In the aerospace, military and test and measurement industries, it has been common for customers to procure custom racks and cabinets for many years. The systems integrated into these racks are typically very complex, and standard rack configurations do not meet the requirements that are needed to function at the level they are designed for. Until recently, the data center market has been the exact opposite. The term “custom” would make end users cringe. All they could think about was long lead times and increased costs. Over the past decade, however, the data center market has changed, and it has become common to at least have discussions about some level of customization to racks and cabinets. Infrastructure teams are realizing that they need a rack that can meet their build requirements and be able to accommodate future equipment changes housed inside the cabinet.
There are many different levels of customization for racks and cabinets. The customization can be very simple, like a special cutout in a panel that only requires a modified laser program. Or, it can be a complete custom size that requires a high level of engineering, equipment programs for almost every component needed to make the cabinet, and dedicated production runs for these components because standard components cannot be used. Typically with standard racks, components are manufactured in large runs, so they're in stock more often than not. They're configured for each order, as customers can pick from different standard options for doors, side panels, and top panels. In some cases, especially with racks manufactured overseas, finished racks are in stock and ready to ship, but the cabinet must be purchased exactly as it is stocked with no options for different accessories.