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It’s no secret that temperature-controlled air flow is crucial to the design and everyday workings of a data center. It’s a pretty simple concept: The harder your server equipment is working, the more heat it exhausts – and at a certain temperature, it will cost more money in the long run if your machines are working too hot…and too hard. And worst-case scenario: running your equipment too hot for too long will shorten its life span and cost you real money, not just a higher electric bill. That’s where cold aisle containment and hot aisle containment come in. But is the term “hot aisle containment” an oxymoron? We believe it is – here’s why.

Remember the power company that had limited space inside of its substation? Here's another cabinet-rack solution developed to accommodate the specific equipment of the customer. 

It can be difficult to find one product that works in multiple applications—many products often fall short of meeting exact needs. A national food corporation turned to Great Lakes to avoid this dilemma. This enclosure is able to withstand outdoor and indoor installations with temperatures ranging from freezing to sweltering.

Intense heat, strong winds, harsh rains, and on occasion, snow, are the natural elements that this NEMA 4X type, stainless steel enclosure is exposed to along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico. The enclosure is securely planted to the ground, but it's monitoring activity in the sky!

Data centers are complicated and no two are alike. So why do so many cabinet and rack companies only offer one-size-fits all solutions? While there are some instances where standard solutions may be what you need, why settle for something if it’s not a 100% fit?

Floor space is always at a premium when it comes to installing enclosures for IT equipment, and that is certainly the truth for one power company that Great Lakes recently worked with. Enclosure deployment along a wall was the only option for this customer--that's right, no rear door access! This unique product consists of a rack inside of a cabinet that utilizes available floor space while providing equipment access. 

We truly believe that our people are what puts the “Great” in Great Lakes Case & Cabinet. They’re the ones who answer the phone every time a customer calls (we don’t believe in automated messages), they make our company culture fun and people-focused, and they’re the face of the company as a whole. That’s why we created a series to feature our employees called the Faces of Great Lakes. Next up? Bryan Lowther.

You may be thinking, “That’s an odd title for a blogpost. Most people want to know how not to get hacked.” And while that’s a valid question that most companies would like the answer to, it’s also useful to look at it from the other perspective. You may be surprised to know that some of the measures your company is currently taking (or not taking) are actually asking for a hacker to come in and say hello.

In northwest PA, the sun is “skittish” so optical protection is normally only needed during summer. Regardless of the season, Great Lakes is providing protection all year round. This outdoor fiber distribution hub (FDH) serves as the point between a service provider’s central office and subscribers in a fiber-to-the-home setup.

More than 30 years ago, Carrie and Rob Lowther were both working in the telecommunications industry. After working with inferior products and witnessing poor service, they saw a void that needed to be filled: high-quality cabinets that could be delivered on time. So, they founded a company called Great Lakes Case & Cabinet – a company that today is more like a family. We sat down with Carrie and Rob to get to know them and get a glimpse into the past, present, and future of their world as co-founders of GLCC.