Equipment Rackmounts

Equipment Rackmounts

In 1922, AT&T's Bell Labs took on the task of standardizing the size of the racks used to mount bulky early telephone equipment in their facilities nationwide. The efficient, organized system of vertically stacking heavy equipment improved cooling, simplified cable management, and organized space in crowded control rooms. The next step was securing the gear in the rack itself, and thus the Equipment Rackmount was born! Their innovative system was widely adopted, and the common standards they set, like the 19-inch width and 1.75-inch "Rack Height", are still in use today across countless industries and applications.

Adaptability
As equipment became more complex, equipment rackmounts evolved to accommodate, enabling quick swaps, easier wiring access, and improved airflow. ADDER creates rackmounts that allow for side-by-side mounting of two ADDERLink 1/2 rack units, engineered for easy integration and instant access. Studio Technologies is another popular manufacturer of A/V equipment that creates mounting hardware systems to easily secure any of their 1/2 rack units side by side with versions for mounting into a panel cutout or onto a flat surface. Barnfind mounts their standard units as well as Barnone, BarnColor, and BarnMini in industry-standard racking with redundant power and LED indicators. My Custom Shop provides equipment rackmounts for mini converters so that they fit well into any rack system.

Here To Assist!
Markertek stocks the best options for rackmounting equipment, keeping gear easily secured and accessible, and we mean it when we say "Markertek has you covered"! We're proud to say that if you can't find the perfect mount for your gear, our in-house experts build Custom Rackmounts, our shop is ready with options for racking thousands of products, and we offer a Custom Panel Builder App to get you started. Don't forget we also stock the racks, panels, drawers, cooling fans, cable management, even the screws and washers that keep items secure! If you can't find it online, then reach out, a friendly voice will be here to guide you!

FAQ

How did the 19-inch width rack standard come to be?
The 19-inch rack was formalized by the EIA (Electronic Industries Association) in the mid-20th century, and its modularity made it indispensable across telecom, computing, broadcasting, and audio industries.

What material is best suited for an equipment rack?
If you need corrosion resistance, choose stainless steel; if you need a lightweight option, choose aluminum, but hot-rolled, wide-flange, or structural I-beam steel provides exceptional strength. This makes it the most popular choice for racks holding heavy broadcast, audio, or IT equipment.

What is the best way to secure broadcast equipment in racks?
Always use correct rack-mount hardware. Anchor the rack to the wall or floor. Use locking rack doors to restrict access and place heavier gear at the bottom to lower the center of gravity.