Why Settle for Standard When You Can Have a Custom Server Rack?

In the rapidly evolving information technology market, customers for server racks have specific needs, and standard products will not necessarily satisfy all requirements. While standard server racks serve their purpose, they often leave companies compromising on functionality, aesthetics, or both. What if we told you that getting a custom server rack designed specifically for your needs does not have to mean months of waiting or settling for subpar modifications?

At Bud Industries, custom is not a special service — it is a common process. Four easy steps make it happen. Send us your requirements, approve our drawings, obtain a quotation, and accept the quotation.

The problem with “standard” solutions

Every data center manager knows the frustration. A standard rack does not have all the features to meet specific needs. A manager may have one or more of the following requirements and challenges:

• • Custom dimensions for the unique layout of the facility. Server racks might have to accommodate low ceilings, insufficient spacing for multiple racks between support columns, or narrow hallways. Custom racks can be taller, deeper, or narrower to maximize the available square footage, ceiling height, and hallway widths. Doors can be swinging, sliding, or removable to accommodate limited space in server rooms.
  • Incompatible equipment that does not fit into a standard 19-inch rack. The telecom industry still occasionally uses equipment that requires a 23-inch wide rack.
  • The depth of the rack can vary as well. Servers need racks having depths of 36-42 inches, but may go as deep as 48 inches to facilitate extensive cabling. A single custom server rack can allow installation of a wide range of equipment with varying shapes and sizes, such as servers, UPS systems, patch panels, and cooling equipment.
  • Unique ventilation requirements for keeping many servers in one server rack cool. A custom server rack can require custom airflow channels, special doors, or liquid cooling mounts. A custom rack can integrate a data center’s specific cooling design requirements.
  • Management of cabling for reduced clutter and improved maintenance efficiency. To accommodate a large quantity of cables, the racks can include extra-wide side panels, vertical and horizontal cable channels, and built-in trays or pass-through ports.
  • Security requirements to prevent unauthorized access. Finance, healthcare, and military/government facilities may need racks with special locks, biometric access, or reinforced doors. Many companies must meet HIPAA, PCI, or FedRAMP physical security guidelines. A custom server rack can meet these requirements.
  • Scalability to accommodate future expansion. A rack prepared for future growth can require greater load-bearing capacity, additional rail space, or modular expansion sections.
  • Branding requirements for customer-facing installations. The server rack may need to match corporate branding specifications with custom colors, finishes, or front panels.

Too often, companies end up with makeshift customizations that compromise a rack’s integrity, shorten equipment life, or simply look unprofessional. The alternative — waiting months for a truly custom solution — isn’t viable when your business needs are immediate and your timeline is tight.

The Bud Industries difference

Provide us with your requirements, and our experienced team will work with you to design the perfect rack for your application. After you approve our drawings and quotation, we will expertly fabricate your rack at our facility and deliver your custom server rack on time.

Our designers and manufacturing personnel have years of experience creating custom racks for the telecom and communications industries. They have expertise in air flow, weight, and spacing for design, and construction of sturdy, reliable server racks. Our welders and machine operators have decades of experience, assuring quality and efficiency.

Start with excellence, then make it yours

Our SRP Server Rack Professional Series already comes loaded with premium features that many manufacturers consider upgrades (and charge more for):

• • Built-in ventilation systems with top-installed fan boxes
  • Professional-grade construction using 18-gauge steel with 14-gauge panel mounting rails supporting up to 1,700 pounds
  • Mobility options with four casters and four levelers for fixed or mobile deployment
  • Smart cable management, including six cable management brackets, an open base design, and covered top slots for easy cable access
  • Security features with ventilated locking front doors and split rear doors
  • Multiple size options available in 27U, 42U and 45U heights with 36″ or 44″ depth options

But here’s where it gets interesting. This is just our starting point.

What customization options are there when creating a server rack?

Our customization capabilities go far beyond simple modifications. They include functional enhancements and business benefits.

Functional Enhancements:

• • Unique rack dimensions
  • Special door types (swinging, sliding, removable) and custom locations
  • Custom drawers and shelving for various size equipment
  • Custom cooling and temperature control configurations
  • Special power and cable routing configurations, including trays and cable channels
  • Custom locks and compliance to security standards

Business Benefits:

• • Avoids labor and expense of modifications performed on site
  • Ensures quality workmanship performed by experienced rack manufacturers
  • Rack designs that factor in manufacturing, cost, and ease of installation considerations

By the way, we also offer the same modification options on our custom racks as we do on our standard racks:

• • Full-color printing or silk screening for logos and labeling
  • Custom powder coating for a specific rack color
  • Complete component assembly, including cable management, fan trays, drawers, chassis, casters, and more
  • Drop-ship service to your customers

What is the lifespan of a rack server?

When you invest in a Bud Industries custom server rack, you’re investing in decades of reliable service. We have encountered our racks in service for 50 years and longer. In fact, our custom racks were used in Mission Control during the Moon landing and would still be in use today if the technology had not changed. Our 18-gauge construction and professional-grade components are designed for long life. Making the slightly higher upfront investment in customization is a smart financial decision over the rack’s lifetime.

How much do custom server racks cost?

Custom server racks from Bud Industries typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on size, features, and degree of customization. When you consider the alternative costs —compromised functionality, potential equipment damage from poor modifications, or the opportunity cost of delayed deployments — custom becomes not just the better choice, but the economical one.

Our service to you

In an industry where every advantage matters, why handicap yourself with standard solutions that force compromises? Whether you’re building a new data center, or expanding or upgrading existing infrastructure, Bud Industries delivers custom server racks that meet your exact needs.

Ready to stop settling for standard? Contact us today with your specifications and discover what’s possible when custom becomes standard.