Modern warehouses rely on connected technology at nearly every stage of operation, from inventory management and barcode scanning to security cameras, access control, wireless connectivity, voice communications, automation, and cloud-based applications. For our clients in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, we always stress that the physical network infrastructure inside your warehouse more important than ever.
A properly designed cabling system needs to account for large open spaces, high ceilings, equipment traffic, temperature fluctuations, demanding industrial environments, and the need to expand as the business grows. Furthermore, we must consider all auxiliary business technology that the network hosts for daily operations, and the installation must be clean despite complete covering the entire facility.
At Infinity Technologies, we design and install business network infrastructure with these demands in mind. This blog post explores Chicago warehouse cabling best practices and our favorite products after 30 years of installing structured cabling for business and organizations across a variety of industries.
What Does a Chicago Warehouse Cabling System Need?
Warehouse cabling is different from a typical office installation. A warehouse may require network connections across hundreds of thousands of square feet, and physical security installations optimized for loading docks, production areas, offices distributed throughout the facility.
A well-designed warehouse network should provide:
- Reliable connectivity throughout the facility
- High-speed copper connections
- Fiber optic backbone infrastructure
- Proper support for wireless access points
- Connectivity for surveillance cameras
- Support for access control systems
- Connections for phones and VoIP
- Network infrastructure for scanners and warehouse devices
- Room for future expansion
- Proper cable management and labeling
- Infrastructure designed for the warehouse environment
Benefits of Chicago Warehouse Cabling System
- Warehouse wireless networks
- can be challenging because the physical layout of the facility across metal shelving, inventory piles, machinery, high ceilings, and walls all influence wireless coverage. Wireless access points are crucial to bridge the gap between hard-to-reach areas of the facility and the overall network connection. Infinity Technologies strategically places wireless access points across large scale facilities to help provide connectivity throughout the warehouse, but those access points need reliable network connections.
- CCTV and Security Camera Cabling
- Chicago manufacturers and warehouses are uniquely targeted by bad actors for their stockpiles of inventory and equipment. Infinity Technologies partners with Hanwha Vision to provide high-quality video surveillance that integrates to a larger physical security network through quality cabling.
- Access Control Infrastructure
- Warehouse access control systems can include card readers, electronic locks, door controllers, intercoms, and other connected devices. A strong structured cabling infrastructure should incorporate access control solutions into the overall technology infrastructure rather than treated as an isolated installation. Especially because our favorite access control products for Illinois businesses, Brivo and Paxton, offer direct integration with CCTV so organization have video coverage of every entrance and exit point.
Fiber optic vs. Copper Structured Cabling
Infinity Technologies specializes in both fiber optic and structured cabling for warehouses. There are key differences between the materials that we discuss in depth in this previous blog post. Fiber gets much of the attention when discussing high-speed networks, but copper remains extremely useful at the network edge.
Ultimately, Chicago businesses and organizations don’t have pick a better material, rather many of our clients use fiberoptic and copper cabling symbiotically throughout the facility to optimize certain aspects of their technology ecosystem. Based locally in Mokena, Illinois, Infinity Technologies makes regular onsite visits as basic step in our consultative approach that empowers us to best advise businesses on cabling installation.
Best Structured Cabling Brands
1. Belden Copper Cabling
For over a century, Belden has maintained an impressive ethernet portfolio, that bridges the gap between physical and digital security for businesses and organizations across the world. Belden developed cabling solutions for controlled and rugged environments that ensure quality connections despite stringent workflows or severe weather conditions. Belden’s Advanced Copper Ethernet systems significantly exceed TIA standards and adapts to any environment.
2. Superior Essex Copper Cabling
Superior Essex offers a broad portfolio of high-performance copper and fiber cabling that meets the needs of high demand organizations. More than being the world’s best cable manufacturers, their advanced technology connects multisite facilities and largescale organizations on a unified high-speed network. For organizations deeply concerned with the health of our natural environment, Superior Essex specialized in Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology to streamline data transmission and enable sustainable intelligent buildings (SIB).
3. Corning Fiber Optic Cabling
Corning Fiber Optic remains an essential component of warehouse network infrastructure, since their original invention of the first low-loss optical fiber. Offering a diverse selection of outdoor and indoor cables, Infinity Technologies standbys their products for its durability. Outdoor cables are made to withstand more demanding conditions and environmental extremes while indoor cables have a flame-retardant jacket.
