture the highest quality ruggedized, MIL-SPEC cases, but the vast array of customization options and personalized support throughout the development process enabled Craitor to deliver a first-of-its-kind solution that is already seeing successful deployment out in the field.

[IMG: Black equipment case with various accessories on a white background]

[H2]
Dana Dolly Case
Company: AZ Grip LLCIndustry: Photo and VideoAZ Grip worked with SKB in creating a custom foam interior to protect their Dana Dolly portable camera dolly system. The system is an updated version of a camera dolly design used in the film industry for decades.Keeping the wheels protected and all the components together in one case were the main objectives. They had modified the bottom plate of the dolly system to cut down on weight so finding a lightweight but protective case was important. The dolly system fits like a glove into our watertight, dust proof, military spec'd iSeries of cases. The Dana Dolly is receiving a lot of recognition in the film industry.

[IMG: Black guitar case with]

[H2]
Music Man Guitar Cases
Company: Ernie BallIndustry: Musical InstrumentsSKB has been creating guitar cases for Ernie Ball for over 15 years. Producing a lightweight and rugged case was extremely important. We created a custom plushed insert for the guitar to fit into with enough room to not damage the tremolo system. The lid features a custom molded logo. The case also has integrated bumpers, dual accessory pockets, aluminum valences, and drawbar latches.

We also provide 3D design and engineering of custom case sizes, kitting solutions, and more. Minimum quantities and/or other conditions may apply. Contact us for more information.
Request a quote

[H2]
OEM Clients
Here are just some of the innovative brands we've worked with.

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