By Marcus Doran, Director of Sales, Europe at Rahi Systems
Data center operators are always looking for ways to save money and improve efficiency. Having the right tools can shave minutes off of common tasks, reducing costs and freeing up valuable staff resources. That’s why server lifts have an important role to play in today’s data center environment.
Servers and other IT equipment can be quite heavy. Servers typically weigh at least 75 to 100 pounds and some equipment can weigh up to 800 pounds. Maneuvering the gear into a rack or cabinet in a dense data center environment is tricky. It generally requires at least two people and 30 minutes of time to manually install equipment.
Even with multiple people lifting the equipment there is a high risk of injury. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, manual handling of material is the primary cause of work-related injuries in the U.S., with 80 percent of those injuries affecting the lower back. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that back and shoulder injuries account for more than 36 percent of workdays missed due to injury. Given these statistics, it makes sense to invest in a mechanical device designed to lift heavy IT gear.
The server lifts have rugged steel frames in a compact design that can navigate narrow aisles. Large wheels easily roll over gates, door stops, etc., and won’t leave marks on raised flooring. Swivel handles enable smooth control, and a foot-operated dual-point stabilizer brake prevents movement during equipment installation.
The low-profile platform makes it easy to load equipment onto the lift and install the equipment in the bottom of a rack. The lifting mechanism raises equipment 8 feet or more to accommodate taller racks and cabinets. Some lifts have side-loading capabilities, enabling equipment to be installed while the unit is parallel to the rack.
Some data center racks now have slide rails with slots that align with nail heads on the server. Alignment is time-consuming and difficult, requiring that the server be held at a precise angle. Some products work in conjunction with the lifts to provide control over the angle of the server during installation and removal.
In today’s dynamic data center environment, equipment is frequently installed, moved and removed. ServerLIFT products can save time, reduce risk and improve the day-to-day operations of your data center. ServerLIFT offers a comprehensive line of powered and mechanical data center lifts and related accessories that make it easy to transport, position and install data center equipment.
About the Author
Marcus Doran, Director of Sales, Europe at Rahi Systems, is an experienced data center infrastructure sales professional with 20 years’ experience in sales growth, revenue generation and new business development. He joined Rahi Systems in April 2016. Throughout his two-decade career, Marcus has worked all over Ireland, the Middle East and the UK as a Sales Manager, a Channel Manager and a Major Account Manager. Marcus’ Twitter handle is @marcusdoran. Rahi Systems’ Twitter handle is @Rahi_Systems.