Belden, Superior Essex & Corning: Building the Right Combination
There isn’t one cable manufacturer or cable type that is automatically right for every warehouse. The correct infrastructure depends on the building, network architecture, distances, equipment, environmental conditions, bandwidth requirements, applicable standards, and future plans. That’s why having a strong IT partner, like Infinity Technologies during the assessment and consultation phase of planning is essential to a successful long-term cabling design. Many of our clients use mix and match these products to achieve the seamless technology integration they rely on every day.
Why Infinity Technologies?
Primer Cable Management
Infinity Technologies eases headaches with our optimized Cable Management installations. Large facilities can quickly become difficult to maintain when cables are poorly routed, unlabeled, unsupported, or mixed together without documentation.
A professional installation should consider:
- Cable trays
- J-hooks
- Conduit where appropriate
- Rack organization
- Patch panels
- Cable labeling
- Separation of systems where required
- Proper bend radius
- Pathway planning
- Documentation
Mastering all of these components makes future troubleshooting, maintenance, and expansion significantly easier. Infinity Technologies maintains detailed records of cabling infrastructure and regularly monitors the health of your servers and network. Our clients enjoy our “state of the union” meetings, that are periodic check ins that update organizations on the current state of projects, cybersecurity red flags, and troubleshooting support.
Design for Future Expansion
One of the biggest mistakes businesses can make is designing a warehouse network only for today’s technology. At Infinity Technologies our goal is to build infrastructure that can support the technology your warehouse depends on today while leaving room for tomorrow.
Your warehouse may eventually add:
- More cameras
- Additional wireless access points
- New network switches
- Automated equipment
- Additional workstations
- More warehouse scanners
- Expanded access control
- New production systems
- Higher-speed networking
Installing additional capacity during the original construction or renovation is considerably easier than trying to retrofit infrastructure later.
Chicagoland Local Expertise
Chicago warehouses can present unique environmental challenges. Depending on the facility, cabling may be exposed to temperature changes, dust, moisture, mechanical activity, heavy equipment, and other conditions that aren’t typical in an office environment. After 30 years, Infinity Technologies has an expert understanding on competitor trends and reliable products that last the long haul for businesses and organizations. We know that the right solution for a climate-controlled distribution center may not be the right solution for a manufacturing facility, loading dock, cold-storage environment, or outdoor-connected area. Our consultative and holistic approach sets us apart from other technology vendors. Infinity Technologies understands the unpredictability of Chicago weather and specializes in proactive technology solutions.
Contact Us Today
Infinity Technologies provides structured cabling, fiber optic cabling, network design, security infrastructure, CCTV, access control, managed IT, and business technology solutions for organizations throughout the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana.
From a new warehouse buildout to a network upgrade in an existing facility, our team can help design an infrastructure that supports your current technology while preparing your facility for future growth.
Need better connectivity throughout your warehouse?
Contact Infinity Technologies to discuss your next cabling project.
Infinity Technologies
Chicago & Northwest Indiana
(708) 857-7800
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cabling is best for a warehouse?
The appropriate cabling depends on the application. Many warehouses use a combination of copper structured cabling for devices and fiber optic cabling for backbone connections. Reach out to Infinity Technologies today for a free consultation and assessment of your network design needs.
Is fiber optic cabling necessary in a warehouse?
Not necessarily for every connection, but fiber can be extremely useful for high-bandwidth backbone connections, long-distance runs, and connections between network distribution areas. Many businesses and organizations do not have to make an exclusive selection between fiber optic and copper.
Can warehouse cabling support security cameras?
Yes. Properly designed Ethernet infrastructure can support IP surveillance systems, including cameras that use Power over Ethernet.
How should warehouse cabling be planned?
Cabling should be planned around the facility’s layout, network architecture, equipment locations, wireless coverage, security systems, environmental conditions, current bandwidth requirements, and anticipated future expansion. Reach out to Infinity Technologies today for a free consultation and assessment of your network design needs.
Should I use Belden, Superior Essex, or another cable manufacturer?
The appropriate manufacturer and cable specification should be selected based on the requirements of the particular project. The cable itself is only one part of a successful structured cabling system; design, installation, termination, testing, and documentation are equally important. For help deciding reach out to Infinity Technologies today for a free consultation and assessment of your network design needs.