Reinforced housing for an industrial switching device

A switching device for industrial equipment comprising:

• a housing further comprising a front housing is mounted to a rear housing;
• a rear housing tab extending from the rear housing toward the front housing;
• and
• a splitter plate support configured to be inserted into the rear housing, the splitter plate support further comprising a first support panel, wherein:
• the first support panel includes an aperture, and
• the rear housing tab is configured to extend through the aperture when the splitter plate support is mounted with the rear housing.

A method of reinforcing side walls of a housing of a switching device for industrial equipment, the method comprising:

• inserting a splitter plate support within a rear housing of the switching device;
• engaging a rear housing tab with a support hook on the splitter plate support as the splitter plate support is inserted into the rear housing, wherein the rear housing tab extends from a side wall of the rear housing;
• and
• mounting a front housing to the rear housing of the switching device, wherein, when the front housing is mounted to the rear housing:
• a sidewall of the front housing extends over the rear housing tab and support hook,
• the sidewall of the front housing is generally coplanar with the sidewall of the rear housing, and
• the sidewalls of the front housing and of the rear housing define a sidewall of the housing of the switching device.