When many think of military and defense, they likely picture firefights on the battle field with soldiers clad in camouflage fatigues touting rifles and bazookas, operating tanks and riding in Humvees. However, as technology has evolved, modern military operations have become more complex and varied than ever.
Military intelligence, military operation plans, military personnel and supply transportation logistics are all highly dependent on IT. Additionally, all of that information must be protected, thus data security, encryption and hacking protection also pose major challenges. Thus, IT plays a massive role in modern military and strategic defence.
The Role of IT and Military
As is evident from the above, it’s pretty safe to say that as military operations have evolved to include IT, so has their equipment evolved. IT equipment is imperative to military strategy, whether that is on friendly territory or behind enemy lines. Sensitive IT equipment required by the military demands a high level of protection and its transportation to operational areas and combat zones is paramount to their success.
State-of-the-art equipment such as servers for radio and telecommunications technology, control systems and systems for monitoring and reconnaissance are transported to military operation areas around the globe for on-site operation. During transportation, IT systems must be protected from inclement weather conditions which can cause dust, sand, and moisture, among other things, to ruin IT equipment. Given that transport is also onerous physically, this same equipment must be protected from potential vibrations and shocks.
19-inch Racks for Mobile Military Applications
WHAT IS A RACK CASE?
The ideal transport solution to protect IT equipment is a portable 19-inch rack case. A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple electronic equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is 19 inches (482.6 mm) wide. The 19-inch dimension includes the edges or “ears” that protrude from each side of the equipment, allowing the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.
One of the many advantages of portable rack cases for military IT specialists is that they are able to connect and configure all systems to one unit housed in the case, so that only a few cables have to be connected on site. This plug-and-play system allows for the quick deployment of the IT equipment on site, providing valuable time savings to military personnel.
Although the above may seem fairly straightforward, the strict specification requirements of rack cases are anything but.
- Rack cases must house a sturdy 19″ frame inside to mount sensitive electronics.
- They must have a certain lid depth to accommodate the connectors and cables.
- They must be able to be able to be used for various IT applications.
- During transport, the case must not allow any shocks and vibrations to occur to the sensitive equipment and must also ensure effective protection against external elements such as moisture and dust.
- Rack cases must be easily handled and transported. Most will be equipped with fixed wheels, also known as caster wheels, while many are stackable. This is indispensable in order to be able to quickly deploy the IT equipment and guarantee its operation
“Peli Products has been working on the topic of technical transport packaging for over 40 years now and we are well aware of the strict requirements of the military when it comes to protecting their sensitive IT equipment. Often it is the small details that you have to keep in mind,” says Stefan Wolf, Peli Products Sales Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Many devices are of varying degrees of sensitivity to external influences, which means much attention must be paid to the exact specifications of the user’s IT equipment that is to be mounted in each case.”
PELI Rack Cases
Peli Products is a manufacturer of 19-inch high-impact polyethylene rack cases with built-in frames for the mounting of electronic devices of all kinds. Shock mounts made of elastic plastic or other protective materials are incorporated into the cases to provide a buffer zone between the inner 19-inch frame and the walls of case. This isolates the devices housed inside the cases and allows for the absorption of shocks and vibrations without harming the devices.
The Peli Products Rackmount Case is made of high-impact resistant rotomoulded polyethylene and can either be configured according to a user’s exact requirements or a user can choose from a wide selection of preconfigured standard rack case models. With a total of 8 rack case types and an extensive range of different rack heights and depths as well as unlimited customization possibilities, there is a case for everyone.
Wolf continues, “The most important aspects to consider for an initial selection of the right rack is the height, length, and weight of the devices to be housed in the case. This will determine which is the appropriate case size. Next, the so-called G Fragility rating of the system components must be considered.
G-Fragility Rating – What is it?
Check out the rest of the posts in this series:
Part 1: What Protective cases are and why you need one
Part 2: Deep dive into Peli case interiors
Bonus: What’s the difference between Peli Protector, Air & Storm cases?
