Need Structured Cabling? ProTek Fiber Will Travel!

Protek Fiber recently was asked to travel to the northwest corner of Montana to complete a structured cabling project for Proof Research. The company specializes in carbon fiber barrel manufacturing and high-end, long-range tactical firearms focused on military applications.

With the construction of their state-of-the art facility already under way, the investors of Proof Research were looking for a company that could deliver an expertly designed cabling infrastructure to match their specific design needs on their manufacturing floor, now and in the future. ProTek Fiber tackled the challenge by making three separate trips during construction. Phase 1 included the installation of the network cabling infrastructure. Phase 2 included the server room build-out, cabling terminations and testing. Phase 3 wrapped up the project with the installation of server/network equipment, patching and cutover from their existing location. 

The scope of the project included a full server room build-out including an equipment rack and server cabinet, five 48-port patch panels and 214 Cat 6 network drops. ProTek Fiber assisted Proof Research’s IT contractor with the installation of network switches, wireless access points, desktop/VoIP phone setup, plus all patching and labeling. “We worked as a consultant between Proof Research and Century Link during the ISP decision phase as well as making sure the customer received a seamless transition from their existing site to their new site during the ISP cutover,” said ProTek Fiber Owner/Project Manager and ICC Master Cabling Technician Jason Horst. “We also worked hand-in-hand with Communications Supply Corporation on material shipment logistics, ensuring materials arrived at the jobsite in a timely fashion during the three phases of installation.”

The greatest design challenge of the network cabling installation was making sure the customer had enough network drops on their manufacturing floor for their current production lines, while giving them the best possible solution for growth without having to complete an adds, moves and changes. “Since the manufacturing floor had a drywall ceiling and minimal support columns, we implemented a twist-lock data outlet faceplate that was attached to a device box on the ceiling for the 55 duplex data outlet drops,” said Horst. “This option required a twist-lock patch cable specially made by Commscope that attaches to the faceplate in the ceiling and drops down to their production equipment. This option allows Proof Research the ability to move existing equipment or add new equipment by simply dropping another patch cable from the ceiling’s closest twist-lock data outlet.”

One of the leading network cabling companies in the country, ProTek Fiber was honored to assist Proof Research with cabling their new 25,000+ square foot, state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facility located in the beautiful Flathead Valley near Glacier National Park. “They manufacture a great product, and we wish them the best success in the future,” Horst said. “We hope to travel and assist them in the future as they build more buildings on their campus.”

To learn more about the structured cabling and wiring services ProTek Fiber offers, click here.