Traditional boxes and suitcases do little to protect fragile and expensive equipment during long-term transportation. The case is not made of shock-resistant material, and the contents will easily fall victim to an unexpected point. But this is not the only problem: the devices inside are not fixed and can be damaged by the walls of the box.
Rack — a solution to the problem of transporting equipment
A rack case on wheels differs from a standard protective container. The product contains several mounting shelves. One compartment — one device, isolated from the rest of the contents.
A special cradle allows you to achieve insulation. It fixes the object so that it does not hit walls or other objects. The tray is made of foamed polyethylene or plastazote, which allows you to “softly” secure the contents and prevent scratches.
Previously, racks were used for these purposes. They are also equipped with mounting racks and are capable of storing and transporting different types of items separately. But the racks were made of wood and received serious damage if hit hard. They were heavier than modern plastic analogs.
The rack housing is responsible for protection from external shocks. Polyethylene walls have been tested in laboratory conditions and have shown that they can withstand many hours of impact with an iron rod without receiving a single scratch.
Depending on the capacity and number of reinforced shelves, there are several types of this product.
Rack container dimensions
The most common type of such product is called nineteen-inch.
19 inches is the width of the container. It is standard for electronics: servers, modems, data centers, routers, and music equipment.
Equipment rack height is measured in units (unit, or U). One unit is equal to 44.45 mm (or 1.75 inches). To get 2U, you need to multiply this number by two, and 3U by three. So, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, 6U (units) – 88.9, respectively; 133.35; 177, 8; 222.25; 266.7 mm.
One U – one standard shelf that will hold one item. 6U products can fit six items.
There are small gaps between the mounting stationary shelves. They allow you to remove one of them without affecting the other. When removing a 3U rack, the user will not affect the device located in 2U and 4U.
The user is allowed to purchase storage of different capacities. When choosing, you should take into account several quality indicators.
Custom rack cases
Technical equipment is not the only thing that can be stored in this kind of product. It is suitable for jewelry, securities, weapons, and antiques.
The main thing is to make a cradle that will repeat the shape of the object with millimeter accuracy. This can only be done by a manufacturer who agrees to work to order and take into account the client’s wishes during production.
It must also guarantee the tightness of the case and the strength of its handles. Quality assessment involves the use of several methods.
One test consists of continuously sprinkling the housing for several hours. As a result of the experiment, not a single drop should penetrate inside. This is especially important for a rack — it is used primarily for storing and transporting electronics.
Another test is based on constantly increasing the voltage on the handles using special mechanisms. Ideally, holders break when the voltage reaches levels unattainable under natural conditions.
Buying a rack case in Ukraine is not easy. Not all manufacturers are ready to make it to order, and without this, the storage may not meet the client’s requirements. It is important not to miss the chance and order it in advance so that you are ready to use it at any time.
