Middle Atlantic Products/DataTel (www.middleatlantic.com), a Riverdale, N.J.-based enclosure manufacturer, came up with the idea for its HDR Horizontal Distribution Rack as a result of a challenge presented by a customer.
"This installer needed a wall-mount rack with only four rack spaces, but providing 23 inches of depth for a deep router and cabling," says Mark Tracy, director of marketing at Middle Atlantic Products. "Obviously, the geometry of such a unit using a traditional design didn't work, so our engineers came up with the current parallel-to-the-wall design."
The resulting design solved the customer's problem, while saving space at the same time. Installers now have more choices on where to install the rack, since it protrudes only 7 1/2 inches off the wall when mounted.
Its two mounting sections are optimized to separately address the individual needs of both passive and active components. The top section is designed to accommodate a 24-port patch panel.
"During the design of the rack, we decided that this section needed to pivot, providing easy access to the rear for punching down to the panel," says Tracy.
Its lower section is designed to house active equipment such as hubs, routers, and switches, and provides a significant depth to accommodate deep units and connecting wire.
"The parallel-to-the-wall design not only lets you mount deep components, but it additionally provides enough room for a built-in electrical box," continues Tracy.
The rack is designed for use wherever crossconnects are required. Due to its fully enclosed design featuring both a key lock and padlock latch, the rack is designed for non-secure environments such as classrooms, open-area offices and retail establishments.
