How ZetaFrame addresses delays in manufacturing supply chains

How ZetaFrame addresses delays in manufacturing supply chains

Modern networks are under significant pressure due to increased digitalisation in both work and domestic lives. It’s crucial that infrastructure, including data centre cabinets, meets these demands. Jon Barker, Technical Manager – Europe at Chatsworth Products, talks us through the key features of the ZetaFrame product, which is soon to be manufactured in the UK, and how this aims to address some of the challenges experienced by data centre teams.

You’re soon to be launching the manufacturing of the ZetaFrame in the UK – tell us what data centre managers in the region can expect?

ZetaFrame is a highly engineered data centre cabinet solution that does it all – and does it better. It delivers fast, built to order configurability, industry leading strength and scalability regardless of application. It provides increased load ratings for both static and dynamic loads.

We are seeing an increased demand for rack and stack integrator solutions. ZetaFrame was designed with the integrator in mind. CPI does the pre-integration for the integrator. The line between standard and custom cabinets has definitely blurred over the years, so ZetaFrame offers a large range of options.

What challenges are UK customers experiencing right now and how does this solution address these?

We’ve all seen an increased demand on networks, systems and ultimately data centres through the use of Zoom calls and Teams in the workplace, along with gaming, social media and online shopping in our domestic lives.

In basic terms, there’s a need to keep the network up and running to support the crucial platforms that keep businesses and industry running as efficiently as possible. ZetaFrame will enhance CPI’s ability to support the data centre industry in maintaining uptime. Too often, cabinets are viewed as commodities – just basic metal boxes – but in reality, the cabinet design has a major impact on data centre efficiency.

ZetaFrame is designed for efficient thermal management, which lowers operating costs. Proper cable management keeps things orderly and is critical to maintaining uptime when troubles arise. ZetaFrame’s ability to arrive from a factory with all these elements ready to go shortens time to deploy.

Speed of deployment is crucial for data centre teams – Why is this so important and how does ZetaFrame facilitate this?

CPI has a wide range of products that assist the data centre operation. ZetaFrame is available under a single unique project specific part number that can be integrated with power. For example, CPI’s PDUs, cable management and management solutions can all be factory fitted with the cabinet under that one unique part number. Our configurator allows us to build individual cabinets specific to the end-user needs, creating bespoke data sheets and drawings of that specific cabinet. The factory assembled solution CPI offers helps to reduce packaging and on-site assembly, saving freight costs through the reduced footprint.

How does a rack and roll deployment such as this address the current delays in manufacturing supply chains?

Customer specified factory assembled solutions reduce component count, packaging and on-site assembly, ultimately saving time, money and delivery costs. The increased weight capacity that ZetaFrame offers is 2200 kilo static load rating and 1814 kilo dynamic load rating.

In real terms, that’s a dynamic load on castors when rolling within the data centre space along with a shipping load rate of 1814 kilo for our shock pallet. This is a perfect option for when the integrators wish to ship ICT equipment pre-installed in the rack and roll style deployment.

Can you talk us through some of the key features of the product such as safety, integrated bonding and airflow?

Future-proofing and increased strength are the key features as densities of IT equipment are continually increasing, along with the U heights of the cabinets. Typically, we saw a 42U as the norm. Now we see 48 and 52 being implemented on a regular basis. Think of it as like real estate. It’s often more effective to go up instead of out.

This, and higher densities, are what is driving higher U heights. ZetaFrame is thoroughly tested and has passed through four times static load tests, tilt load testing on the load, transportation testing and simulating a 1,000-mile journey.

Our enhanced air flow management includes optional accessories ensuring effective, conditioned and exhaust air separation for maximum equipment cooling to ensure there is no hot air recirculation. The unique feature of the ZetaFrame is integrated bonding of the doors, sides, bottom and top panels. Doors automatically bond to the frame through door hinges and the top panels and side panels are bonded by metal contact points. This eliminates the need for attaching separate grounding straps to components.

The unit ground block attachment requires no additional bonding preparation and the grounding block can be installed at the top, bottom, front or rear of the cabinet. Integrated bonding ensures always-on bonding of cabinet components and simplified attachments to the telecommunications busbar.

What advice would you offer data centre teams to ensure that their facility is futureproof?

Always talk to us at Chatsworth Products as we are always looking ahead to complete the data centre cabinets using CPI’s integrated ecosystem such as EAC (electronic access control), integrated intelligent e-connect PDUs and our industry leading passive cooling options, and cable management.

All this and the futureproof weight capacity the ZetaFrame, offers along with configurability. Considering options and properly specifying these elements from the start, will support futureproofing. It is best to address these now with the right accessories for the job in hand rather than having to troubleshoot any overheating issues or deal with unruly cabling once the cabinets are live.

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